Mr. Belvedere Labrador Retriever Mix Neosho, MO

Kid friendly: Yes - may be intimidating at first due to loud bark and jumping
Dog friendly: Yes
Cat friendly: Unknown
Energy level: Medium-high - comes out hot but runs out of steam in 10-15 minutes.
Leash skills: Lots of learning left!
Keeps a clean kennel: No

**ADOPTION FEE ~FULLY~ SPONSORED

Mr. Belvedere is a handsome young lab mix with a sparkling personality.
If you like labs, you will LOVE Mr. B!

Mr. Belvedere is the last of his sibling group! First discovered as tiny 3-4 week old puppies, he and his 5 littermates were sent off in pairs to be cared for and bottle-fed til they were big enough to come back to the shelter. As labs are usually popular choices, especially as puppies, we were shocked as the weeks turned into months and they were passed over again and again.

Watching a puppy grow up in a shelter is such a bittersweet experience - knowing a dog through every stage of life is rewarding to those who love them, but the knowledge that you've been given this priviledge simply because they are looking for a home and family is difficult to face. Especially for our dogs that are not as popular and don't get as much of a chance to make new friends, go out on trip, or otherwise have a more rich and diverse experience compared to other dogs, the restricted environment and lack of fun experiences can turn a sensitive dog into a fearful one, or a smart dog into a bored and frustrated one.

Mr. Belvedere has adopted a policy of "holler first, investigate second"-- his big, booming "awoowoowooooo" seems ridiculous coming from a dog his size, and even more ridiculous is how once he's in touching distance of whatever he is yelling at, he quiets up immediately.

Having grown up in a shelter, Mr. Belvedere is chronically bored. He loves his walks (his best opportunity to go stick hunting), and he is having a great time making new friends during playgroup. But he's a smart boy who knows that the world is a lot bigger than what he can see in front of him at the shelter.

For the majority of his time, Mr. B. had the constant companionship of his brother Pugly. However Pugly was finally adopted this past November, making Belvedere the last remaining dog from his litter at our shelter. 4 months ago we celebrated his first birthday, and 3 months ago marked the one year anniversary of his entry date. We're so hopeful that he won't have his 2nd of either and that 2025 is his year to be chosen and be free. Thanks to information given to us by the person who adopted his brother, we know that especially considering his length of stay, Pugly adjusted fairly easily to home life! We think that the same will be true for Mr. Belvedere. He's such a good dog - all he needs is a chance to prove it.