(Puppy) Tony

Tony is a fast-moving, busy, fun little guy. This 14-pound shy guy is verrryyy slow to trust new people, so we're going to be looking for an adopter we can trust to do right by him. That means patiently earning his trust, going at his pace, ensuring his safety, and making sure he feels safe every step of the way. We're teaching him all sorts of essential life skills in his Calistoga foster home. His foster family understands that to help Tony grow to be confident and outgoing, they need to keep him feeling safe and help create fabulous associations with objects and events that will be a part of daily life (most importantly, humans!). He is ADORABLE (and scruffy!) and has received a lot of adoption interest, but Tony's looking specifically for an adult-only home with a securely fenced yard. His adopters should be tolerant of a fair amount of alert barking because Tony has a lot to say about scary strangers walking in the front door (this is a work in progress, but also his natural inclination because he tends to be fearful and unsure of things that are new to him). It may take a few visits, but once Tony trusts you, you'll have a loyal partner and companion. 

We're told that his 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.  His mama is about 15 pounds and that's all we know; their specific mix of breeds is anyone's best guess.

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.