Dusty (ADOPTED!) is about 18 months old and weighs 35 lbs. She is a sweet, quiet, happy girl, who is content to be with her people and/or gnawing on a chew toy.
She can be a bit hesitant when first meeting people, but will warm up quickly once she knows you're ok. Once she knows someone, she is very trusting and loving, and will bond quickly. Dusty will follow her people around, and every now and then give you a gentle nudge and some kisses to let you know she would like some attention. She may remain shy with some larger men, even after being familiar with them, and definitely prefers the company of women.
Our girl is outgoing and playful with dogs, and is on the submissive side. She loves all dogs – big, small, male, or female - and gets along with cats, provided there is a proper introduction. Dusty is good with older children, but we have not yet seen her around young children or toddlers.
She waits patiently at feeding time for her food and shows NO resource guarding around food or toys. She enjoys lounging on her bed with a good bone and being with her people. Dusty does NOT get on the furniture, dig in the yard, or bark much. When she is happy and excited she may talk a little. She is also very good when left alone – whether in the house or in the car – and shows no separation anxiety issues. She just waits for her person to return and provides smiles and tail wags at the door. She has also been fine in a crate for a few hours at a time and is housebroken.
Many things are new to her, like walking on a leash, basic commands, and even treats. Being a young girl with no formal training, she will need a dedicated family who will spend time training her. Being a young and timid girl, there are situations where she needs to build her confidence. She can be fearful of men and people who are not in her circle of friends. Because of this, she will need someone who is experienced and can help her be more comfortable with new people and situations.
When we rescued Dusty, we had x-rays taken for her 'sore leg' to find that she had a formerly broken rear leg, which had healed on it's own, and was still living with her other rear leg completely dislocated from the hip socket - apparently for some time. We decided to pay for orthopedic surgery to fix her dislocated leg. Her surgery was on 10/24/14 and Dusty is healing quite well, and walking on that leg. The surgeon said once completely healed, she will be pain free and able to walk and move normally.