Knight - SPECIAL NEEDS PUPPY Black Labrador Retriever & German Shorthaired Pointer Mix Kentwood, MI

MEET KNIGHT!
Could you be the shining armor Knight needs?! This timid puppy is looking for his forever-home, and we know that will require a very special family.

Knight came into rescue at the end of May with his sister; unfortunately the pair suffered from "littermate syndrome," also known as littermate-dependency, this term refers to behaviors that develop when two puppies from the same litter are raised together. Behaviors include extreme attachment to each other, difficulty bonding with humans and other animals, separation anxiety, and reduced independence in training.

**We want to note early on that for all Knight's skittishness and being scared of the world, he has NEVER been aggressive or reacted with biting due to fear. His reaction is solely freezing up and/or avoidance.

We knew we needed to get the pair separated as soon as possible in order to give them the best chance at overcoming their dependency issues. His sister was the bolder/more confident of the two and was able to be adopted out in early June. Unfortunately sweet, scared Knight didn't make as much progress as we'd hoped once his sister was out of the picture. His timid, very skittish nature remained and as of the end of June we, along with his veterinary team, decided to start Knight on anxiety medications.

With these meds in his system for a couple weeks now, we are thrilled to report that we HAVE indeed seen improvement in his overall demeanor and he has begun to display more confidence and willingness to interact with his foster family. We do NOT expect that Knight will always need these meds, and luckily they are quite cheap! His vet believes he can wean off of them easily once he is settled and happy in his new home!
Age is certainly on Knight's side, we're very hopeful that being so young, he will continue to grow in his confidence and eventually learn to fully trust and approach his humans.

Knight is looking for a family that FULLY understands that he is a work-in-progress puppy. He will not become your best buddy in a day, a week, or maybe even a month or more! He came from a neglectful past with a very difficult start to life and he needs a home where patience is the key.

Some positives about Knight:
-Fully housebroken
-Fully crate-trained and quiet in his kennel
-Loves other dogs (once he gets to know them) and doesn't react at all to cats
-Knight has never displayed ANY aggression toward people. Even in his most terrified, frightful moments he has never made an aggressive move.
-Loves to play with toys
-Loves food and treats
-Although you have to gently get ahold of him and place him there, he will lay sweetly in your lap and allow you to pet him. This has been a big improvement since beginning his meds!

Knight is neutered, fully vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped, and on monthly preventions.

Serious inquiries only, please.
Knight is not the dog for a young family with no dog experience, or a home with a lot of small children, etc.
He needs a quiet, patient home with dog-savvy individuals.
He REQUIRES a physical fence, as he is very scared of being leashed and will need free roam to go potty in the yard until he can be leash trained.

He is currently being fostered at a dog-boarding facility, so he gets attention and socialization all day long; his foster mom would be happy to partner with any prospective families if they live close enough (Lowell) and continue regular socialization playdates for him.

If you've read this far...thank you! We know there is a family out there that has what it takes to help Knight blossom. He is such a sweetheart puppy, and it will break your heart to see how scared he is at first...but we know that can change! He deserves a happy, safe life. Could you be his special family?

If you'd like to meet Knight, please head to www.PetTalesRescue.com and fill out an application.