About Blitzen |
- Status: Adopted!
- Species: Dog
- General Color: Black
- Eye Color: Brown
- Ear Type: Droopy
- Tail Type: Long
- Current Size: 45 Pounds
- Potential Size: 55 Pounds
- Current Age: 7 Years 9 Months (best estimate)
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- Declawed: No
- Housetrained: No
- Obedience Training Needed: Needs Training
- Exercise Needs: Moderate
- Grooming Needs: Low
- Shedding Amount: Moderate
- Reaction to New People: Cautious
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Blitzen is one of the Peanut’s Holiday of Hope Labradors
Update:1/25/17. I guess it's time for Blitzen to go to his forever home. Like his foster sister, Flash, he is a chicken who races to his crate the minute he senses danger. He is quite social and funny when he feels secure. And he is very energetic--I guess getting rid of the Lymes and the parasites and having some real food will do that. He barks when he sees me and has a repertoire of cute activities designed to generate attention and treats. He definitely wants to engage. I think this dog is just waiting for his moment. He's still afraid of toys, but he's figured out how to turn his blanket into a very fun, shaggy octopus. So I think the toys are coming.
1/16/17 Blitzen makes me smile every day. Although he is definitely a chicken, he is itching to be a real dog. He recovered beautifully from his surgery--although for a dog who lived outside eating only bread, he sure needed extra painkillers, a heated blanket and homemade food in order to survive the two days post surgery. The antibiotics, parasite medication and surgery have definitely helped him physically.
Mentally, he is trying hard to come out of his shell. When he's alone with me, he's rambunctious and playful. As soon as anything new happens, he's back in his shell. I know eventually he will be fine. One heartbreaking moment a few weeks ago brought home the point of his history. A friend brought each of my foster dogs a new toy. Blitzen's was a squeeky, orange octopus. He was terrified! He positively hid. He has no idea how to play with a toy or retrieve.
But he knows how to be petted, how to take a treat politely and has almost mastered "sit". In the morning, he races madly around and has taken to nipping me in the behind . When I twirl around to yell at him he sits and activates the cute ears. All I can say is, his new family must think this behavior is funny because I cannot yell at a dog with such cute ears (see video).
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about 12/25/16
Blitzen was a mess when he was rescued, but after a couple of weeks of medication and TLC he's coming around. Because he is a monorchid (one testicle did not descend) his neutering surgery will be more extensive--the veterinarian has to retrieve the undescended testicle from his abdomen. Before he could have surgery, he had to have antibiotics for his Lyme disease, as well as parasite medication. SO this Wednesday is the big day.
After he recovers from the surgery I expect he will be a lovely pet. He is never going to be a bold dog, but he is quite playful and snuggly with his "people." I think Blitzen has a true Labrador heart; looking for the good and trying to be loyal, despite his fear of the unknown. And when your whole life has been at one place, with one person, everything is unknown.
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If you have already filled out an application and have had a home visit, email labmatch@labadoption.org. If you haven't done these things please start the process at www.labadoption.org/info/adoption.
