Trooper
	Gender: Male Age: 10 Months Height/Weight: tbd / 30 lbs House-trained: Yes Fenced yard required:No Location: SE Michigan Foster Home: Caitlin	Crate-trained: No - fearful Treat-motivated: Yes Toy-motivated: Learning Likes Car Rides: Neutral Good with cats: tbd Good with kids: tbd Commands: Sit, Come, Outside, Potty

Trooper was adopted in January, 2018. Here he is with his new family.

This year the best thing under our tree sits on three legs in black and white wrapping. Trooper, named in honor of the State Trooper who rescued him, is approximately 10 months old and is a tripod after having his rear leg amputated following an accident. This doesn’t affect his spirit though, as Trooper is sweet, calm, and absolutely adores people.

Trooper does well with other dogs and mostly ignores the neighborhood cat when he sees it outside, though he hasn’t had much interaction up close with friends of the feline variety. Trooper is doing incredibly well with house training manners and will sit by the front door to let me know he needs to go out. If he doesn’t see me, he will let out a short, sharp bark to inform me he’s by the door. When I come over, he’s sitting calmly with his tail wagging. He is not crated at night and has not had an accident or gotten into trouble during that time.

Trooper does get fearful when left alone. A home with someone around most of the time and dedicated to helping him through this is a must. We are working on desensitizing our “leaving signals” and building confidence, but his forever home will need to be dedicated to continuing this training. The crate is a very scary place for him and it may never be able to be part of his daily routine. He’s incredibly sweet and really just wants to be with his people. He doesn’t demand too much attention (he does appreciate the occasional ear scratch), but just wants to be close to you to know he’s safe. His current favorite sleeping place is under our Christmas tree in our living room which is almost too adorable to handle.

Trooper is doing well adapting to life on three legs. He can get down a few steps unassisted and up a few stairs with some support helping his back leg. If he can’t make it on his own, he’ll give a short “yip” to let you know he’s stuck, and he responds very well to being carried and doesn’t make a fuss. He has a great spirit and will give lots of situations a “try”, and if he stumbles he is quick to pick himself back up.

Trooper loves to smell and explore, although he sits often to rest up. He laughed at my “potty zone” I shoveled out for him in the yard and bounded straight into the snow after his Foster Sister. Trooper loves to smell and picks up on training cues quickly. He may never be a great jogging buddy, but he’ll be a great companion on walks and loves to sit outside and smell the fresh air.

Trooper has beautiful puppy dog eyes and the softest coat imaginable, scratch his ears and look into his big brown eyes and he’ll steal your heart for sure.

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