Reserved, independent, loving male seeking quiet, patient, understanding and loving family!

There once was a littlest hobo named Atlas. Who was found on the streets and brought into a shelter. Nobody came forward for Atlas so he was transferred to AARCS. The shelter was warm and safe and the people there were kind and loving but alas, Atlas was terrified. He did not see or smell anything he recognized. These were not his bowl, his bed, his toys for he did not have any of that on the street. He no longer had the freedom to run the streets, narrowly skirting traffic as he sniffed out the next smell.

Atlas got one of the last rooms at the shelter. It was warm and safe but busy and the tenants there were loud. Sure, there was plenty of good food and water and he was safe to sleep without worrying about being attacked but still this was a foreign land and Atlas was afraid. When first afraid Atlas would make himself small, but the vet and other humans at the shelter wanted to touch him! They wanted to put a collar and leash on him so they could take him for a walk.? Atlas did not understand this loving touch, this kindness, this tethered walk.  Atlas was a country dog in the big city. The longer he was confined in the busy shelter the more fearful and uncomfortable Atlas became. That’s when I came into the story, I am Atlas’s foster Mom.

I was told Atlas was quite upset and fearful while in shelter. In his foster tile photo, I only saw the beautiful dog that Atlas could be, his best self, and I wanted to foster him. I drove him to my “quiet” home and introduced him to my quirky fur family of four “littles”. I figured he might have some business of his own to do after a moderate car ride. I opened the door to the backyard and Atlas ran outside sniffing out the territory, marking and doing his business with the rest of the dogs.  It was like he was one of the pack all in under 5 minutes.  Hmmm, I thought, I don’t see a fearful dog. Possibly it was just all the hustle, bustle, noise and action of the shelter?  Atlas just needs calmer and quieter to feel and be his best self.

Over the next few weeks, I soon came to know Atlas better. He is a reserved gentleman. He knows what he is comfortable with and will let me know. He communicates well with the other dogs, and they all get along most of the time. Atlas has learned he can trust me to touch and, pet him, pick him up and put on his sweater, collar and leash. He loves his neck being scratched; it is his “sweet” spot. He gets a great neck- body-neck massage when the collar is off. Once he wears his collar clip that leash on and hitch him to a sleigh so he can pull you down the street once you open that door.  So, who is perfect anyway?

Atlas is working on “walking” on leash, but to him, there is only one gear, and that is VAROOOM! After your “walk”, make sure you have the front door closed before you remove that leash. I decided Atlas’s other name is Bolt, as in he will bolt out that door to chase after his old hobo life and can that dog go! He will be halfway down the block before you notice he has left. In all fairness, he is a younger adult who has lots of energy.  Once he has exercise, he is a chill dog in the house. But if he does not get his exercise inside a large, fenced yard or on a good walk, an open door is an invitation to “FREEDOM!”.

Atlas loves to chew on bully sticks and any healthy dog chew alternative.  Before his dental he had started to play with toys occasionally on his own but has not yet wanted to play with me.  He occasionally plays with the other dogs too. He likes to speak to me when I am ignoring him and focusing on the computer. He will grunt (like a growling purr) his disapproval of me when I stop massaging him too soon.

Atlas and I are still getting to know each other. I look forward to getting to know him better and getting him comfortable on leash and wanting to play with me soon. But until later, I enjoy his “cat like” attitude of, “Ok, pet me now. That is enough. Thanks. Love you!”

If you are a calmer, patient, loving person, living in a quieter home with a fenced yard for running and playing.  If you are willing to work with his” Royal Speediness” on leash walks. And if you are great at giving neck rubs, a lot, then Atlas may be the dog you have been looking for, apply to meet Atlas today!