His Story

Scar came into A Tail to Tell Frontline Rescue after spending the beginning of his life outdoors alongside his siblings. Named for the small scar on his nose, he's now learning what it means to live safely and comfortably in a home.

Scar is a sensitive boy who has taken time to build trust with people. His foster mom describes him as a sweet and loving dog who clearly wants affection and connection, but is still learning that people can be trusted. Rather than pushing him beyond his comfort zone, she's given him the space to come forward on his own terms—and that patience has allowed Scar's softer side to emerge.

Personality

Scar is a sweet, playful and affectionate boy who forms strong bonds once he feels safe. He follows his foster mom around like a little shadow, likes to lie close beside her on the couch, and even sleeps in bed with her. He especially enjoys being near his people when he can choose when and how the interaction happens.

He's still quite guarded, however, and is selective about physical touch. Scar is most comfortable approaching someone who is sitting quietly and choosing to ask for affection himself. He's not a dog who wants to be grabbed, cornered or handled without warning, and he needs people who will respect his boundaries while continuing to build his confidence.

Once he's comfortable, his goofy side comes out. Scar has lots of energy, loves playing with other dogs, and is especially fond of stealing the ball and taking off while encouraging his canine friends to chase him. He's also a bit of a character when it comes to personal space—turn your back and there's a good chance you'll get a nose where it probably doesn't belong!

Life in Foster Care

Scar has settled into a home with other dogs and does very well with canine companions. He loves having other dogs around and is playful, energetic and very vocal during play. He's quite mouthy when playing, but enjoys their company and often looks to them as part of his social world.

He's also learning the routines of living in a home. Scar is house trained and will go to the door and whine when he needs to go outside. He's become comfortable with his kennel and will happily run into it when his foster mom reaches for a treat. He can be left crated for up to about four hours at a time and is not kenneled overnight.

Scar is also fine going for walks in public. His biggest challenge in these settings is not the environment itself, but people approaching or attempting to touch him. He may be unsure when unfamiliar people enter his space, so he does best when allowed to observe and approach people at his own pace.

Learning & Growing

Scar knows his name, comes when called, and knows "sit" and "no." His listening and ability to redirect are coming along, although these are areas where he would benefit from continued positive-reinforcement training.

He is very food motivated, which can be a wonderful asset for training—but Scar is also a professional counter surfer and opportunistic thief! Despite his enthusiasm for anything edible, he does not display food aggression. He is able to eat alongside the other dogs in his foster home and will sit with them to receive treats.

Scar is not considered reactive, although he will bark when someone walks past the house or yard.

The biggest area of ongoing work for Scar is handling. He is extremely uncomfortable having a collar or leash put on. At this point, this can be stressful enough that he may become frightened and urinate. If a collar is left on him, he has attempted to destroy it to get it off, and he has even hurt himself trying to escape a chain collar. For this reason, Scar's future family will need to be prepared to work patiently and carefully on handling and leash skills rather than expecting him to tolerate them immediately.

His foster mom has been able to pet and touch him when he allows it, and he is showing that he genuinely wants affection. He simply needs to be given the choice and the time to build confidence.

Looking for His Home

Scar is looking for a very patient and understanding home that will allow him to build trust at his own pace. He isn't the right fit for someone looking for a dog who immediately welcomes being handled, leashed or approached by everyone he meets. He needs someone who understands that trust is earned and who will celebrate the small victories along the way.

A confident, dog-savvy canine companion would be a wonderful asset for Scar, as he loves other dogs and has done well living alongside them. He has also spent considerable time around children ages 4 and 7 and has done well, although the children in his foster home have been taught to respect his space and leave him alone when he doesn't want interaction. A home with respectful, dog-savvy children who understand his boundaries may be appropriate.

Scar's relationship with cats is unknown.

Scar is the kind of dog who may take longer to get to know, but once he decides you're his person, he wants to be right there with you. He's affectionate, goofy, playful and incredibly endearing—and there's something pretty special about watching a guarded dog slowly realize that he's safe.

Scar doesn't need someone to "fix" him. He needs someone willing to understand him, respect his boundaries, and give him the time and consistency he needs to become the dog he's capable of being.