Rudy

Rudy is about 1-1 1/2 years old in these pictures taken March 22, 2007. He weighs around 50 pounds. Perfect medium sized dog. Very good natured. He adjusted quickly to the other dogs, no growling or fighting. His tail is always wagging. Loves to be petted and played with. Knows how to sit already. Has a unique pink nose. He was found by a couple in the parking lot of a large retail store. He kept wandering in and out of traffic apparently lost and confused. The store manager said he had been there for hours and had almost gotten hit a few times. The couple took him home until proper placement could be found. They named him Rudy after Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer since he has a pink nose. This boy deserves a good home that will keep him from getting lost. A family that will give him lots of love.

This is what Rudy's foster parents say about him:
We believe that Rudy was abused. He gets very nervous on a leash. Rudy will walk but is glued to your leg to the point he is tripping you. When you stop he cowers and puts his head on the ground. If he does decide to take a few steps away and the leash even gently pulls on his neck, he comes running back over to cower again. Someone didn't know how to leash train. He is very smart though. Rudy knows his name fairly well and minds pretty good. I think he will just need to have a family that he can trust, and he will learn that he is a good boy.

March 22 - UPDATE: from Rudy's foster parent.
Rudy is another foster that is making positive changes. Yes, he still jumps a short 4 foot fence. But he only jumps it when we are outside the fence because he wants to be with us. If we stay in the backyard or in the house, Rudy stays in the fence for days without any trouble. However, if he knows we are in the front yard, here he comes. He never goes anywhere when he does get out and will stay with us the whole time. A 6 foot fence would be a must for Rudy.

When Rudy came to us he was timid and nervous. It was obvious that he had trust issues. Not to the point of biting or aggression. It was more like his person had abandoned him and now he felt that no one else cared so he didn't care. Rudy has now changed 180 degrees. He wants to play and run and be petted. He likes to chase a ball although the retrieving is forgotten. He plays with the other dogs. Rudy also likes the cats. I really have not enjoyed a dog as much as Rudy. He is basically trouble free. He doesn't dig, barks only occasionally, and doesn't try to knock you down. He comes up and stands next to you ready to be petted. Rudy likes you to scratch his head, ears, back and every place else. He loves it all. He is smart (one of the smartest we have had in awhile) and loyal, and rarely has accidents in the house.

It has taken time for Rudy to trust us and for him to realize that we won't abandon him or forget him. For example, when Rudy first arrived he did not like his collar hung on to or a leash on his collar. It scared him to death. He would just freeze as if someone had used this as a not very nice control method. Now when I need to hang on to his collar he walks with me, he knows it isn't a punishment or a chance to be mean, it?s for his safety.

Rudy would be great for a person or couple that enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. Throwing a ball, long walks, once in awhile seeing a new place but has a relaxed day to day routine.

I have learned that Rudy walks much better on a harness and leash than collar and leash. I have also learned that to Rudy I am like his security blanket. Keeping these two things in mind, we headed to the park today, a new place Rudy hasn't been to before. During the car ride, he kept his paw on my leg, I guess to reassure himself that I was still there. When we arrived he walked next to me. He doesn't pull or fight. He walks calmly and pauses occasionally. His eyes say he is cautious but okay as long as I am at his side. After a bit of time passes Rudy gets more confident and begins to lead. If a noise frightens him, he just walks closer to me for awhile. He sees children playing and his tail wags. He isn't concerned with the other dogs walking. Rudy is doing great; he only needs to glance back occasionally to make sure I haven't disappeared. As long as I'm there with him, he is confident and happy and 'king of the world'.

On our car ride home, Rudy again kept his paw on my leg. And then he licked my cheek. I was very surprised. Rudy doesn't lick your face and had never given a kiss before. But I knew exactly what he was saying. It?s easy to feel the same way about this special boy.

January 26 - UPDATE: from Rudy's foster parent.
Rudy is doing great, he is such a happy dog. I tried a harness with the leash attached and he did so much better. I don't think he likes his collar pulled. He will wear a collar without a problem as long as no one grabs it. But he walked great on the harness. He is playful and energetic and really likes to run. He is not the type of dog that tries to knock you down for affection, he likes to come up and stand next to you to be petted. You need to put down only older kids for him, because he doesn't like to be pulled on or grabbed (like his tail or ears). I don't think he would do well with the tiny ones. He is one of the smartest dogs I've seen in awhile. The other day we had him out playing in the back yard, all the dogs were running and chasing each other. Rudy will jump our 4 foot fence if he knows your outside because he wants to be with you, so we know to be quiet when we are outside so maybe he won't jump the fence. But the other day we needed to go to the neighbors, 2 houses down, for only a second. So we crept out and down the road quietly. None of the dogs saw us or even new we were out. When we came out of the neighbors house, Rudy was nicely sitting on the front porch waiting for us. He had gotten over of the fence and chose to come to where we were. He danced circles around us all the way home, he was so excited he had found us. Other little things like that tell me how intelligent he is. Most things you can tell him no once and he doesn't do it again. He learns so fast. He would absolutely love hiking or jogging or an active family, but will need patience to get use to new things or ideas. I don't think his previous owner took him anywhere, because he gets nervous riding in the car. He has also been doing fine with his house breaking. Doesn't mark in the house and generally sleeps all night without an accident.

Rudy does know how to jump a regular chain link. Anyone who adopts him will need a 6 ft chain link or privacy fence.