Leash Manners - Peanut walks well on a leash. He will occasionally pull if you let him, but with a few corrections he happily walks next to you. The Bassett Hound in him loves sniffing and tracking scents. Because of this, it’s so important to always have him on a leash when outside. Once he picks up on an interesting scent, you and your commands no longer exist. He doesn’t chase after squirrels or lizards. He also doesn’t pay too much attention to other people or bikers. He will definitely let you know if he sees another dog, though.

House Training - Peanut is totally house trained. I leave him to roam free during the day when I am at work for 8+ hours a day. He never messes, nor chews on anything he’s not supposed to. He does not dig in the garbage and doesn’t show separation anxiety at all. He did rearrange all of the pillows on my couch one day and made a bundle of blankets on the bed, so he will help himself to furniture. I usually put objects on the couches so he doesn’t climb up. Works well. He will let you know if someone is close to the house. He has a deep bark and likes to protect his territory. He does not bark unnecessarily, though. He’s good in thunderstorms. We had one the day after I began fostering him. Not surprisingly, he slept right through it!

Socialization - Peanut interacts well with people. He has a loving disposition and will waddle up to you to give kisses. However, he is not socialized with dogs yet. He often will growl or bark if he sees them nearby. We are working on this. We did pass a cat on a walk one day, he didn’t seem to mind it. He just stared and sniffed in it’s direction. We were 3 feet away from it and he did not attempt to lunge or chase.

Energy - Peanut’s favorite pastime is napping. In a close second is eating! He is, however, always excited about his multiple walks a day and does have “puppy moments” where he romps around the house after a tennis ball. He’s very mellow and just hangs out near you without needing constant attention. He’s pretty independent and keeps himself busy, or curls up for a nap. I often joke around and call him Tucker, because he always seems to get tuckered out quickly!

Daily Schedule - Peanut gets a minimum of 3 daily walks. One in the morning, in the afternoon, and then before bed. His walks are usually 20-30 minutes long. He plays in the house and will sometimes hang out on my patio or backyard on a long lead since I don’t have a fenced yard. He eats twice a day, after his morning and afternoon walks. He receives around 1 1/4 cups of food each time. His breed tends to gain weight if you’re not careful, given their laziness. Sometimes I only give 1 cup and then give him treats like apples, green beans, or carrots. He also loves the skin from cooked salmon.

Temperament - Peanut is sweet and easy going. He’s got a great temperament and would be good with kids. He loves belly rubs and will roll over quickly to get one. He lets me touch his ears, paws, and face for grooming. He is not food aggressive and I can easily take a toy away from his paws or mouth without him being protective of it.

Obedience - Peanut knows sit, stay, lay down, come here, heel, and no. What’s funny about Peanut is he wants to know what’s in it for him before obeying you. He does great when he knows you have a treat for him to work for. Otherwise, you may have to repeat yourself a few times before he listens to you. Treats and praise work best for Peanut when training. Again, he’s just independent and would rather do what he wants than follow you. However, he will obey a consistent leader that shows confidence. Patience is also important, but I haven’t had Peanut misbehave or ignore me. It just takes some bribing!

Behaviors/Personality Quirks - This dog is fun to watch. He has such a cute stature and sweet face. He makes the biggest deal of making his bed comfy before settling down! He loves rubbing his face on his pillows, blankets, and floor. When he shakes it’s like a helicopter is landing. He is a bit of a slobber monster. Not too bad, but be aware after he drinks...

Ideal Home - Peanut would do best being the only pet in the house. Children would be fine since he has a mellow disposition. Peanut just wants love and a cozy place to nap. He enjoys playing gently with his owner. He does need a pack leader that will expect him to obey and show consistency. Being a positive leader who praises and rewards is also best for Peanut so he will be willing to follow your direction. He’s a pretty low maintenance dog that would love a calm home to enjoy his people family!