ADOPTED
Merida was named after Princess Merida from the movie Brave as we were so impressed by this girl’s temperament. She still has some nervous energy after coming from the puppy mill industry but continues to grow braver every day. Merida is a 7 year old cockapoo who weighs 19lbs and who spent years as a puppy mill mama. Although she was nervous to be touched when she was first rescued, she now can’t get enough pets. She is known to keep getting closer when you stop petting and has even started using her paw to pull our hand back for more.
Merida is significantly braver with her foster brother around and would do best with another dog in the home. She continues to look to our dog for social cues and to know when things are safe. She has not had any issues with our dog savvy cat. For the most part they will cross paths and maybe do a little sniff but that’s about it. Merida seems to be reactive around small children. She has never shown any signs of aggression but becomes very nervous and flinches when small children are running around or making a lot of noise. She would do best in a home with no children or young children who visit regularly.
Merida needs to be monitored when it comes to bathroom breaks or she will still have accidents. Because she does not want to go outside without our dog, she will sometimes sneak off and find a place in the house to relieve herself. These are not daily incidents but something to watch for. She needs to be crated when she can’t be watched so that she doesn’t have accidents. She is also brave in some less safe ways. She has been known to try to jump off decks, into ditches, and into ponds. So you do have to stay vigilant with her. She is 100% a flight risk as well. She has a true adventurous spirit. When on leash, she has enjoyed exploring and building her confidence in new environments. She is a dog who can never, ever be allowed to be off leash outside of a secure fenced yard as she can startle easily and she will bolt if frightened. This is typical of puppy mill dogs, having no socialization to the outside world until ending up in rescue.
Merida has some basic commands down and will usually sit and come when asked. She does very well on the leash. It took her a while to not want to circle us constantly as
I think she was just trying to protect the pack. Now she has gotten much better at walking beside me and minimally pulling unless her foster brother is too far in front of her. She has never shown any sign of aggression. She will occasionally bark in her crate but this is usually when I first walk in the door but settles when corrected. She otherwise has very rarely barked at anyone. She sleeps in her crate while we are out and at night which she is fine with. The only time we had issues with it was when she got scared of the fireworks (understandably). She is otherwise a flexible girl who listens to corrections well.
Merida would do well in a quiet home with another dog to continue to help her grow. She has only ever done a few stairs at a time and mainly stays on the main floor of our home. If she would need to go up or down a longer flight of stairs she will need to be carried. She enjoys being outside and would really enjoy still having a backyard. She has grown to love all things comfortable and can often be heard snoring away on her bed or the couches. She especially loves when she can nuzzle her way beside me and get love as she falls asleep. Everyone who meets her seems to fall in love with her sweet and gentle demeanor.
Merida has enjoyed her time with us including days at the trailer, on the beach, and a weekend in wine country. I couldn’t believe that she was comfortable as a patio dog and curled up with her foster brother on the patio. She will make a lovely companion to anyone who is willing to be patient with her nervousness and who will continue to help her grow.