Kirby is a charming and playful 2 year old terrier mix that weighs 53 lbs. He is at his full grown size and will not get any larger. This sweet, social pup loves making new doggy friends everywhere he goes. He is very submissive and polite when being introduced to other dogs, and once it is established that they're friends, he immediately goes into a gentlemanly play bow to initiate some fun. He enjoys being outdoors, so whether he is sunbathing in the yard, splashing around in a pond or lake, or even exploring nature trails with his human, he will be happy to join. His adventurous spirit makes him a great addition to an active family that shares his love for nature. He promises to bring joy and loyalty into your life, and he will always greet you with that sweet pibble smile and plenty of puppy kisses. He would flourish in a single-family home with a fenced yard, where he can run and play to his heart's content. With positive reinforcement training, Kirby is easy to train and responds well to praise and toys.
Kirby is medium energy, so he needs either a few short exercise sessions or one longer energy-burning activity per day. He enjoys both mental stimulation activities and physical activities, and once he is done, he is happy to wind down to relax and cuddle up on the couch. This adventurous pup loves going on long hikes, playing fetch in open fields, and exploring new places. Despite his energetic nature, he is very well-mannered in public and knows how to distinguish a more extensive exercise session from a leisurely walk around the neighborhood. After a good play or exercise session, Kirby morphs into a love bug and he'll happily soak up belly rubs and snuggles while snoring away on the couch. He loves to play with other dogs in similar size and energy level, and would benefit from having another dog in his forever home that he can enjoy some fun games of tug-o-war or chase with. If you have a large pool or a smaller doggy pool that he can swim and splash around in, he will be the happiest boy in the world. He loves when his fosters take him to fun adventures at Sniff Spots that have ponds, and he could spend hours just sprawled out on his belly in the shallow areas after an exercise session.
Kirby is potty trained and leash trained, and has almost mastered kennel training. He knows how to use a doggy door and will use it whenever he needs to go out to potty, or even when he just wants to spend time sunbathing on the porch. He is not destructive when he is left out at night while his humans are sleeping, and will happily curl up on a comfy dog bed or couch to snooze the night away, then will greet you in the morning with a big smile on his face. He is happy to hang out in his kennel with the door open while his humans are home and can be kenneled for short periods, but is working on overcoming some separation anxiety tendencies. He needs an experienced owner who can provide a gentle and supportive environment, and would excel in a home where at least one adult is present during the day. His fosters have done a great job at providing comfort and reassurance as he continues to work on being left alone in a kennel while they step out of the home for short periods. Once he is settled and comfortable in his environment, he has gradually adapted to being left alone for a couple of hours, and with patience and consistency, his independence can continue to grow.
Kirby is dog, cat, and kid friendly. He is a kid-friendly companion who would thrive in a family with children over the age of 10. While he's playful and energetic, he can get a bit rambunctious during playtime and would be a great match for a family who can appreciate his enthusiasm. His happy wiggle butt may just knock over a toddler or smaller child, so children over 10 is recommended. He is very dog friendly and is submissive towards other dogs. He has been in a home with both large and small dogs, and he loves them all. He is super silly and playful, so having another dog in the home that matches his size and playful demeanor would be ideal as he may be too much for an older, lower energy pup who wouldn't appreciate his big puppy games. He would be fine being an only dog in the home as long as he gets to have frequent puppy play dates or gets to attend a doggy day care a couple of times a week. If you work on a hybrid schedule, enrolling him in a doggy day care on the days you are working in the office would be extremely beneficial for him as he could have time to spend playing with his dog friends and also would good way to let him burn some energy while you're at work. He's also good with the cats in his foster home, and knows how to respect their boundaries and give them space when needed. He can bit shy around new people at first and will politely stand back allowing space while he gets familiar with them. He is drawn to men initially and will be their shadow walking around the house, but he is quick to warm up and shower women with affection once he gets to know them.
Kirby's ideal home environment would be a house with a fenced in backyard that he can run around and play in, and if there is another playful dog his size for him to play with, too, then that's a major plus. It is not recommended that he lives in an apartment, condo, or townhome unless there is an attached fenced in backyard and his humans work from home. He would be fine being the only dog in the home as long as he gets plenty of outside playtime and exercise, and gets to have puppy play dates or go to doggy day care frequently since he loves his doggy friends, too.
If you are interested in adopting Kirby, please fill out an application at: https://www.loveandpuppypawsdogrescue.com/adoption-application.
Kirby is in a foster home in Central Texas and will be transported once adopted.
TRANSPORT: Currently we have monthly transports. It will be up to the adoptive family to meet the transport to pick up your new family member. Please be advised that our dogs are adopted to their forever families prior to being transported. Unfortunately at this time, we cannot bring dogs for a typical meet and greet situation, due to the extensiveness of the transport distance and it being unfair for the dogs who are not adopted to have to make the trip back.
Please be advised that applications are reviewed in the order that they are received. To ensure we are honoring the dogs that we have committed to helping, we do have policies and procedures in place that we follow when reviewing adoption applications. LAPP Dog Rescue is ran 100% by volunteers, so please be mindful that when you submit an application that it can take a few days to be reviewed. Submitting an application is not a confirmation that the adoption will be approved/completed. Before submitting the application, please read the FULL description on PetFinder describing the dog's personality, energy level, housing requirements and our policy on meet and greets.
The total cost to adopt is $530, which includes a $300 adoption fee and a $230 transport fee. The adoption fee includes all age appropriate vaccinations, neuter procedure, microchip, flea/tick/heartworm prevention, dewormer, and health certificate from a licensed veterinarian.
