Ralphie

Our adoption application can be found at the bottom of this pet's bio. Once your application has been approved, we can arrange a virtual meet & greet with you and Ralphie! Ralphie is currently in a foster home in Houston, TX and is eligible to transport to an adopter as soon as one is lined up. Meet Ralphie! Ralphie is the sweetest pittie mix you've ever met! He's estimated to be about 3 years old and currently weighs 52 pounds. He is fully vaccinated, microchipped, neutered and ready to find a family to take him on allllll the adventures! Ralphie was found as a stray in a neighborhood near Houston. Neighbors posted him on the neighborhood Facebook page. When he was still roaming two days later, his foster mom picked him up to see if he was chipped. He was not chipped, and no one claimed him after being listed as lost in several online groups. He was extremely skinny and in pretty rough shape, but he was oh, so affectionate. After reaching out to several rescues, Ralphie became an Underdog. He is food motivated and it has been a great way to train him. Overall, he is eager to please his humans! Ralphie rides well on trips in the car. He is crate trained, potty trained, and knows how to use the doggy door. Initially, he was crated at night and while foster mom was at work. Now, he is only crated at night. He is left in a spare room while foster mom is at work and he does great! Ralphie is dog friendly and currently lives in a home with two huskies and a pittie. He loves playing with his pittie foster sister! The huskies don't like to play, so he just leaves them alone. There are a few outdoor cats on the street of his foster home. Due to his reactions when he sees them, he would do best in a home without cats. Ralphie has bursts of energy when he wants to play (sometimes zoomies). They are not long, and he enjoys lying or sleeping by your side when calm. He keeps himself busy when foster mom is working from home or doing chores around the house. He will play with one of his toys, enjoy a chew treat, lie down nearby, lie in his crate, or sunbathe on the patio. He loves playing tug-o-war or fetch with squeaky toys. He also loves treats such as bully sticks, yak chews, frozen raw marrow bones, stuffed KONG, yogurt, and peanut butter. Ralphie is working on decreasing his leash reactivity while on walks. He may bark or pull when he sees other dogs, but it is never aggressive. He is just excited to see other pups! If he is startled or unsure about a situation while on walks, he may bark. He was evaluated by a trainer that confirmed the leash reactivity is due to fear/insecurity rather than aggression. He did well during the training session and is such a fast learner! Ralphie has not been around children, but due to his size and general goofiness, we think he would do best in a home with children over the age of 10. He sometimes gets the zoomies when playing and could easily knock over a small child. Ralphie notices people on walks, but he just ignores them. However, if someone wants to say hi to him, his wiggle butt is activated!! A few times he has barked at people on walks when he was startled. He has done well interacting with vets and vet techs during appointments. Here is what his foster mom says about Ralphie: “Ralphie is 99% perfect! He is a goofy, love bug with a sweet temperament. His only “flaw” lies in his insecurity. I feel he was an outside dog and left to fend for himself. He appreciates being inside and close to a human. He loves sitting or lying by my side, but is also content with his own space. There is something about his eyes that melts my heart. His tail is always wagging, and he loves cuddles! He needs a home full of patience and love to continue building his confidence. Even though he has some things to work on, his personality brings smiles and laughter, and his love is unconditional.” Interested in learning more about Ralphie or applying to adopt him? Please fill out an adoption application below! https://heartoftheunderdog.org/adoption-application