Rigo
~DOB: 10/1/2023
Weight: 65 lbs.
Energy Level: High
Overall Drive: Moderate
Location: Bellingham, WA
Rigo is a super affectionate and loving young man! He loved giving hugs and will nuzzle/lick you all over showing how much he loves you. This guy is super soft and gentle and does great with kids and his foster mom's pack of female dogs.
If Rigo was human, he would make a great running partner, playmate, road trip buddy, or just all-around BFF. Not only does he love running with his person and with other dogs, but his foster also has a dog treadmill and he loves running on it. This guy needs a job, but nothing official like a police K9 or a SAR dog, but something to get him out and to burn some of the energy off as he is no couch potato! Additionally, he does have a solid off switch and likes being on the couch to watch movies or shows in the evening. Velcro dog does not begin to describe how badly Rigo wants to be with his person, he will even stand on his fosters slippers as she puts them on to walk around the house!
Rigo is continuing to work through many past traumas and therefore requires a lot of 1:1 time to be successful. He is not nervous when working and doing activities, but sometimes he will nip at hands if he wants something. Quick hand movements and spacial pressure seem to scare him. He has quite a bit of prey/herding drive and will try to herd other dogs if given the opportunity, he will chase shadows and stare into dark places. Despite his past, he is still great at meeting strangers (adults and kids) both in public and in his foster home as well. He can be a bit whiny during car rides, during his vet's visit he was a good boy, and loud noises do not seem to bother him as much as they used to.
During Rigo’s time in foster, he has learned his name and knows the Sit, Down, Place, Heel, Yes, No, and Stay commands. He is currently working on the Off, Leave it, and Middle commands as well as not jumping on people and his behavior around other dogs. Rigo is potty trained but will submissively urinate if scared so a gentle hand is the way to approach correction. He does well with simple verbal redirection or an e-collar on very low, but a martingale or pinch collar are too much pressure for him. He is crate trained and has been left for up to 4 hours at this time.
Rigo is looking for his forever home that is willing to keep up with his training to help him shine and set him up for success. There is a possibility of him being able to peacefully coexist with another lower energy/drive dog in the home as well, but he’d for sure love to be the one getting all of the attention! Overall, he is an amazingly sweet boy who just needs some structure and guidance with the correct training tools for him to be the best dog ever. Rigo is a young boy who was dealt a tough hand in his early years and is hoping to find someone to polish him into the diamond we all know he can be – maybe that is you?
Our adoption process includes- completion of an application, followed by a telephone interview.
Adoption Donation: $500.00
Transport along Interstate 5 (Rowland Heights, CA to Edmonds, WA) is available but cost not included in adoption fee.
For all inquiries, please fill out our adoption application first, as the volunteer answering emails is probably not the coordinator for the specific foster home/dog.