Pepper

Love is this sweet Sheltie boy's super-power! He is 8-years-old, adores people, and is very friendly, coming right up for affection, attention, and neck rubs. Attentive and loyal, he prefers to be with his people as much as possible and will lie close by while you work. Pepper has anxiety, including separation anxiety and reactivity, but his foster family feels this will readily improve once settled into his forever home. Pepper sometimes whimpers and barks when you are out of sight, but is not destructive with his separation anxiety. He is reactive to sounds from the outside (thunderstorms, garbage trucks, fireworks, slamming screen doors), but not bothered by house sounds like the vacuum or garbage disposal. His foster home thinks he may have been mostly kept indoors. Pepper will come to you for reassurance and also likes his crate, taking himself there to settle when the stressor is not overwhelming. He gets anxious outdoors and on walks, but has already adjusted to his new yard and is enjoying the occasional, joyful rocket dog. He clearly has a playful heart. Pepper's foster family says he's fine with another easygoing dog but feels he'd thrive better as an only dog in his home. Pepper enjoys cleaning floors, including crumbs and the occasional bit of crumpled paper, and he will happily clean counters and tables if given the opportunity. Pepper will need your commitment to building his confidence and ongoing training work. His foster home is reinforcing recall and sitting, as well as giving his attention. He is learning about leash walking and getting more comfortable with it. Pepper is very responsive to positive training, is food motivated, and is focused on his people, so he is learning fast. His foster family is confident he will continue to blossom and grow with love and patience, becoming a great addition to his new family. Your reward will be a faithful companion who showers you with love. Pepper will do best in a quiet environment and will need a home with a secure fence.