Noodle 4-year-old Male yellow Lab 90 lbs Neutered
Background: Noodle has been through a lot. He was a stray brought into the East Bay shelter and was subsequently adopted to a family with a 2 yr old child and a cat. They returned him to the shelter after 4 months as he started to growl when the toddler wanted to pet or cuddle with him. Noodle would sometimes chase and possibly mouth their cat but never hurt it. At other times he would settle and relax around the cat. Noodle is anxious and stressed in the shelter so we'd like to get him out as soon as possible.
What Noodle's Evaluator and Rescue Rep Says: Noodle is a big, beautiful 90-pound Lab with lots of energy and a playful personality. Like many dogs in a shelter environment, he was very stressed when first approached in his kennel, barking and jumping and having difficulty settling. Once he was out of the kennel and in a quieter space, however, he became much calmer and easier to engage with.
Noodle is very interested in treats and quickly figured out that people can be a source of good things! He knows sit and paw, enjoys toys, and was even carrying two toys in his mouth at one point. He allowed handling of his ears, feet, and back without issue. He isn't particularly interested in seeking out attention from people yet, but treats are a great way to get his attention and help build a relationship. He also showed no signs of food guarding during his evaluation and appears to be house-trained, promptly relieving himself once he gets outside.
Noodle will need some work on leash manners. At 90 pounds, he is a strong dog and can pull, particularly when something catches his attention. He was very interested when he saw another dog and tried to pull toward it, barking a little, but he responded well when his name was called and readily redirected to a treat. He is reported to be fairly neutral or indifferent when meeting other dogs, and another friendly dog may be a possibility with appropriate introductions.
Noodle also has a tendency to counter-surf, so continued household training and management will be important. His energy, size, and strength mean he needs a foster/adopter who is physically steady and comfortable handling a large dog. He would do best in a home with older children and no cats. He has lots of potential and will benefit from a foster or adopter who can provide structure, continued training, exercise, and time to help him become more comfortable and connected with his people. Once he's outside the shelter environment, his calmer and playful side has a chance to shine.
Medical: Noodle is up to date on vaccines, microchipped and neutered. GGLRR will arrange for a heartworm test and health check.
Located In: Oakland.
If you are interested in fostering or adopting Noodle, please contact Rescue Rep Kathy at ksmillich@gmail.com.
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