Ivan is a big boy. Not in the way that people stumble around extra husky gents by calling them “big,” but his frame- his super sized frame seems like it was created to build pyramids or move mountains or, at minimum, to reach things on the highest shelf.

This handsome XL fella, around 5 years old, has made so much progress since his rescue. At the shelter, he wouldn’t come out of his run. He was freaked out when they tried to leash him up, frantically bolting to escape, gator rolling to avoid being handled, and refusing to be coaxed out of his run with food and even a puppy friend. He wasn’t a candidate for public adoption, so a rescue became his only option.

Step one was to get him comfortable with us and step two was to get him on a slip lead. We made slow but steady progress, but it was clear that everything was new and overwhelming to him. We worked on building confidence, trust, and obedience.

Now he was comfortable enough to go for a walk around the neighborhood. Next, we started getting him comfortable with getting in a car, which terrified him at first. He can now go on walks with volunteers, enjoys checking out the local message boards, and loves a car ride to Home Depot.

Ivan has had a long road, but he’s ready to join a family: a family who understands that he still might be fearful of some new things and he’s going to need a little time to get used to your routine. A family who can show him structure, is patient, and knows that the time they put into working with Ivan will pay off ten fold. A family who can show Ivan there are people who consider dogs part of the family and don’t just leave them outside until they decide to dump them at shelters. A family who will love him and get a loyal companion in return. 💙