XANDER (Obedience Class GRADUATE)

If you've been following Xander, you know he's been searching for the right home for a long time. Times are tough for shelter dogs with adoptions at a nationwide low. <br/><br/>And to make matters more challenging for Xander, he tends to be like the guy who makes a really goofy first impression on a blind date. On one meet, he reached up with his paw to say hi and accidentally scratched the grandma. She needed a bandaid. :( <br/><br/>The next meet, he was so excited about meeting them that he pulled too hard on his collar and almost passed out. That was way before he had obedience class though. <br/><br/>And most recently, he had developed a mild, but annoying skin rash and spent the meet licking his scrotum. It was not his best look....<br/><br/>There was also the time he magically got his collar off overnight. Then ate it. But at least he got to meet a really cool vet named Dr. Greear and learn what an endoscopy was. <br/><br/>And a little more from Xander himself... <br/><br/>Hi there! I'm Xander and I am doing the best I can to find a family who will love me. My friends here at the shelter do so much to keep my hope from fading, but it can really bring a dog down to watch everyone else find their perfect matches ... everyone but me. <br/><br/>My friends here keep telling me that it isn't my fault at all. It's nothing I'm doing wrong and they have faith the right person is out there for me. They tell me this every morning and every evening. Black dogs are just the most overlooked in shelters, they tell me. There's nothing wrong with you, Xander. <br/><br/>When I was first rescued off the street, I had no idea what to do. I was scared. I was hungry. And I didn't understand why my first home would leave me frightened and alone in a strange neighborhood. <br/><br/>My good friends at the shelter taught me how to walk on a leash, play fetch (and really bring it back) and now, they're teaching me how to swim! This week is extra exciting because I'm also starting night school with Downriver Dogs Obedience. My friends say I'm such a smart boy, they want to see how I do advancing my education! <br/><br/>Pssst... and if I'm adopted during this semester, my new family can take over my weekly class for free. <br/><br/><br/><br/> Email us about him today to schedule a time to meet him one on one (with one of his many human friends). Xander has had day trips just hanging out at volunteers' homes. His favorite thing to do is watch them cook and lay on the floor playing with his toys after a two mile walk. Xander can couch potato with the best of them, but he also likes to stretch his legs! <br/><br/><br/>Online Dog Adoption Forms: : https://wacshelter.com/adopt-a-dog/<br/>Website for general questions: www.wacshelter.com<br/>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wacshelter/<br/>Email: wacvolunteers@gmail.com<br/><br/>** Be sure to check out our FACEBOOK page for day to day updates on our<br/>cats and dogs.<br/><br/>Canine adoption fee includes:<br/>Spay/neuter<br/>Age appropriate vaccinations<br/>Deworming<br/>Flea prevention (if required)<br/>Heartworm screening/monthly prevention<br/><br/>** Volunteer dog walkers work with our dogs 7 days a week. What your adoption fee also includes is housetraining, leash walking and a good understanding of the kind of home each dog would thrive in.<br/>ADOPTION FEE: $ 150<br/><br/>"People who say money can't buy you happiness,<br/>have never paid an adoption fee...."<br/><br/><br/><br/>IS THIS DOG SAFE WITH CATS?<br/><br/>There is almost always an acclimation period when a new pet joins the household. We are happy to suggest a few ways to ease the transition. If one of our dogs is reported to have lived with cats previously, that will be indicated in the dog's description!<br/><br/>IS THIS DOG GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS?<br/><br/>No dog loves every other dog, just as humans do not like every other human they meet. A proper introduction (meet and greet) would be required as part of our application process.<br/><br/>IS THIS DOG GOOD WITH CHILDREN?<br/><br/>The better question is how the children have been taught to handle animals. A dog will respond negatively if he/she is not being handled properly. We can offer suggestions on how to teach children to interact with dogs and pay attention to body language. Young children should never be left unsupervised with new dogs.<br/><br/>WHY IS THIS DOG IN THE SHELTER?<br/><br/>The top reasons dogs are given up are:<br/><br/>Moving without considering the needs of the pets<br/>Death of the owner with no plan in place for the pets<br/>Previous owner did not provide appropriate training<br/>Owner did not consider the lifespan of a dog<br/>Owner did not consider the cost of providing for a dog

If you've been following Xander, you know he's been searching for the right home for a long time. Times are tough for shelter dogs with adoptions at a nationwide low.

And to make matters more challenging for Xander, he tends to be like the guy who makes a really goofy first impression on a blind date. On one meet, he reached up with his paw to say hi and accidentally scratched the grandma. She needed a bandaid. :(

The next meet, he was so excited about meeting them that he pulled too hard on his collar and almost passed out. That was way before he had obedience class though.

And most recently, he had developed a mild, but annoying skin rash and spent the meet licking his scrotum. It was not his best look....

There was also the time he magically got his collar off overnight. Then ate it. But at least he got to meet a really cool vet named Dr. Greear and learn what an endoscopy was.

And a little more from Xander himself...

Hi there! I'm Xander and I am doing the best I

If you've been following Xander, you know he's been searching for the right home for a long time. Times are tough for shelter dogs with adoptions at a nationwide low.

And to make matters more challenging for Xander, he tends to be like the guy who makes a really goofy first impression on a blind date. On one meet, he reached up with his paw to say hi and accidentally scratched the grandma. She needed a bandaid. :(

The next meet, he was so excited about meeting them that he pulled too hard on his collar and almost passed out. That was way before he had obedience class though.

And most recently, he had developed a mild, but annoying skin rash and spent the meet licking his scrotum. It was not his best look....

There was also the time he magically got his collar off overnight. Then ate it. But at least he got to meet a really cool vet named Dr. Greear and learn what an endoscopy was.

And a little more from Xander himself...

Hi there! I'm Xander and I am doing the best I can to find a family who will love me. My friends here at the shelter do so much to keep my hope from fading, but it can really bring a dog down to watch everyone else find their perfect matches ... everyone but me. 

My friends here keep telling me that it isn't my fault at all. It's nothing I'm doing wrong and they have faith the right person is out there for me. They tell me this every