Chandler Bing, STAR # 1608

BIO:

“Hey, I’m Chandler and I’ll bet you’d love to get to know me.  Let’s start with the obvious:  I’m beautiful.  The STAR folks have some type of papers that you can register me because I’m a full-blooded Aussie, but you’ll have to check with them, I don’t get bogged down in the paperwork.  I’m one year old and I weigh 71.80 pounds.  That means I’m a puppy in a full-size dog body.  My coat is beautiful and shiny, and I like being brushed.

I moved into my foster home in Houston in early November, and so far it’s been a great stay.  Naturally, I was a little nervous for the first week, so I was happy that my foster mom has been patient with me.  I also have another dog in the house to play with, so that has been fun.  My foster buddy, Merlin, has been patient with me, too, but quite honestly, I was kind of a jerk at first because of food.  We’ve had a lot of fun dog-wrestling and playing with toys.

I am house broken and crate trained.  When I see my foster mom get the dog bowls, I head to my crate to eat.  I sleep in my crate at night.  Sometimes I cry or bark for a few minutes, but I usually just relax and settle down.

Okay, since I brought up inappropriate behaviors, I guess it’s only fair that I disclose a few of those things.  When I first moved in, I was kinda scared.  Let’s face it, I started my day in the only home I’ve ever known and I end up in a place I’ve never been – who wouldn’t be a little nervous?

The first several days, I initiated a few  aggressive interactions with Merlin regarding my food, but things have really settled down. Merlin is a real mellow guy, and we’re getting along just fine now.

I’ve chewed up a few things here in my foster home.   Besides the dog toys (which are fair game because those squeakies are just asking for it), I’ve mistaken a flip-flop for a chew toy, I have played tug-of-war with Merlin with a couple of Mom’s socks, and I have made it necessary for my foster mom to get a new rug for the back door.  Merlin has some elk and deer antlers that he has been sharing with me, and I love chewing on them.

I’m also a counter-surfer.  I’m tall when I’m on all fours, and the countertop is inches above my snout.  I can’t help myself!  I have to see what smells good up there, and I usually end up helping myself.  Those are usually the times that I hear “NO!” and “OFF!”  Mom must like those words, because she says them a lot.

Mom has a fenced in yard, so we can run around like crazy back there, but when we go out front on a leash, it’s not as much fun for Mom.  At first I would lunge and bark at everything and everyone I saw.  I wasn’t approachable at all, and really kind of a menace.  Mom has worked hard at setting me up for success when we go for walks.  She throws the ball in the backyard before we go out front and that helps me burn up a little bit of energy.  When we go for walks, she brings treats and makes me look at her and sit, to get my mind off the neighbors and squirrels.  I’ve really come along.  Although I still pull on the leash too often, I’m enjoying more and more of my walks with a slack leash.

Okay, let’s talk about something happy again.  I am super cuddly, and I love to be petted, brushed, and played with.  I am super curious, and I love to chase lizards and sniff every inch of my surroundings.   I am super smart, and my first family taught me some good commands like sit, down, drop it, leave it, stay.  I’m really great and I’ve got potential to be the best dog ever with the right family in the right home.”

Chandler is a good dog who needs an active home to continue his training and utilize his energy.

He needs: