Archie, STAR #2047

Archie came to STAR from the shelter in Austin as a stray. He arrived at Austin Animal Center with injuries to his leg (scuffle with other dog or caught in metal – who knows!). The shelter stapled up his injuries and STAR picked him up a few days later. Antibiotics, good food, and lots of TLC and he’s back to perfect! He’s now been fully vetted, microchipped, is negative for heartworms and neutered.

UPDATE: Archie was diagnosed with a notable heart murmur and has pulmonic stenosis. He will need surgery to open up a constricted vein – it’s our understanding it’s a common cardiac surgery for dogs. STAR will cover this expense for when it can be scheduled with a cardiac group. We will share all these details with his adopter.

From his foster home:

This is a VERY sweet young pup. I’d place him around 1 to 1.5 years old and he came to me pretty banged up and very skinny with a brittle coat. Meds, good food, baths, and a comfy place to hang out and this guy is a different dog medical-wise. He always was a total love bug who comes in close for scratches and love. He’ll gently place his paws up on you to get some attention. He was a bony 36lbs when I got him – he’s up to around 40lbs and will be probably just perfect at 45-48lbs.

He’s housebroken, shows zero aggression, and just wants to be by your side 24×7. He is very curious to meet other people and shows a totally beta personality with head down and careful approach. When he sees another dog – game on as he wants to go meet and greet and play – so we are careful with other dog intros while on leash as he can come right up with reckless abandon and other dogs have not always liked that.

He’s in a home with an older male Aussie and gets along really well with him – he plays gently and takes clues on when my old guy is done and wants to be left alone. If there is nothing immediate and fun to do, he’ll find a comfy spot, often in eyesight of where you are at and settle down for a snooze. He’d do well with a laid-back dog but might be happier if he had a rough and tumble buddy to play with – male or female.

Archie is very loving and affectionate, Velcro without being annoying – and knows when it’s time to settle and takes correction well. He’s a sensitive soul. At night, we love to sit and play on the floor whether it be tug or hide and seek with a blanket. He is very mouthy, but never aggressive – and he’ll immediately back off if told he’s getting too rough.

If you need that dog to motivate you to get those steps in, Archie is YOUR GUY. He loves his walks and while he’ll stop to sniff now and then, he’s really ready to get some distance covered so he can see as much as he can. His leash skills are not the best – and he’d rather be out in front of you, pulling you along than at your side – so we are working on that. He’s not reactive to other cars, or trucks or busses – but he has a notable angry reaction to the Amazon, UPS or Mail truck – or any like-type utility truck. Maybe he had an issue with one before, but he’s very specific about the type of truck he despises so, when we see one coming, we move to the side and I distract him with a treat or something else to look at so hopefully this reaction will lessen over time.

There have been zero scuffles over food with his fur roomie and he will easily give up his food to another dog that wants it. In fact, he has no issue if my pushy guy tries to get to his food. He loves puzzles and lets me know when he’s ready for me to load up the snuffle mat with crunch treats to hunt for. A Kong with PB is also loved – “big fun” to see him tackle that. He takes treats gently, and most often drops them like he should not have them – but he’s learning they are really good!

Archie could be a great agility dog – he’s fast and agile. He’s very attentive to you and to clues. Very moldable clay to be the dog you want as he’s eager to please. I think he’d make great frisbee dog too.

His recall is not great – so that’s a work in progress and I’d absolutely not trust him off the leash EVER. One deer or squirrel or something to chase and he’d be in the next county. His prey drive his high.

He crates beautifully – either with a treat or w/out. He will sleep in there all night with no fuss – and I’ve let him be out at night on his own bed at the side of my bed and he’s a sound sleeper all night. He waits for me to decide to get up.

He does not know basic skills – so we are working on the sit and stay. He’s learning quick and is so smart. He is a counter surfer – so you’ll lose your lunch if you leave it close to the edge. He’s not taken anything yet – just sniffs so far, but I can see him getting bold someday and taking advantage of what I might leave in his reach.

He’s not been one to play with toys or chase a ball. While he likes to do some exploring in the back yard, he’d rather be by your side, keeping a watchful eye out for that terrible Amazon truck or a squirrel that dares to romp in his yard.

He is not tested with cats – and I think he’d be fine with slow intros. If they run, he will chase. He’s seen chickens while out on walks and does not seem to care, but I think if they ran, he’d give it a good chase.

Archie has a beautiful, silky coat that is naturally short, and very loving eyes (one brown and one blue) that can talk you into treats or a good session of scratches and kisses. He’s really a handsome, stunning boy. And so very sweet – despite whatever past he must have had to be found in the condition he was in when the shelter picked him up.

Archie’s foster home is south of Austin. Please complete an application to be considered as an adopter, learn more about and meet him.

Archie came to STAR from Austin Animal Center – picked up as a stray with some pretty notable injuries to his back leg. They stapled him up and we’ll get him back to health, fully vetted and neutered. His coat is brittle and he’s malnourished. He’s a blue merle male, estimated to be around 1 to 1.5 years old and 38 lbs. Thankfully, he is negative for heartworms. His foster home is in Austin. He may be available early in November.