Scout Labrador Retriever & Plott Hound Mix Warrington, PA

Scout
Black Lab Mix
1.5 year old spayed female

UPDATE 6/29/14: Well, I've been in foster care for a month now, and my foster parent thinks I'm just the sweetest little puppy. He says I have great manners, and is always telling me how smart I am. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a back yard or another dog to play with, but I'm soaking up the belly rubs and getting lots of treats, so it isn't so bad.

I still jump on people sometimes, but only if I'm really wound up (like at the dog park). Otherwise I just do circles with my tail going so fast my whole butt wiggles back and forth. Everyone thinks that is really cute, and I get lots of scratches.

I'm spending time in the crate every day, and as long as I've had a chance to run first, I do pretty well. Still don't like being in there for long periods of time, but that's just because I'm super smart and I get bored.

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UPDATE 5/21/14: Hi! I’ve been working real hard with my mom to correct some of the “issues” I had. Mom says this will make it easier for me to find my forever family, so I wanted to make sure you knew about it! First of all, I’m getting a lot more used to my crate and doing much better in my crate when Mom goes out. I haven’t been barking or trying to escape! I’m crated for 5-6 hours a day and, as far as Mom knows, I’m quiet the whole time. I used to howl as soon as Mom left. But Mom said she’s been staying outside the door for 10-15 minutes and now howling or barking. None of the neighbors have complained about barking, either. I’ve learned that the crate isn’t such a bad thing. I even go in there by myself and sit and wait for Mom to close the door. Well, actually I’m waiting for my peanut butter kong! YUM! But I don’t even care about being in the crate now that I get my peanut butter kong!

Second, I’ve been learning not to jump on people when they come in the house. Sometimes I get so excited I can’t help myself, but now I jump BESIDE visitors because I know I’m not supposed to jump ON them.

I’ve learned so much in just a few weeks. See how SMART I am?? I’ll bet you are smart, too, and together we will make a great team! Read on to learn more about me. But ignore that stuff about me barking and jumping!
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Hi!

My name is Scout. I have a mom who really loves me, but she needs to find me a new home. Why? Well, it’s kind of a long story, but here goes. Last year, a nice lady found me wandering the streets. I was what you humans call a “stray”. The lady couldn’t find my family, so she took care of me until she could find a new family for me. She even took me to doggie daycare with her dog. That’s where I met my mom. She worked at the doggie daycare and fell in love with me. She took me home and I’ve been here ever since. That was about 10 months ago. I got to go to work with my mom every day. That was great because I have lots of energy to burn and I don’t like being left home alone. I love to play with other dogs. It’s fun and it wears me out. And you know what they say; a tired dog is a good dog! Here’s the problem. My mom got a new job and it’s not the kind of job I can go to with her. I still go to doggie day care sometimes, but my mom can’t take me there every day. On the other days I have to stay home. My mom puts me in my crate because otherwise I might chew things that I’m not supposed to. I don’t do that all the time, but my mom wasn’t too happy about that couch cushion. Anyway, I don’t like being in my crate when my mom goes out. I bark and howl. We live in a townhouse so the neighbors can hear me and they complain. My mom is having a hard time figuring out what to do. I know she loves me a whole bunch, but she thinks it would be best to find a new family for me. She thinks I’ll be happier – and quieter – if I get more attention and exercise than she can give me now. I think she’s right so that’s why I’m looking for my new family!


So here’s the scoop on me. I’m 1 ½ years old. I’m a Lab mix. My mom thinks I am mixed with Plott Hound. I’m mostly black, but I have pretty brindle coloring on my face, legs, and chest. Everyone says I’m really pretty. I’m a small girl, about 50 pounds. I’m the perfect size for someone who wants a big dog but not a BIG dog! I’m in great shape. My mom thinks I would be a great agility dog. I’m very quick and agile and I can jump really high. I’m also very smart. I know lots of tricks – like shake and roll over – and I learned most of them one day during my mom’s lunch break. I love to learn new things. If you like to teach things, we’d make a great pair!


My mom’s favorite thing about me is my personality. She says I’m really smart and really funny. She loves to see me outside because of how much I love it. I go off-leash hiking with my mom. I love to sprint through the woods, but I always stay within my mom’s eyesight. I’m good about coming back when she calls me – most of the time. Remember, I’m still a kid so sometimes I get distracted! But remember how smart I am? I’ll bet I could learn to be good about those commands ALL the time if you will help me learn!


I’m an athletic girl who needs to exercise every day. But as long as I’ve had a few walks or a hike or play time with my doggie friends, I settle well. I like to snuggle on the couch with my mom. I get excited when we have company and I might jump on them. But I settle down within a few minutes.


I don’t bark a lot – well, except for that crate thing. And I only bark in the crate when I can’t see people. If someone is in the room with me, I don’t mind the crate so much. Other than the crate, I don’t bark much. I didn’t even bark when the Brookline ladies came to the door!


