Truth be told, I’m not sure how to begin to describe Barrett, a 2-3 yrs old lab mix. He’s one of these dogs that are so easygoing, such a delight to walk and train, that it’s so easy to take his good nature for granted. He’s quite polite on the leash– he never pulls, does his business efficiently and quietly, and he does a wonderful ’sit.’ In fact, he does a ’sit’ so well, I’ve started training him on ’stay’ and 10-second ’sit.’ He would be a very loyal and well-mannered companion.
Here’s a short interview with him:
Volunteer(V): Hello Barrett, how are you today?
Barrett (B): I am good, thank you. I just came back from a wonderful long walk and a long exercise session in which I chased after tennis balls.
V: That sounds good to me. Why do you think you haven’t been adopted yet?
B: There’s something called black dog syndrome, which means that potential adopters are more likely to pass black dogs over in favor of light-colored ones. You can find out more about it here. I’m not exactly the most conspicuous dog out there, either — I’m far too polite to bark or jump up and down– I just sit there quietly. That doesn’t mean I don’t try though. I have these big, soulful eyes that follow you everywhere.
V: You’re famed among volunteers for your great manners and gentle nature. You’ve been recommended more than once as a therapy dog.
B: Why, thank you. I try my best. I like making people happy, and while treats are my favorite things, I do enjoy being petted and praised.
V: Is there anything you would like to tell your potential adopters?
B: While I’m gentle and polite, I like having fun, too. I enjoy catching treats and will do almost anything as long as there is a treat on hand. Here’s a video of me catching treats in air. I would also enjoy learning new tricks.
Tags: Barrett, black dog, featured dogs
