Courtesy Listings - Unevaluated

This is Rudy, a 14-year-old white and black rat terrier, whose person passed away at the end of May. He was rehomed almost immediately; however, the family who adopted him has decided they cannot keep him for some of the reasons listed below.

Despite his age, Rudy is in excellent health and recently had dental work done, so we feel he has many more years left in him. It’s possible he has seasonal allergies, as he seems to have a persistent cough at certain times of the year. We’ve been working on diagnosing the issue, but it’s something to be aware of and it is not contagious. He loves peanut butter and peanut butter treats, so giving him meds is not difficult.

After speaking with a trainer, we were told that the behavior he is displaying in his new home is that of a typical rat terrier, and one who was rarely left alone. He prefers to be with you; he barks when he’s separated from you by a door, when you leave the house, or if he’s left alone in the yard. He also has some anxiety during thunderstorms; a Thundershirt and anxiety meds do help. Rudy is crate trained but isn’t a huge fan of the crate – he’s been known to dig at the crate and take the skin off his nose. However, he also LOVES car rides. If you’re someone who always wants your dog with you, he’s your guy!

Rudy is super smart. He understands lots of words and continues to learn new words. Even as a senior dog, he needs some stimulation/exercise/play time every day. He walks very well on a leash but likes to bark at other dogs. A firm, “No, we don’t talk to our neighbors that way” seems to stop the barking. Rudy likes people and kids; he’s lived with other dogs and cats. However, he prefers to be top dog and can display some jealousy behaviors. He’s also not respectful of cats – he thinks they are for pouncing and chasing – so any cats he lives with need to be dog-savvy. Rudy has never hurt any of the dogs or cats he’s lived with, he’s just a bit controlling and obnoxious to them.

He has a tiny bladder and currently has some accidents in the house. Rudy will often use pee pads, but not consistently, and being a boy, he likes to lift his leg on vertical things. He needs someone who can work with him to get him on a proper schedule. He’s proven that he can be housebroken if he’s allowed to go outside regularly and also walked a couple of times a day.

Rudy’s future medical expenses will be covered, and some training as well if that will help him find the perfect forever home. Vet references will be checked.

If you are interested in adopting Rudy, please call Jennifer at 518-869-4882 and leave a message with your name and contact information.