Buddy arrived in our home a week ago and he is adjusting well overall. He is up to date with all vaccines; however, due to his age, he has mild arthritis. But overall, Buddy is healthy, and according to his vet, his health is considered above average compared to other dogs his age.

Here are some things we have learned about Buddy:

• Buddy is very food-motivated.

• Buddy loves daily walks. As soon as we put our coats on, he will sing and get really excited. He knows the word "walk" and "let's go," so we need to be careful using those words if we are not really going for a walk with him. During walks, he is good with a leash, but will occasionally pull if there's an interesting scent close by. He will greet other dogs sometimes, but overall, he is very well-behaved. 

• Inside the house, Buddy loves to carefully play with plush toys, he is very gentle with them all. He has free roam in the house; we left him with our two resident dogs when we go to work, and so far, there has been no destructive behavior observed while we are out.
• Buddy is very smart and knows how to open cabinets. When we store the treats in the lower cabinet, he is able to open it--he can identify where the treats are hiding. When we re-organized the placements of treats and store dishes in the lower cabinet, he won't open the cabinets anymore.

• Buddy is not a Velcro dog and seems independent most of the times. He will occasionally ask for belly rubs and would like to lay right next to us; his favorite place is next to his foster dad. Buddy loves to relax and is a very good lap dog. He sleeps on the couch in the living room or on his bed inside our bedroom.

• Buddy has not played with the resident dogs--Cooper (Beagle) and Waffles (Basset Hound), but he gets along and can co-exist with them. 

There are times when Buddy gives us a confused look and will take some time before responding to our command "come," but this is understandable--due to all the changes in his life, it will take some time for him to adjust and be completely comfortable again. 

One of the most rewarding accomplishments in life is earning the love and trust of an old dog. Old dogs are like old shoes. They are comfortable. They may be out of shape and a little worn around the edges, but they fit well.

And if you want to experience the beauty of that, Buddy will be patiently waiting for you. He is a lovable senior dog who is willing to offer his devotion to a family who will commit to take care of him through thick and thin, and will commit to making the last years of his life the best it can be. In return, he will offer his pure love and loyalty for the rest of his days.