Talisman

This dog will be at the Palo Alto Pet Food Express on Saturday, February 21st from 12-3pm unless adopted prior to the event. To be considered for adoption, please submit an application in advance at https://www.dpsrescue.com/adopt/dog-application.<br>Adoption fee: $700
Meet Talisman - a gentle soul with a heart full of potential.

Talisman is a 1 year old, 11-pound CKC-Dachshund mix who is truly a gentle soul. Despite a rough start in life- dumped in a crate with seven other dogs and left in a warehouse- Talisman is quietly blossoming into a loving, devoted companion. In his foster home, he has shown just how special he is: calm, observant, and deeply appreciative of kindness.

Talisman enjoys a peaceful daily routine. He wakes up between 6-7 a.m. for a potty break, then happily heads back inside for more snoozing. Breakfast is around 8 a.m., followed by another quick trip outside. During the day, he likes to lounge near his foster parent or close to his canine foster sister, Penny, an 18-lb Chihuahua mix whom he clearly adores. If there's gardening happening, Talisman is content to relax in the backyard, soaking up the sunshine. In the evenings, he's a world-class snuggler-curled up on the couch or nestled into a lap, quietly enjoying being near his people.

What truly makes Talisman shine is his bond with other dogs. From day one, he was drawn to Penny, watching her closely and learning how to "dog" by following her lead. Her presence gives him confidence, and thanks to her, he's started to seek out affection, engage in play, and even enjoy wrestling and chasing games around the house. He recently had his very first zoomies in the backyard- a big milestone for this once-shut-down little guy.

Talisman has a naturally gentle, polite demeanor. He's been out in the world more than you might expect for a shy dog: he's visited a wine bar, calmly accepting cuddles from a friendly stranger, and attended a party in the park where he rode in a backpack and charmed everyone he met. He may start out a bit nervous, but he settles quickly and handles new experiences with quiet grace. Truly, he's a little gentleman.

Talisman is still finding his footing, as is to be expected for a rescue dog. He follows his foster from room to room, always wanting to be nearby, though he keeps enough distance to feel comfortable. He's making steady progress with housetraining- he happily goes outside and has his own way of letting his foster know when he needs a potty break by pacing around the kitchen island. He sleeps in a crate at night (even though he'd much prefer to be snuggled up in bed with you) and does well when left alone for short periods, especially if another dog is home with him.

Talisman is very shy at first and will need a patient adopter with prior experience with timid dogs. He isn't fully comfortable on a leash yet and is still learning that it's safe, so his adopter should be willing to continue slow, positive leash work. He also does best with a resident dog, as having a confident canine buddy has made a huge difference in helping him come out of his shell.

The ideal home for Talisman is a calm, understanding one with a kind human who knows when to move slowly and when to gently encourage him- and ideally, another friendly dog to show him the ropes. With time, patience, and love, Talisman will reward his person with unwavering loyalty, quiet companionship, and those irresistible curly whiskers that make everyone fall in love at first sight.