About Virgil |
- Status: Adopted!
- Adoption Fee: 250.00
- Species: Dog
- Rescue ID: 2013-042
- Color: Black and Tan
- Ear Type: Erect
- Tail Type: Long
- Current Size: 73 Pounds
- Potential Size: 85 Pounds
- Current Age: 15 Years (best estimate)
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- Housetrained: Yes
- Owner Experience Needed: Breed
- Reaction to New People: Cautious
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3 1/2 years old. Good with large and small dogs; good with children; cats TBD.
If anyone is looking for a sweet, gentle soul packaged in a German Shepherd’s body, then you need look no further than Virgil. We don’t know Virgil’s entire story, but we know it included living for at least a year in a small outdoor pen, receiving very little in the way of food and care, much less kindness. Yet, as testament to the remarkable resilience of dogs, Virgil emerged from that limited existence with the most wonderful spirit. He does have an initial reserve with new people, but gets over it quickly. When he first came into foster care he was a LOT more comfortable with my dogs than he was with me. He needed to learn – and his foster brothers were just the ones to show him – that people can be OK, too. He warmed up to me within about a day and soon went from being stand-offish to being as underfoot and affection-seeking as any other dog. Since settling in he’s turned into a remarkably playful dog, but it’s a GENTLE play, if that makes sense. For example, he loves toys and will collect them and bat them around, etc, but has never chewed one up. “What’s up with that?” his foster brothers say. :-) And although he’ll chase after a ball and bring it back, it’s the lowest intensity game of fetch you’ll probably ever see (check out a video of this below). But you can’t help smiling to see him with his quiet, happy energy.
I don’t think Virgil had ever lived in a house before but he got the hang of housetraining from the very beginning, and crates easily. In fitting with the rest of his personality, he doesn’t chew things up or otherwise cause damage in the house, with one exception: he is most definitely a counter-surfer. Now, he’s only been in foster care for two weeks as I write this and he MAY become completely trustworthy in the kitchen, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Often when dogs have been as hungry as he was for as long as he was, they can never truly get the concept of “off limits for me” when food is concerned. But this is a really small negative in a dog who has so many positives. Plus, it keeps you on your toes. And isn’t that one of the joys of adding a dog to your home? :-)
Virgil walks nicely on a leash and although he doesn’t yet love care rides (he hasn’t had very many), he rides easily. He will be starting his heartworm treatment in mid-May and will be ready for his forever home by mid-June.
