Tonic

This handsome boy is Tonic. He came from a dreadful home, where he was living in a box on a garbage dump, fastened to the box with a short chain for his whole life (the last picture in the gallery is of where we found him). He’s still working out that humans are fun. He has formed relationships with a few people and loves a cuddle.  Tonic is now a happy boy, with a smile on his face and his tail wagging.  He loves the company of other dogs and is getting more confident every day. He would make someone a wonderful companion if they were prepared to help him work past his lack of confidence.  He really wants to trust people, he’s just unsure.  A calm home without excitable children would be best for him.  He would need another well balanced dog in the home.

Tonic has been in a foster home since Feb 2024, living with 3 other small dogs.  They have nicknamed him “Courage the Cowardly Dog” because he wants to love and trust humans, but his past traumatic experiences still cause him some fear.  The following is information provided by his foster people:

Tonic feels very safe in a crate (or anything with an overhead ‘roof’), He comes out of the crate on his terms, and he seems much more comfortable taking cues from other dogs in the household. At the beginning, it was difficult to get him out of the crate for potty breaks. But, since he’s learned to trust, he will come when called. Sometimes he gets carried outside because he doesn’t want to go outside.

Once outside, he is typically prompt to do his business, and tries to run back to the house. Sometimes we have to walk him a little further from the house to ensure he does all of his business.

He loves fluffy dog beds, and he is afraid of thunderstorms. He will just shake or seek comfort from his favorite human when he’s afraid.

Tonic enjoys being petted, but even now, after being with us for several months, he will still sometimes stiffen or flinch at first touch. He also sheds a moderate amount, so we bathe and brush him regularly and that helps. He just stands like a statue during baths, so he is very easy to manage. He is very easily startled and will try to run and hide. He’s never tried to bite anyone in the house, humans or dogs. He also doesn’t bark. He’s a healthy eater and drinker, and he enjoys treats, but won’t take them from anyone’s hand. He is incredibly well house trained, but he needs to be taken out on a schedule (roughly 3x per day). He won’t ask to go out, and in fact, he seems to dislike going outside.

He is very scared of loud noises, but he does acclimate to his surroundings once he feels comfortable. He has only played with toys (and socks) a handful of times, and although he wags his tail and shares his bed with the other dogs, he hasn’t actually played with them yet.

He is a very low maintenance dog and enjoys napping and laying around all day. Once he is comfortable, he also likes to sniff and explore the house. But ultimately, he is very easy going and just wants to spend time with and get love from his humans.

Tonic is approximately 24lbs.