(Puppy) Lucia

Lucia (pronounced "loo-CHEE-a") is a real cutie! She's a reserved pup who came to WCAL from the Clearlake Animal Shelter. We're told that her mama also takes a little time to warm up to new people so this isn't surprising since genetics play a large part in animal behavior. Her foster family understands that to help her blossom they need to keep Lucia feeling safe and help create fabulous associations with objects and events that are going to be a part of daily life (most importantly, humans!). She spent her first 8 weeks of life in a shelter kennel and we are playing catchup now to teach her how to trust new things, to be brave in new places and to happily greet strangers, but it will take lots of patience, understanding and love.

Lucia is curious and likes to explore the yard, dig and bring back sticks to chew. She is old enough to use the dog door reliably in her foster home. Lucia is head over heels for the adult dog in her foster home and always tries to hang out near Max, a 30-pound scruffy nice guy. We believe that a confident outgoing young adult dog would be a great role model for her in her forever home, but most important is the willingness of her adopter to go slow, keep her safe and give Lucia the time she needs to bond and trust. Lucia has really pretty markings on her face and she is enjoying being cuddled by people she trusts. Lucia has been attending puppy socials which are great for building confidence around other dogs, new objects, strange environments and unfamiliar people.

We ask that all WCAL puppy adopters commit to attending a 4 week-long reward-based training class with their new puppy (we'll help you find a qualified, dog-friendly trainer near you). This is the best way we know how to help you bond with your new pup, give you access to current training techniques and ensure that your new dog becomes a well-rounded member of society. We believe in being proactive and know from experience that the best time to train a dog is NOW! It's important that the dogs we rescue get the very best start. If you don't have time to attend training classes with a puppy, please consider choosing an adult dog or waiting to adopt until your schedule is more flexible.