Popcorn

Meet Popcorn!

Popcorn is a happy boy who is quick to make friends with people and is very smart and eager to learn. He loves being a very large lap dog and especially loves belly rubs and chin scratches.

His DNA results says he is half poodle, some catahoula, australian cattle dog, border collie, and a little bit of other stuff. At 9 months old, he’s already closing in on 50 pounds so he will be a pretty big boy! Unlike most “oodles”, he has a wiry coat that is shedding just a little when combed so it is unclear what his grooming requirements will be. He’s strong and sturdy, and gets excited and can jump up sometimes. He loves plush toys and soft beds and enjoys a good round of “fetch the plush toy” and even likes to tug. Popcorn loves playing with a canine playmate and is learning the art of “sharing” but would likely be fine as an only dog if his human folks are willing to play long and hard with him.

Popcorn is smart! He listens well and loves to work for treats. He is a quick and eager learner. He already knows to sit, lie down, stay, and off. He loves to spin and is happy to weave through my legs for treats. He might make a fun freestyle dog! He was an absolute pro at the groomers earning a “good boy” rating by all. See here: Grooming Post. 

This pooch is an active sniffer which will likely make him a great scent dog, however, he shows every indication of following his nose on a deer trail and will bolt towards and high pitch bark at sighted critter. He loves to hike, but is constantly on the look out for a critter so we have found he is better on a special leash around his nose to control his pulling. Because of his strong interest in critters, we really feel a home with a fenced yard is a better fit for this guy. In addition, it should be noted that he has not been cat tested and with his reaction to squirrels, he may find it tempting to chase if the cat runs.

Popcorn was picked up as a stray and was a little reactive with dogs and people initially when out and about. Now people are something he wants to approach and say hi and he is much better with dogs. He has growled a little bit but has improved a lot in a short period of time and is expected to react less and less as he continues to interact with more new things, people, places and animals. He has flown in small planes, watched kids sled on a hill, rides well in a car and walked on grated stairs that some dogs will not tolerate, so he is showing signs of amazing resilience. He is gaining confidence and settling down, but a new home will probably kick some of this reactivity off again. His new people will need to be patient and prepared to work through this. The good news is that he takes correction and redirection really well!

Popcorn is completely house trained, can use a doggie door and rides well in a crate in the car. He has shown some discontent when his people leave the house and has destroyed bedding left with him in his crate or next to the crate. He has been tested on being left loose in the house when his people leave and did well for short outings but has torn up cardboard, and found other things to destroy on the longer outings.  He quickly became trustworthy sleeping on a dog bed in the bedroom without getting into any mischief and he has a good off switch when his people are watching TV or working on the computer, so it seems like the destructive behavior is related to being left alone in the house (even with a canine companion). Hopefully this behavior when left alone will fade once he is permanently with his forever family and can trust they will come back. Unfortunately, right now it seems like someone who will be gone for 8+ hours, 5 days a week for work may not be the right fit for Popcorn.

If you are the perfect forever home for Popcorn please fill out an application and contact his foster parents at kmerilnater@yahoo.com. BRBCR’s approval process includes phone interviews, reference checks, and a home visit prior to meeting a foster dog. Approved applicants must meet at the foster dog’s location. Every adoption begins with a 2-week trial period.

Popcorn’s adoption fee is $350.

Thank you for considering a rescue dog!