Adopt a Catahoula Leopard Dog / Boxer / Mixed (short coat)

Name: Nala

Age: DOB Approx 1/13/14

Gender: Female

Breed: Catahoula x Boxer

Weight: 70

Dog friendly: Yes, with intros

Cat friendly: Likely not

Kid friendly: Yes 

House Trained: Yes

Crate Trained: No 

Energy level: Moderate

History: Local Owner Surrender 

Adoption Fee: $350.00

From the Foster:

Looking for love?  Nala is love!  She is always happy and very energetic.  She will greet you with the same affection when you come in from shoveling as she would as if you were gone for hours! She loves attention, to hear her name, to play catch, be chased with her bone or toy, run around the yard (chases squirrels) and have her tummy rubbed (especially in the morning). She sleeps through the night and rarely needs to go out.  She loves to chase light like a cat and will follow reflections from the sun, etc.  
  

Nala is very energetic and excited when she plays – she likes to run and jump so please keep that in mind if you have toddlers.

She is better off if not left alone for too many hours. She may get anxious or bored and look for something “to do”. We “baby-proof” our house leaving nothing out that could harm her or she might eat (like bread on the counter!). She has never been around cats but loved and “mothered” my other son’s dog when they lived with me.  She may benefit by having another dog as a companion if left alone during the day. 
Nala is house broken and is not a “chewer” - she does not tolerate the confinement of a crate/kennel – becomes nervous and will salivate until the whole inside is wet.   After we recognized that, we never put her in a crate again.

Nala is afraid of loud noises like fireworks and especially storms (will not go out in the rain). She can sense them coming and will try to hide – under beds and even behind the toilet although she is much too big for both.  I have been known to make a spot in the bathroom where I stay with her until she is calm or it’s over.  She is also skittish around brooms and things that may fall suddenly and make noise.  When I sneeze, she runs to me to lick my face; I hug her and tell her I’m okay.

The Pros and Cons of Nala

Pro – she is a barker; for me that equates to an excellent watchdog

Con – she is a barker (mailman and strangers, and other dogs although almost always while wagging her tail (except for the mailman))

Pro – Nala is very smart!

Con – Nala is very smart (figured out how to open our back door to let herself in and we lock the gate because she would let herself out!)

Pro – she loves to play, inside and outside!

Con – she does not walk well on a leash / back to being smart – I know she can learn with time and training

Pro – she is always so happy to see her people

Con – sometimes she jumps up to see her people

Pro – Nala is an extremely loving family dog; she prefers to stay near my adult son, who has autism – when he is home on weekends

Con? – Nala is an extremely loving family dog; she thinks she is one of us and prefers to sit and sleep on furniture and beds :  )