Meet Deelite

Deelite, also known as Dee, is a 7-month old puppy (August 2019). Deelite lives up to her name and it has been great fun being her foster family. In a short period of time Dee has made great progress in learning how to be a dog! She has a big heart, loves being with her people, and is in seventh heaven getting ear and belly rubs. Given her background, Dee is still unsure of loud noises, sudden movements, and is hesitant to meet new people. She is extremely cautious when meeting men, but is now great friends with my husband.

Dee will need a patient family that uses only positive reinforcement and is willing to put in the time and effort in supporting her in becoming a great dog. A family with teenagers would be fine but younger children might be stressful for Dee. She is on a regular schedule, eating at 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Dee sleeps in our bedroom at night, with a gate some she cannot roam. There have been no potty related accidents in our home. However, Dee needs to be walked off the porch in order to go potty; she will not do so on her own. I suspect this behavior will fade over time as she becomes more confident. 

Dee still has separation anxiety. We are working on crate training where she does not bark. I would not recommend a home where Dee is left alone for long periods of time or that shares  walls with neighbors. Right now she has been kenneled without barking for up to 3-hours and we are working on extending that period. Again, the kennel must be a positive and safe place for her and she should never be forced into it.

Dee has warmed up to our resident dog but it was a process. Initially Dee was not good at sharing either toys or attention. With time, patience, and positive reinforcement she is now playing with our resident dog. However, there are times when Deelite needs a time out.  We used gates for this purpose but soon discovered she can climb them. However, she generally will stay behind the gate if she can see a member of the family. 

Since being in our home, Dee has learned to sit and wait to be released before eating her food. She is walking on a leash but still is nervous with big trucks and motorcycles. Her new family will need to continue using treats to desentize her to noises. It will also be important to work with Dee on meeting new people in a positive manner.  We have been taking her to our local coffee shop at least two times a week to help with this.

Dee has been engaging in more puppy behavior since coming out of her shell. She will chew, counter-surf, or steal food if not monitored. She has also gotten into the garbage and compost on multiple occasions. Her new family will need to continue working with Dee to ensure she does not jump on people. All of these behaviors are normal for a dog her age and should only be dealt with using positive reinforcement.  

Being part lab, Dee is highly motivated by treats and wants to please her family.  She loves to cuddle and is happiest being around people. Training her has been a delight. 

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