RATATOUILLE BIO
- Is your dog good with other dogs? Dog selective. He is rude on introductions with other dogs and can be too pushy for many dogs. He could have dog friends IF they were very patient and multiple slow introductions were conducted. He currently lives with a 4 year old female dog whose boundaries he respects, and can play with. Additionally, he has two dog friends which he has slowly gotten to know in order to play with and walk with. He has leash reactivity with other dogs sometimes, (consistently with smaller dogs). This has come a long way, but he usually crosses the street to pass dogs. Potential adopters are recommended to walk him with lots of good treats to reward positive decision making. We do not recommend him for public dog parks
- Is your dog good with cats? No
- Is your dog good with kids? Yes but not to live with. He is ok with calm children but too much excitement overstimulates him. He is best with dog savvy children 10 years old and up.
- Is your dog house trained? Yes
- Is your dog crate trained? Prefers a pen/baby gate set up, or left loose.
- Does your dog have any special needs? -He needs an explicit rewards structure system (instantly rewarding when he makes good decision/ redirects his attention on his own, etc) -As such, adopter would need to adhere to instructions to continue his training and building positive bonds with him, which is very easy as he loves attention/very food motivated -High arousal and resource guarding with new dogs, -He can be very excitable and could mouth on handler in very stimulating environments/situations. However, he LOVES to work and responds well to redirection. As such, it is required that he be matched with an adopter who will devote time to training him and is patient and consistent, so that he can continue to build on his existing redirection tools, bond and training strategies. -Remmy would do BEST in a home where he is the only dog due to his food and toy guarding. But it is possible he can be paired with the right type of dog, as he continuously makes improvements with his foster sibling and friends in this area. -He does not share toys well, but he has learned to enjoy low value bones around other dogs that he knows well. He does not show any resource guarding with trusted humans. -He also has mild environmental/seasonal allergies which cause him itching and he chews his paws.
- Does your dog have any or display any aggression? (Toys, food or people?) If overly stimulated, he displays agitated behavior (lunging, mouthing) that can sometimes be difficult for him to recover from. We have been working on impulse control exercises and lots of training, which is improving his ability to stay focused and keep calm, even during play. At this point, he is capable in making good decisions on his own very often but still requires an explicit reward system (meaning handler will carry treats on walks). With new handlers, he may forget some of his prior training.
- Is your dog playful? Yes!! Does your dog like to snuggle? Yes!
- Does your dog know basic commands? (Sit, stay...) Yes - sit, down, pattern games (1-2-3), leave it Does your dog know any special tricks? He is learning a lot of coping tools and doing really well. It is required that these be maintained and improved upon in his new home. He has learned to interact with some agility tools, and loves to use his brain for this. He likes to play games during leash walks also.
- Does your dog like to go on walks? Yes and needs adequate exercise to continue to improve his training. He is sensitive to the cold so he also likes to play in doors (training and flirt pole are his favorite). Remmy goes for two walks a day, each 30mins to an hour (not including potty breaks).
- Does your dog have any fears? No
- Does your dog have any unique traits that you have noticed whether in personality or physically? He is extremely trainable and LOVES to work with you, especially if you have tasty treats as he is very food motivated. When inside his home, he sleeps very well and is calm. He has become a bit of a counter surfer when left alone, so management is needed. He doesn’t do this if someone is around.
- What are the three first words that come to mind when you think of your dog? Cuddly- loves to cuddle on the couch, and put his head on a trust persons lap Eager/playful- approaches the world with an excited attitude, and is incredibly trainable and is super food motivated! Thoughtful- He remembers his training and will often offer behaviour in situations he recognizes or situations that have been practised.
- Ratatouille (Remmy) had a rough start in life, and is still learning how to manage his puppy-like behaviors since coming into Freedom Dog Rescue’s care a year ago. For this reason, Ratatouille can become easily over stimulated. When he does, he pulls and bounces around, and can also mouth his handler. Over the year in care with us, he has shown substantial improvement with all of these behaviours as his foster continues to work on rewarding his good decision making process, eye contacts and leash manners. He can easily forget some of his basic training with new people, but with a bit of patience and consistent reward system, he will recognize what he is supposed to do or can be redirected to more constructive behaviors. Ratatouille is extremely toy-driven and food motivated, making him a fantastic candidate for training classes and dog sports. He has made really good progress with distractions on leash and can pass squirrels, rabbits and even other dogs (with some distance) while on leash. He has shown really promising adaptability and the key seems to be gradual exposure. He is very excited to meet other dogs, and he can be a lot for some dogs as he lacks manners and it results in him not being a good match with every dog. Select, very tolerant, strong and playful dogs are a good match for him, and not dogs who exhibit fear or resource guarding behavior. He cannot be with other dogs when toys and food are present. We originally thought he would only be suited to a home with no other dogs, but as time has passed, he has adapted really well with his foster fur sibling – large breed female dog and does benefit from the company of dogs he trusts. He eats separated and has limited access to toys in the house to avoid resource issues, and this has worked well to make him feel safe and understand boundaries and respect for his foster sisters stuff. Low value bones/toys can be left out for either dog to enjoy as he has conquered low value guarding with dogs he trusts. For this reason, a dog that loves to play with toys is not a good match for him. While he doesn’t exhibit any destructive behaviors in the house when someone is present, he has acquired the habit of counter surfing when left alone in the house. He will eat things off the counter or grab mits, but this doesnt happen when someone is around. Management of the environment is necessary until this habit passes. He is a huge couch potato and cuddler despite always being ready to go at a moments notice. He requires a family who will commit to ongoing training to help him overcome his overstimulation so that he can enjoy a variety of experiences for the rest of his life. Potential adopters can choose to participate in a virtual meeting before meeting Ratatouille, so that questions can be answered and a first meeting can be planned with consideration.