(Update: Bo has found a perfect home!) Bo is absolutely the sweetest guy, and stink’n cute to boot. However, Bo has had a difficult beginning to life and has always been an outdoor dog, so there is more we don’t know about Bo than we do. He is currently looking for a foster home, but someone interested in “fostering-to-adopt” would be the ideal situation…so that Bo hopefully doesn’t have to make yet another home transition just as he is beginning to bond and adapt to the first. This boy has been severely let down by people in the past and TART is going to be very particular that any home he goes to is set up to give him the love, care, guidance, and opportunity to thrive he’s been waiting 4 long years to have.
Bo Details: • 4 years-old • Male • Not Neutered (TART will pay to get this done right away) • Heart worm Positive (TART will pay for treatment) • Probably Not Microchipped (TART will pay to get this done) • 60 lbs • Loving/affectionate • Not Housebroken (has only been an outdoor dog) • No training but smart, eager to please and trainable • Surprisingly good on a leash • Good with other dogs • Absolutely not a fit for a home with cats or chickens
Good with children (has never lived with children) • No crate training (more on that in details)
No aggression, no bite or nip history • Told he had AKC papers but current owner did not obtain them
Medical History: Bo came to TART with no medical history. He has since gotten caught up on this vaccinations and other essentials but was found to be heart worm positive. Any foster or foster to adopt must be willing to see him through heart worm treatment (paid for by TART) which includes keeping him calm and his activity low to prevent further damage as the heart worms are killed.
Origin: Bo’s surrendering owner found him at a breeder's home approx. 3 years ago when he was looking for a Schnauzer. He was shown Bo instead, who was being housed in a 3’ x 4’ off-the-ground rabbit hutch. Bo was about a year old at the time. There was not even enough room for him to fully stand. Current owner said Bo was so physically and mentally defeated that when the two men approached the hutch, Bo did not even raise his head. He was totally shut-down. Current owner also said that the “rabbit hutch breeder” told him that Bo survived a scary, close-call episode. Bo's rabbit hutch was right up next to the home when the house caught on fire. Fortunately, someone retrieved Bo before the flames reached the hutch, but current owner said, to this day, Bo will leave an area, obviously uncomfortable, if someone starts a fire. Current owner decided he could not leave Bo in the situation he found him and bought him from the “rabbit hutch breeder”. TART is relaying this story NOT to inflame anyone (though that is totally warranted) but hopefully to give some insights as to why we are going to be very particular as to the crating intentions of any new adopter. Bo is now 4 years, has never been crated in the way most of us think of crating, and given his past inhumane confinement, we believe we would be setting up Bo and an adoptive family for misery, frustration and failure if the adopters intended to utilize a crate routinely for extended periods.
Most Recent Home: Bo has been living the past 3 years as an outdoor dog on a fenced residential property, roughly 3 acres in size. Although fenced, the driveway gate often got left open and Bo would take advantage of that opportunity to go exploring and visit neighbors. There was also a female Doodle living there for some time. Bo was bred with the Doodle on one occasion. There were 9 puppies we are assuming got sold. The Doodle had been rehomed prior to Bo being surrendered to TART.
Reason for Surrender: Bo’s surrendering owner has sold his home and is moving. Whereas, in the past, when Bo got out and went exploring, there was little to no traffic in their remote location. The new home however, is next to a busy road.
Disposition: His surrendering owner said Bo is a good, friendly dog. He has family with small children who visit frequently and Bo has always played and interacted really well with them. Bo LOVES to play ball. Surrendering owner even devised a ball set-up, where Bo's ball was attached by a rope to a tree limb, with a bit of spring tethered along with the rope, enabling Bo to play ball when he was by himself. The rope/spring set-up assured the ball would bounce around unpredictably to Bo's delight. Bo has never had problems with any dogs, of any sex or size BUT, cannot be trusted around cats and chickens and other small animals. Bo is anxious around fireworks, storms, other loud noises (like guns), and, as mentioned above, fire.
TART observations: When our TART volunteer arrived at the home to pick Bo up, Bo never barked at him or the car. He was happy, and friendly and was incredibly gentle as he graciously accepted a treat our volunteer offered him. With no traveling history, Bo was a content, laid-back, easy passenger in the car during the 1 ½ hour transport. He completely lapped up all the love and attention he was getting. Our volunteer was able to observe him meet several dogs of various sizes and Bo greeted each one with a wagging tail and a smile. Bo was surprisingly well-mannered on a leash, which is quite a notable feat for a boy with little to no leash background. Volunteer’s take on Bo: “Bo is completely impressive, especially knowing his background. Someone is going to absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this guy. With a little bit of polish he is going to be completely amazing..he already has SO much natural charisma. His personality and disposition stole my heart right away.”
Foster or Foster-To-Adopt Details: Bo has never lived indoors and will need to be housebroken and transitioned to indoor living. All indications are he will be an easy study in that department BUT Bo will need a home with a loving, patient “stay-at-home/work-from-home” someone who can give him frequent breaks, love him through neutering and heart worm treatment and manage his indoor activity while he learns his manners. Airedale experience is always a plus.
Bo has a good track record interacting with children when they came to visit and they all played together outside. Bo has never lived with children 24/7 inside a home.
Coming from a home with 3 acres to wander, Bo would do best with a larger, very secure, yard. No cats or small animals. Bo could benefit from a friendly canine companion.
Bo is hungry for love and attention and would be over the moon with someone willing to play ball with him....after his heart worm treatment. Lots of cuddles and loving words in the meantime.
Medical Emphasis: Any foster or foster-to-adopt home will need to commit to taking Bo to get neutered (TART pays) and seeing him through to recovery and oversee his heart worm treatment that could require up to 8 weeks or more of keeping Bo calm and his activity low. He is not a high energy boy by nature like some Airedales.
Bo is a super sweet, special boy, but as you can hopefully tell from his profile, he is not a good fit for a routine where he would be home alone for extended periods. He would not be a good fit for a family intending to routinely crate due to his past trauma. Bottom line: Bo is an absolute doll who is starved for love, attention and companionship. He is ready and willing to learn. He’s got the sweetest personality, a loving, friendly temperament and an obvious desire to please…all the necessary ingredients for him to become the perfect addition to the right home. People have failed Bo time and time again, yet he continues to love everyone he meets. Now he needs the perfect person/family to see him through to a better chapter of his life! Go Bo!!
