Maddie is a wonderful dog, sweet as pie, and a perfect companion. You
will have to look hard to find a dog with a sweeter disposition than
Maddie’s. She loves to be where you are and enjoys snuggling up close
to you for a nap on the couch or in the bed at night. She will wake
you up gently by tickling you with her whiskers and if that doesn’t
work she will lay on you and give you a gentle lick. Maddie can often
be found lying on her back in the middle of the floor with a toy
between her front paws. She loves to play with her toys and other
dogs. Her favorite game is tug and she has learned to release the rope
when the command “out” is given and the rope is pulled in close to
your body. She is persistent so you must be also.

Maddie has come a long way since October and now has very good
manners. She will counter surf in the kitchen if you are not in there
with her but has learned that behavior is socially unacceptable in
your presence. Maddie can sit, down, touch, kennel, wait, back, place,
walk, and comes to “Ma-ddie”. Her marker word is “yes”. Maddie is a
very bright dog and enjoys training. She works very hard to please her
handler and has been taught to be an active thinker. You can watch
Maddie work through a problem and solve it on her own. This bright
girl can even open lightweight doors by pressing her nose against it
between the handle and the door frame. Maddie WILL test you so you
must be consistent with your corrections and make your expectations of
her social behaviors very clear. This does not require much work since
she is eager to please but it will be important that you are clear and
consistent in the way you communicate with Maddie while she is
adjusting to her new home.

Maddie is currently undergoing training for leash frustration and will
require management of this behavior for the rest of her life. Maddie
is very friendly and gets excited when she sees another dog while on
lead. Not being able to get to them causes her frustration and she
acts out by barking and snapping. Maddie is not an aggressive dog and
this is not true aggression. It is the instinctual release of the
frustration Maddie feels in that moment. Maddie’s training is teaching
her that there is another way to react when she sees other dogs on
lead and that she can choose to react positively instead. Maddie is
doing very well in her training and is learning to look at her handler
for a treat when she feels frustration or anxiety. She attends weekly
group classes to work on this specifically and is now allowed to
participate fully in class activities. Management of Maddie’s leash
frustration requires an alert handler and someone who can pick up on
her emotional state. A private training session with Maddie’s trainer
(Crystal Fetting of Crystal Clear Canine Training) will be donated to
Maddie’s new family upon placement to teach them how to manage this
behavior.

Maddie is a truly wonderful dog who deserves an equally wonderful
forever home. Don’t let her leash frustration scare you from meeting
her. She will work very hard to please you if given the chance and the
private training session will provide you with the tools you need to
help Maddie shine.

Please click on the Adopt button below to meet this sweet girl.