Nala

Foster Location: Princeton, NJ

Sex: Female

Age: 3 years

Approx. Weight: 50 lbs

Compatibility

Good with other dogs: No, must be the only dog in the house

More about dog relationships: Very anxious around other dogs.

Good with cats: No

Good with children: No

Personality & Needs

Activity Preference: Needs a couple walks a day., Low maintenance overall but needs quality outside time., Other: Doesn't need much inside activity but will want to play a couple times a day

IQ: Smart

Favorite things: Loves belly rubs and getting physical affection, big fan of treats, enjoys cuddling, thrilled to have a good squeaky toy, likes chew toys/edible chews, happy just to lie on the floor with her people around

Good at: Going for car rides, Cuddling, Playing, Other: She's a quick learner and does well with training

Ideal home: No children, Quiet environment, A fenced yard, Other: Lots of love

Training needs: Socialization with people, Socialization with dogs, Leash training, Needs obedience training, Other: Training depends on what her family needs/wants. She's good around the house, and can stay alone in a room quietly if strangers come over. Is often good meeting people, but not always. Knows basic commands but has room to grow. Learning to be around other dogs would be a reach goal for her.

Health

Health issues: Anxiety, separation anxiety, fear related behaviors that can lead to reactivity. Seasonal allergies. She seems to have some pain in her front-right limb (vet has noticed that it may be sensitive, suggested might be an old injury) but it doesn't have a major impact on her mobility, vet prescribed Rimadyl for pain management, but have not suggested interventions to fix it.

Medications/supplements: Fluoxetine 40mg X2 daily Gabapentin 400mg X2 daily Rimadyl 50mg X2 daily Clonidine has been prescribed to use as needed, but is rarely needed

Food being fed: She's had a few different kibbles w/ fish as protein. Vet has recommended single-protein foods with fewer ingredients. She has not had any digestive issues switching between different fish-based kibble brands.

Bio

Nala is a sweet little dumpling full of love who was slated for euthanasia at Trenton Animal Shelter before she was rescued. Now that she's taken some time to decompress from the shelter, she's ready to find a furever home where she can feel safe and put a difficult past behind her. Nala can take some time to trust new people, but once she bonds she's as affectionate and as loyal as they come. She loves attention, and will gladly let you know when she needs some TLC, whether that's by rolling over for belly rubs the moment you enter the room or sticking her big head in your lap and staring at you with her soulful eyes until you give her some scratches.

Once she's settled in, Nala is happy to live a calm, quiet life. She likes a little excitement in her day, whether that's playing with squeaky toys, chewing on a good stick, going for short walks, jumping in the car with you, or some occasional zoomies in the yard. But for most of her day she's content just to lie down by your feet and know that she's safe.

Nala has made a lot of progress improving her manners, and needs a home where she can continue to work on improving these skills. Fortunately, she's a quick learner, very food-motivated, eager to please, and she even takes her treats very gently! She already knows sit, lie down, stay, come, touch, and paw, and she's capable of learning much more.

Nala has had a lot of homes in her three years, and that's left her with some separation anxiety. Once she's bonded, she'll follow her people from room to room like it's her job, keeping an eye on you to make sure you're safe. Fortunately, she clocks out in the evenings and will happily run straight to her crate when it's time for bed. She's gotten much better at being alone during the days, and if people are coming over and she needs to be out of the way she can stay by herself in another room with only the occasional whine. That said, she's not a big fan of closed doors, and is always happiest when she knows there's nothing separating her from her humans.

Nala is a great dog, but she won't be right for everyone. She'll do best in a calm adults-only home, where she can settle into a regular routine. She also needs to be the only pet in the house, and can get worked up on walks when she sees other dogs. (She'd benefit from a fenced in yard or outdoor space where she can play, roll around, and sunbathe without the stress of the outside world coming in.) When she's around people who she doesn't fully trust, Nala can engage in resource guarding around chews and food, and she can be reactive to sudden movements. She's house trained, and there are no issues 99%% of the time… but she can occasionally lose control of her bladder when she gets particularly stressed. She takes medication for her anxiety, which has helped considerably with some of her behavioral challenges.

Nala isn't the most straightforward dog, there's some work involved to earn her trust and she still has room to grow and improve. But she's already made tremendous progress and has lots of potential to continue to learn and grow. For the right person or family she will be the best friend you've ever had, and will show you how much she loves you every single day.



PLEASE READ: Adopters will not be considered without completing an application. Please visit www.AmericanBulldogRescue.org to apply! Remember - Adoption is always the best option! If you can't help by adopting a homeless pet, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to American Bulldog Rescue, 4 Terry Drive, Suite 1D Newtown, PA 18940 or paypal [email protected]. We cannot place dogs in homes with children under 10 unless that dog has lived with kids or is in a foster home with kids. Thank you.