Phil

I am so excited to finally meet you, my future family! My name is Phil, but my foster mom sometimes calls me Philbert or No Philter Phil. I have the best Gremlin ears that almost never go down! I was found on a little walkabout and have had quite the adventure in my time with fosters. I am so grateful for the love and care I've received, and now it's time for me to give back to a great family! I currently live in a foster home with two resident dogs and get along well with the female dog, mostly through ignoring her or having brief chats. I'm still getting acclimated, but I am definitely more submissive. One dog is teaching me how to play, and the other sets the rules and lets me know when I do well, so I try to pay attention as much as my "No Philter" brain will allow. They have been very patient and understanding, and actually cheerlead me when I do awesome things. We had slow introductions because I needed to build some confidence and security, but now we all hang out in the yard and chase squirrels. I eat in my crate because my foster mom says that makes my crate more desirable, so I don't eat with the other dogs. I am really good at taking treats, but I don't like it when another dog gets treats and I don't; sharing is caring! I love being outside, and found that laying in the sun is a great activity. Mostly, I like to be with others in the house, because cuddling up is simply the best! I will always be by your side. I'm like the Leaning Tower of Pisa - I'm trying to hold you up! I find squeaky stuffies amusing. I LOVE to cuddle and snooze with humans. Knowing it is time to train when the treats start pouring out makes my body wiggle and my tail wag harder than anything! My dream day would consist of a long walk with lots of new smells and trees to water, then cuddling on the couch with my people. Then dinner and a movie with more cuddles.

Ideal Home

My ideal home would have me as the only dog (since I like all the attention) and lots of comfy spots to watch out the window or cuddle up. I like to be out with you and am an excellent backseat driver, so road trip anyone?

Ongoing Health

No specific health concerns were mentioned.

Training & Support

I have been working on training with my foster mom, and it helps that she is a professional dog trainer. I am crate trained and sleep in my crate at night; it is the best spot because it is so comfy! The crate has been a big issue for me because I just want to be with you all the time, but I am learning to be more patient and confident that my person will always return. She sometimes lets me just hang out in my bedroom behind a gate, and I have found that lounging on the day bed in there is super relaxing with some nice music playing while I sleep. I am really good at sitting for things, and we are working on more advanced skills like "leave it" and "stay." I have gotten really good at boundary training and am practicing heeling behavior. I am easy to train because I love working for treats, and my foster mom says I am pretty smart because I catch on pretty quickly. One of my biggest habits is when I meet you, I like to lean up against you – share the love! I have also learned that a quick "uh uh" means I am doing something sneaky and should probably stop. I would do great with some doggy classes around other dogs and people to get used to the distractions and will show off how good I am and make you feel like a star! I might be really good at scent work. I haven't really figured out how to play with toys yet. One of the resident dogs keeps bringing me toys and dropping them in front of me, and I’m not sure what to do! I have been caught squeaking a fake newspaper and carrying around a push toy now and again, but I am still learning for sure. I think that I am probably more of a cuddler than anything though, so toys are fine, but not my number one priority. I haven't chewed or destroyed anything in the house. Also, I am potty trained, and we are working on bell training. I am working very hard on becoming a confident and curious boy and am learning that asking permission by looking to mom is the way to live a good life. I love having a stable routine; it helps me predict what is coming next and eases any anxiety about if I am getting that next meal! I do tell canine companions when I am uncomfortable. I am not meant to be every dog's friend, but there are some that I am sure I would like if I got to take my time.

Application Details:

• Applications start by contacting us through Wags.

Transporation

Phil is located at Save-A-Bull.