Santo

Santo was found on the streets in a small village, Paju Korea when he was a wee little polar bear. He later stayed in a shelter in Korea with many other dogs until he left Korea.

Santo is a very sweet and affectionate boy who loves receiving pets and rubs from his humans. As a young dog, he still has many typical “puppy” personality traits and has been learning how to put his best paw forward. However, he is very smart and a quick learner, and has proven to pick up new concepts quickly without a second thought. Being smart and food-motivated helps with his training. When first meeting strangers, he can be a bit timid and tentative. He will generally keep his distance, but is quickly won over by treats. Santo is also a good communicator and in tune with his human feelings. His foster notes when they are sad or stressed, he quickly comes up to offer a hug or cuddle. When he wants something, he lets out an expressive, playful bark.

Santo has lived with other dogs in previous foster homes. He gets along well with other dogs of all personalities and has attended doggy daycare where he was very playful. He also doesn’t have any issues sharing his food or toys.

Santo has a prey drive and will attempt to chase squirrels and birds. He does not have any experience with cats, but due to his high prey drive, he will likely chase them too. He would not do well in a home with cats or other small animals (such as bunnies, guinea pigs, mice, etc).

When outdoors, Santo walks well on a leash for the most part. He does better being walked alone versus a pack walk. When being walked with another dog, Santo is more likely to pull as he is more simulated with curiosity and excitement, especially when he sees other dogs. Meeting other dogs when on a leash can make him nervous at times, and this is an area he is working on. He will also pull when scared or triggered by loud cars, construction sites, etc. but has made a lot of improvement.

Having spent the majority of his life with his humans by his side, Santo gets a bit anxious when they are not around. When left alone, he has a heightened sense of hearing and will bark at sounds outside, but is not destructive. His foster puts on music to help drown out the sounds, which both help calm him down and distract him. He also gets anxious during car rides but has made progress.

Santo is a very sweet boy who still has some “puppy behaviors” he is working on, but is also very smart and a fast learner. With the right guidance, he has proven he has great potential. His ideal home would be in a quiet neighborhood with less traffic and stimuli, and another resident dog in the household. If he were to be the only dog, he would require a home with people who have the time to devote focused attention to him, as he loves to play with others.