Posts tagged "adopting dog"

Name: Belgian Tervuren

Personality: As with most Belgian breeds, the Belgian Tervuren is happiest when it is has a job to do and an owner to adore. They have been widely used as search-and-rescue dogs, and are often found participating in flyball competitions. Some Tervurens can act shy or nervous around strangers or other dogs, but in general they are considered a well-adjusted breed. In fact, "intelligent, courageous and alert" are the first three words that the American Kennel Club uses to define the breed standard. Perhaps if anything distinguishes the temperament of the Tervuren from other Belgian sheepdogs and shepherd dogs, it's their natural charm and sense of humor, according to the American Belgian Tervuren Club.

Grooming: Don't be afraid of the Tervuren's bushy coat; it is not as high-maintenance as it might appear. The Tervuren's double coat tends to resist matting, and sheds dirt and debris all on its own. Regular brushing -- the AKC recommends doing it twice weekly -- may be all that's needed to remove loose undercoat fur and the occasional stuck-on grass, burrs or other bits of outdoor nature.

Common Health Issues: A Belgian Tervuren's common health issues are just that -- ailments that are usually found in all breeds and not particularly serious. As a Tervuren ages, look for dysplasia, eye complications, skin conditions or epilepsy.

In honor of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, we've asked our bloggers to share their stories of shelter animal adoption.

After finally transitioning into a career that would give me the opportunity to own a dog (without having to depend on doggy day care or dog walkers), I knew exactly what I was looking for: a medium-sized, playful dog who was already housebroken and in need of a loving, caring owner.

But when Wilma of Wilma's Orphans in Hempstead, New York introduced me to Cindy, the lab mix I'd found via Petfinder, I was surprised to find that the dog was absolutely terrified of me. It took literally half an hour before she would let me go anywhere near her, and I took it as an obvious sign that she wasn't meant to be mine. On a whim, Wilma figured she might as well introduce me to some of the other dogs she had rescued. She began to let them come barreling out of her house, two at a time. One after another, each dog was equally adorable, but none felt like he was mine.

And then out of the house came little Atticus, a 4-year-old, 16-pound Schnauzer mix with saucer eyes and surprisingly nimble little legs that leaped directly into my lap. He lay on his back, looked up at me, and he's been begging for belly scratches for more than a year now.