_________ B I O ______________ 

Name: Marinara
Size: Medium range: 26-60 lbs 
Adoption Donation: $250 (applicable sales tax included). Adoption fees may be paid by cash or check.  
Other: Spayed Female, Vaccinations current, Microchip, Not good with large dogs 

Marinara is a very sweet girl

Foster Home Feedback 

** Not good with large dogs

10/02/2024 Foster Feedback: I've had this sweet girl for over a month and we haven't had a single meet and greet. She's picked up on training and manners very well! Marinara seems to be cat curious, even getting close to a hissing cat and still wanting to smell them without letting out a single bark. She is working on barking at large dogs when she is on a leash and we are on a walk, she is making decent progress with this as she settles in. I think it's a protective thing around me because she has been introduced to dogs before. She couldn't care less about little dogs that don't bark and even let a shih tzu run circles around her without making a peep. Marinara seems good with kids too. I haven't had her with any kids under 2 but she almost instally rolls on her back for belly scratches from every kid we've met.

She's gotten a lot better at eating her dry food without needing wet food to entice her (which she still gets as a treat every once in awhile). She was having itching issues for a while when I got her; the fall weather and the kennel environment wasn't doing her favors seemingly. A few good baths, quality food, and occasional benedryl has helped with this, her coat is soft, shiny, and rarely does she itch. She does very well out of her kennel in my apartment for a couple hours. She lets out a couple sad whines then usually waits by the door for my return. My apartment neighbor who works evenings said he never gets woken up by her. Marinara leaves my stuff alone while I'm gone and never moves anything. Sometimes she won't eat her food while I'm gone so I sit with her to make sure that happens before I take off. She does well going with me as I ride my bike, I just have to keep an eye out for critters cause she may get distracted. It would warm my heart if she could find a forever home and some one she could cuddle with all the time. When she's had her exercise she loves nothing more than laying on a lap or an open arm. 

9/8/24 Foster Feedback: Marinara is one of the most well behaved and intelligent dogs I've ever met. She is fiercely loyal and is drawn to me everywhere I go. She loves all of humankind and has a 100% tail wagging rate with everyone she meets. I haven't tried close encounters with children but from a distance she seems curious and excited to meet the little ones. Marinara walks like an absolute champion, always awaiting cues from her walker. She will turn corners well or moves on from a smell in the ground with gentle tongue click from her human. We are still learning to disengage from critters like rabbits and squirrels.  A preemptive treat can usually diffuse any small mammal chasing. Marinara can get a little wound up if she doesn't get distracted from the critters and I'll usually find a quiet spot to sit her and a couple pets for second or two gets her back to herself. She's been around other dogs before and knows how to play with them. However, when walking her if another dog starts barking at her. she does have some retaliatory barks to exchange. This is also another spot to have treats ready. Marinara absolutely loves going for runs or jogging and keep up pace with even the most seasoned (also she doesn't seem inclined to look for critters during runs). Another volunteer has taken her for a bike ride. We are still working on kennel training. I usually give Marinara a trail of treats to her kennel. She will whine for the first half minute after I leave out the door but subsides to a slumber quickly. I have been leaving the kennel open in my kitchen and sometimes she will just climb in it herself to rest when I'm cooking or doing dishes which has really helped her comfort level with kennel. At home Marinara is pretty lazy for a barely over 1 year old dog. She loves curling up on her dog bed or laying in my chair near the window to gander at the neighborhood. There is nothing she loves more than cuddling with humans, she loves to rest her head on your lap if you are sitting. Her favorite toys are usually stuffed animals, especially ones with squeakers. Marinara loves to play keep away with a good ball (although picky on the type of ball), she does play fetch, but a treat is needed while you say "drop". Marinara also loves to a good game of keep away. Peanut butter and bones oddly don't do it for her but she loves those smart bones with the vegetable outside and chicken inside (raw hide alternatives). Marinara knows a handful of commands like sit, shake, outside, treat, and now after 2 days of teaching she's got lay down in her repertoire. The major ones I'm working on are "down" when she greets people trying to get up to give them licks and "leave" which is for when we find critters or angry dogs across the street, which she is starting to pick up on but needs a treat to accompany. Marinara is incredibly smart and intuitive, she can learn any command that is needed. Also, if you have smart puzzles or toys she will crack the code the second you put it on the floor. Marinara is good at letting you know when she needs to use the bathroom by whimpering a couple times by the door (but never repeatedly). She is 100% potty trained and has not had a single accident inside or in the kennel. I've caught her up on the counter twice, but she quickly got off when told to get down. Marinara doesn't dig or get into much of my personal belongings, other than a curious sniff or two. She does really well taking a bath with a couple treats on hand (to remind her this a positive experience). Marinara is very quiet indoors and has no qualms about apartment life. 

8/18/2024 Building Volunteer Feedback: Marinara did so great on the morning shift at the shelter. She is a gentle sweetheart. She did have delightful chewbacca noises when she heard someone else getting attention and a surprisingly big bark when she doesn't want to be in her kennel. She is a lover and very smart, giving side-eye and talking when following a treat trail back to her kennel. She knows just when to stop and back away.  Marinara doesn't mind being in the kennel, so long as you are in there with her. Squeaky balls bring much joy and a good game of "keep away" became quite fun once she realized I wasn't really going to take her ball. She did try to rip the ball apart but was very compliant and quit when asked to do so.