Name: Pogo Sex: Male Breed: Mixed Breed Age: 2 years.
Pogo has been in a foster home for several months. His foster parent told us: "You cannot find a friendlier do than Pogo.
From a rough start through no fault of his own, the full story will never be known. My story with him began one day when I spotted him running for his life on the verge of a 50mph road with a broken leg.
He ran across the road to my stopped car almost getting hit in the process. He had been dumped; any stopped car would have given him comfort. The shelter kindly took him in.
Having lost my elderly dog recently, I agreed to foster Pogo for the Humane Society. They treated his heart worms and amputated the bad leg. As an elderly myself, I don’t want to adopt a young dog that would survive me and have to be re-homed as elderly dog himself after what he has survived. He belongs with a young forever family.
After the rescue, he became very attached and feared abandonment. He has learned self soothing with his favorite toys. He now respects his foster’s personal space; this is encouraged with key words that he has learned. This is very important to prevent him from becoming a “Velcro dog” and falling into anxious & destructive behaviors. He doesn’t need human sympathy and you should not be his security blanket, he has come a long way from his fear of abandonment.
Pogo lives with 2 other cats in the house, he is fine with cats that he knows. A bold cat would be recommended. He does understand key words to respect the feline’s space. In an outdoor situation he does show a prey drive to chase any moving target. He does have key words again for this and is treats motivated. Keeping him on leash is best.
Pogo is house & crate trained. He will panic at head light or flash lights; the leg injury may have happened at night. He fears fireworks and getting into cars (He was dumped and remembers this). Car rides are getting better now.
I find him to be a lovely go lucky happy dog without a mean bone in him. He is eager to please. He is loyal and seeks companionship. He shies from reprimands so he is a quick learner (Excepts for chasing moving targets). I doubt that he would kill a cat; he would want to sniff it and play.
Pogo’s vocabulary
Leave it – Chasing moving targets
Out, Back – Away from personal space
Go lay down – Away from personal space giving him a safe zone other than “You”.
Enough – Disapproving of behavior & Go back to lay down in his safe zone.
Sit – before going through the door. You always go first, not the dog to prevent injuries.
Lay down – Settling an anxious behavior, use safe space for that."
If you are interested in meeting Pogo, please contact us.
Coming back to his name
Come visit us Monday through Saturday 11am to 5pm or contact us via info@caymanislandshumanesociety.com for more information.