Mitchell - Fostered in SE Nebraska

What a striking young dog Mitchell is! He has few needs. He would enjoy an active household, one where the family is outside and enjoys outdoor activities. A household with another dog would be nice and maybe some older kids. Oh, and he requests there are adequate treats available. He would enjoy all the love and attention and the joy of being special that all dogs crave. Handsome Mitchell is not perfect. He's a bit rough around the edges in two ways. He still is learning that not everybody likes to be face-to-face. He really has no concept of personal space. Mitchell wants to put his nose as close to you as he can to make sure that you know he is there and would like a smooch or an ear scrunch. He is learning but still likes to be very close. And he barks at strangers who come in. He is alarmed but not aggressive. He would probably do best in a household that doesn't have a lot of people popping in and out. This behavior can be worked on. What the heck breed is he? Well, he sure looks like he has beagle in him. He has that nice muzzle and those silky ears, and the temperament of a beagle. Repeated searches on the web keep pulling him up as a Swiss Mountain Dog. The appearance is spot on. However, mountain dogs are big. Mitchell is not. At 40 pounds and 8 months, he weighs more than your average beagle, but will probably reach an ideal weight of 45 to 50 pounds when full grown. Whatever he is, Mitchell is a hound dog. A good-looking sweetheart of a hound dog. Mitchell came as a rambunctious puppy a few months ago, ravenous for love and attention, jumping up and around and all over. He has improved enormously. He gets into his favorite position by getting his front paws on your lap and then squirming around slightly so that his back is to you so you can rub his chest and belly. Kids? He has no experience. He would probably love them. However, he is enthusiastic in seeking kisses, so might not be a match for very young children or for anyone of any age with mobility impairments. And, again, note that he seems discomfited by strangers who appear, and would need supervised time to get to know visitors. Cats? Probably not. He has no experience with them but he is snoopy and enthusiastic and can be pushy. Mitchell is crate trained but he doesn't enjoy it. When put in a crate at night, he cries at first but settles down when the lights go out. During the day, he is not crated when his foster is gone, but is not given full access to the house, either. He has the run of a large family room with a doggy door to the back yard. He has not been destructive but neither has he been given the chance he is a puppy and puppies can chew with abandon. He is learning to walk on a leash. He mostly follows his human, and the leash is there between them. Mitchell is potty trained, but with a doggie door. He will need patience if he must adapt to going potty on a leash but he's a smart fellow. He is spayed, chipped, and up-to-date on vaccines, including influenza. He is heartworm negative and on monthly heartworm preventative. Mitchell is fostered in southeast Nebraska. If interested in adoption please fill out the application at www.bassetandbeagle.org. His adoption fee is $375.