Albert Terrier & Basenji Mix Arlington, VA

Meet Albert. This sweet boy spent the last year of his life tethered outside. He was abandoned in the neighborhood, and taken in by a resident who decided to "help" him by tethering him to a tree in the backyard. He was sleeping under the house in a crawl space when we first met him and keeping company with two other dogs chained on the property. Thankfully, some local animal advocates got involved and secured his release, and now he's living in the safety and comfort of a foster home.

We think Albert is some mix of Terrier or Basenji. He has a svelte build, radar ears, a curled tail, and only weighs 28 pounds. He is currently living as an only dog but has done well meeting and socializing with other dogs. We think he'd really like a dog buddy in his new home for companionship. He
is a more submissive pup by nature and would do well paired with a confident dog.

Albert is currently being fostered with a foster mom and dad, a
toddler, and a five-year-old child.

We've learned he is excellent with kids
and very drawn to them. He's gentle and respectful of their space. He has a moderate energy level and is always ready to go and do, but is also relaxed inside.

Albert was timid at first in his new foster home but we see him gain confidence quickly and he's learned to enjoy the comforts of home. He now hangs out on the couch with his foster mom and sleeps in bed with the kids at nightCan you imagine how good that must feel after sleeping on the cold, hard, and wet ground for a year?!?! When his foster parents come home, he is so happy, wagging his tail and so joyful to see them. This sweet boy is such a gem.

We believe Albert lived in a home at some point. He's potty trained and will even whine or scratch at the door when he wants to go out. He's not a fan of the crate but does accept it. His foster mom has been doing daily crate practice with delicious treats and he's adapting well. Albert has had no problem meeting strangers and is a very friendly, good-natured dog. He still doesn't know what to do with toys, but that will come with time.

Overall, he's a pretty well-adapted pup. Albert has a very charming nature and wants to please you. He is also intelligent and very trainable. He sleeps, naps, and travels well, but does have some anxiety about being left alone in a new environment. We think a pup buddy may be helpful to him and he's learning that his crate is a good safe space when left alone. He is food-motivated but not food-aggressive.

FOSTER MOM UPDATE:

"Albert is so easy to love. He definitely responds to kind words and gestures and just wants to be loved. I live alone and I can see that he would respond well to a home with more people. He watches my every move and will jump up from a nap if I leave the room to check out where I went.

He didn't like being crated at first when I'd leave the house but he has adjusted well. He sure is happy to see me when I return. We have played with other dogs and he does well after appropriate introductions and sniffing. He loves to play. Each day, he seems more comfortable with me and I'm seeing his goofy side.

I made an interesting observation. He walks so fast (not pulling, just a nice trot), I started running with him. I think he would love to run with someone. I used to run half marathons (but I'm old now!) and I believe he would love that. He might even run on trails but you would have to train him to stay with you.

When we completed our little run, he came back to me and jumped up with both front paws like he really enjoyed it.

So, I almost became a foster fail, but as much as I love this boy, I think he would flourish in a home with younger adults and more people in the home."

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We love seeing these pups transition, and because someone took action to help, Albert is going to have a wonderful life.

Apply today!

BREED ESTIMATE: Terrier/Chihuahua Mix (?)
GENDER: Male
APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 28 lbs
APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 2.5 years old
COAT TYPE: short coat
ADOPTION FEE: $425
OTHER INFO: utd on shots/neutered/microchipped
LOCATION: Alexandria, VA

FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to https://adopt.worthydog.org and complete the application.

You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application.

Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area.