Herbie - A Whole Lotta Love

My brother called one afternoon to tell me that one of his co-workers had found a puppy in the pucky weeds near his home. Herbie was found on one of the coldest nights of the year. He was thin, very hungry, so cold he was shaking, and so scared it took some work to capture him. My brother was sending the pup, about 4 months old, out to me via a trip to the local vet. The vet found no symptoms, but Herbie did have a fever, so he gave him antibiotics for a week.

Upon his arrival, we put him in quarantine and asked his rescuer what he could tell us, as he had had the pup at his place for 3 days trying to thaw him out. He said Herbie would not walk through any door, doorway, cross a threshhold, would immediately crawl on his belly with submissive urination, wouldn't walk on a leash, but he definitely was hungry.

The vet thought Herbie might be shepherd/collie mix, but Herbie is huge for his age, so I believe he may have some mastiff in him. Herbie has finished his antibiotic, has no fever and no symptoms of any disease process. He has a great appetite and is going to be the giant economy size at this rate of growth. He has learned to walk on a leash and I am teaching him "sit" which he is learning rapidly. He has learned to come when called, walk through doorways and gates, and also that he gets rewarded for walking up to me and sitting rather than hitting the ground with his belly and crawling.

Herbie doesn't have a mean bone in his body. He just wants someone to be his buddy and show him what life is all about. He will be moved from quarantine to the regular kennel area in a couple of days, and his learning process will continue until he is adopted.

Surely there is someone out there who wants a giant economy size, lovable dog that's guaranteed to take up most of the bed when he grows up!