I don’t have any fears or phobias. I don’t like to be left alone, but I’ve never hurt myself trying to get out of the crate or house and I’ve never done any major damage. So it’s not like I’m super anxious when my mom goes out. I just don’t like it. It’s kind of boring, you know?


I live with another dog now and we get along great. He’s a mellow guy – another black Lab – who belongs to my mom’s roommate. Sometimes I growl at him if I have a bone or food and he comes too close to me. He backs off right away and it’s never gone beyond that. I let my mom (and the Brookline ladies) take food and bones from me. I have never shown any signs of aggression. Sometimes when I am playing with a person and I get excited, I get mouthy. But I don’t mouth hard and I stop when reminded that I’m not supposed to do that. One time, another dog started a fight with me. All I did was try to get away. I’m a lover, not a fighter! My mom says the other dog was a dominant female, like me. So I probably should not have a dominant sister! My mom says I’m awesome with small dogs. I’m calmer and gentler with them.


I’m housebroken. I nudge my mom to let her know I need to go out. I like to get on the furniture so I hope you’ll be cool with that. We could be snuggle buddies while we watch TV! But if you don’t want me on the furniture, that’s okay, too. I used to not be allowed on the furniture and I didn’t mind lying on the floor. Sometimes I trash pick if there’s something really good in there. Seriously, I can’t believe some of the things you humans throw away! Sometimes I chew things I’m not supposed to. I’m still a pup! On the upside, I don’t bolt out the door or run away or chase cars and – get this – I’m good with cats! Not every dog can say that. I like to play with cats and I might chase them if they run. But if they don’t want to play, I won’t pester them. Well, not too much, anyway. I get kind of excited when they hiss at me! I’m good with other dogs and I love to play, but I like to be in charge. I like to play “keep away”!


Here are some things I love: Car rides! I ride in the back seat and go back and forth between the windows smelling all the wonderful smells. Swimming! Hiking! Dog parks and doggie daycare! Stuffed toys! I love to shred them. Hee hee! Do you like those things, too? We could do them together!


I’m good with everyone I’ve met – men, women, and children. I haven’t been around children much, though. I’ve met some kids in the park and they were cool. They gave me treats! But I’ve never lived with kids. We’d have to be careful about that cos remember how I get mouthy sometimes? I know I could learn not to do that since I’m so smart and all! But again, I’ll need some help from you on that!


We don’t have a fenced yard at home so my mom and I go for two or three 30 minute walks a day. I pull some on the leash, but not like crazy. My mom’s parents have a fenced yard so I run around in that when we are there. I don’t jump the fence – even though I easily could. Agility would be so much fun!


I’m used to a busy home so if you have a lot going on, I’m cool with that. I love attention. But if you have a quiet home and it would be just you and me, that would be okay, too as long as we do some fun stuff. When I get bored or lonely, that’s when the “bad” things – like barking and chewing – happen.


These days, my mom has family and friends helping out so that I’m only left alone for a few hours at a time. I have run of the house and I don’t get into trouble as long as I’ve had enough exercise. If I am alone for longer periods or I haven’t burned off my puppy energy, I might entertain myself by getting into the trash or chewing on something interesting. I have a crate and mom said I can take it with me. But I might complain about being in there. Mom isn’t sure how long I bark when I’m crated – just that it’s long enough to make the neighbors complain. I think this is related to how smart I am. See I get bored because my brain is always going. But imagine all the cool things you could do with such a smart dog! I could show off for all your friends and make you the coolest family in the neighborhood!


Here’s what the Brookline volunteer thinks of me: Scout is a young, energetic dog who appears to be in great shape. Her teeth are in good condition, her ears are clean, she is a healthy weight, and looks very muscular. She has no lumps or bumps or skin issues. She takes treats gently. She is very friendly and loves to play. Her excitement sometimes leads to her being jumpy or mouthy, but she doesn't mouth hard and it did not hurt when she did it. She settled fairly quickly after we arrived and laid down to chew on her Kong. She enjoyed getting attention from us and allowed us to touch her all over - ears, feet, tail, mouth. Scout loves to play with other dogs, but also seems to be a real "people dog" who enjoys interacting with people. She's very smart and would probably enjoy going through training classes, agility, fly ball, etc. The only reason I would not recommend placing her with young children is because she is sometimes mouthy. But if the family was dog savvy and felt they could handle this, I think she would enjoy having kids to play with. She's a very sweet dog!


Be sure to check out my video!
Love,
Scout


 
For more information on this Lab, please contact chocolatelabmolly@ptd.net. While this Lab may not be available for adoption by the time you complete the adoption process, other great Labs are always finding their way into our Rescue.
If you are interested in adopting this Lab or any other Lab from our Rescue, please visit our Web site, www.brooklinelabrescue.org, for more information on our adoption process. If you need additional information about the adoption process or whether you are in our coverage area, please send an e-mail to our Rescue at info@brooklinelabrescue.org
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