Name – Lilac Blossom
Status – Foster
Type - Dog
Breed – Cane Corso/ Labrador Retriever
Date of Birth – 5 years approximately
Color – Lilac (Dilute Black & Tan)
Eyes – Light Brown
Ears – Pendant
Claws – Black
Tail – Undocked
Altered - Yes
Distinguishing Marks – White Blaze on Chest w/ spots, Slightly Curled Tail
Allergies – None Known
Crate Trained – Yes
Housebroken – Yes
UTD on Vaccinations – Yes
Rabies – Yes
Microchip – No
Dewormed – Yes, Panacure
Flea treatment – Yes, K9 Advantix 2
Heartworm – Negative
Collar Requirements – Standard Collar for Tags ok, Should also have a Chain Collar
Leash Requirements - None
Medications – Rimadyl and Tramadol (For Swelling and Pain as needed)
Overall Physical Health – Fair (3)
Lilac Blossom is in Fair Health. She is at a good weight but must stay slim without question. She has a good coat now and it has been found to be a double coat so she will 'blow' her coat probably twice a year. Her ears must be kept clean, done at least once a week, more if she’s been rolling in dirt, gone in the water, or any activity that can involve needing a bath. Lilac came in with horrendous Ear Infections and was on medication for several months. Though she has recovered, she may have some slight hearing loss. She has severe Hip Issues including Dysplasia and must have access to her medicine (Rimadyl and Tramadol) for Swelling and Pain. She has good days and bad days. On her worst days she cannot get up without assistance and requires a Good Dog Bed, preferably Orthopedic. A raised bed would be ideal, though she is perfectly happy with a couch. Lilac's ears must be cleaned regularly to prevent ear infections due to having such long pendant ears. These reasons are why she rates Fair in the health category. Her weight must be kept at a 4 – 5 to ensure there is not too much extra weight on her hips.
(1=severely emaciated, 5 – 6 normal, 10 = morbidly obese)
Overall Mental Health – Good (4)
Lilac Blossom is in Good Mental Health. She is friendly to all people and animals. Lilac has a very easy way about her. Lilac has a Momma dog personality and will not tolerate fighting between other dogs. She is of lower average intelligence and will follow commands once she learns them. Mastiffs can be a little stubborn but it has not been established as to whether the ‘ignoring’ behavior is related to stubbornness or some hearing loss due to the terrible ear infections she came in with.
People – Excellent (5)
Lilac Blossom is friendly with everyone and comforting to be around. She can fit into most families, and would make an excellent companion for someone who is older or needs a low maintenance pet.
Children – Good (4)
Lilac Blossom is very sweet with all people and patient with children. She likes them and with her gentle personality she is quite tolerant of their noise and movements. We do not recommend she live in a home with very small children Full Time due to her hip issues although Visiting is Perfectly Fine. Children old enough to know better (6 and up is more ideal) not to try and climb on her or manhandle roughly are ok. Lilac is not a dog who is going to engage in rigorous play, she is best as a companion in the home and gives off a feeling of comfort and wellbeing to people of all ages.
Dogs – Excellent (5)
Lilac Blossom is great with other animals. She enjoys the company of other dogs and likes the dog park and visiting other homes with dogs in it. From Little Dog to Big Dogs, she shows no issue with any breed or size. She would make a great companion for another dog and her calming personality could help a dog with separation anxiety already in the home. She rates as an upper middle pack member and we refer to her occasionally as a Momma Dog. She has no overwhelming desire for Pack Leadership among other dogs but will carry the mantle if necessary. She does not like it when dogs fight and will try to intervene if it gets out of hand.
Cats – Average (3)
Lilac Blossom likes cats just fine. She can go into a home with nearly every type of cat. The only cats she gets concerned over are Extremely Skittish Cats that run away. She will follow them until they stop and if they freak out, she will bark at them. Some of this could be genuine concern; some may be her trying to ‘correct’ the behavior. (Momma Dog) Otherwise she could care less about cats either way and will be happy with their company should they choose to engage with her.
Pocket Pets – Unknown
It would need to be discovered. ALPRAS does not currently have any pocket pets. She may do alright with them due to her personality. Introductions would need to be done very supervised and we would do so on a home visit.
Behavioral Issues – Minimal (1)
Lilac Blossom has so few issues they nearly do not rate. Some of it is simply Personal Preference to the potential owner. She will lie on couches, formal or not. We have never discouraged this behavior due to her hip problems and designate a ‘dog couch’ for the most part. She does have a Dog Bed as well and will use it equally. On her worst days she prefers the couch as it is easier to get off of. She barks at such minimal levels it barely rates. We list it simply because if she sees another dog, cat, or animal beyond the fence she will bark once or twice and must be told several times to come away. She is not protective of her food against people though she will growl if another dog tries to get in her bowl, which is understandable. She can be fed in the same room as another dog nearby in close quarters without issue save the one mentioned. At the dog park, if dogs ‘fence run/fight’ she is more than happy to join the chase barking and running. This is more dangerous for her health because she forgets her pain in the moment. She has fallen, twisted her hips wrong, and over done it on a few occasions. We always discourage this behavior in her. Otherwise she isn’t a problem at all.
Energy - Low (1)
Lilac Blossom has a very low energy level. She will on occasion join in on some romping but it last only a few minutes. We believe she self regulates and seems to know her physical boundaries most of the time. She can go on walks on her good days but she'd much rather be a couch potato. We cannot be 100% certain of her age. some vets say around 3 others around 7. We've settled on 5 years to be fair to both sides and by watching her interactions and activity. Regardless of whatever her age may be, Lilac is really a love to be around. She is gentle and will be content to lick your hand and lounge around. Since she is so low maintenance, she is perfect for someone who has limited mobility themselves as a companion, but as stated before, she can fit into most any family that knows and understands her limitations.
Barking - Minimal (1)
Lilac Blossom is not a big barker. Noted previously, she may bark at something on the other side of the fence, but most likely she will whine instead. Her whining is usually something she is concerned over, such as when a cat or dog is acting scared or erratic. This we attribute to Momma Dog nature. The other time she whines (and will often come lick your hand as well) is when she wants to go outside to go potty. She is a quiet dog and for those who hate barkers, she is wonderful.
Swimming - OK (2)
Lilac Blossom can swim. We try to make sure all dogs know how to swim and how to get out of a body of water without panicking. She is not overly interested in going into the water but will do so with help, reluctant as she is about it. If someone has the means, she could benefit from Hydro Therapy. Even allowing her the ability to be 'weightless' for a while is good for her. As far as swimming, she can take it or leave it and it is not intrinsic to ownership.
Toys - Excellent (5)
Lilac Blossom does very well with toys. This is mostly because she isn't very interested in them. She does not shred 'plushies' or damage any toys. She will chew on bones from time to time. A squeaky toy can interest her somewhat, but we believe it is her Momma Dog instincts taking over and wanting to see if the toy is ok. She could possibly learn to play with toys given the proper motivation. Games like tug of war are probably not good for her body as it utilizes so much strength from the back legs and hips.
Known Commands - Sit, Down, Couch, Crate, Stay, No, Yes, Take, Get out of That, Go, Come, Wait, On, Off, Outside, Go Potty, Go Poop, Eat, Drink, Stop, Bed
Commands Working On - There really are not a lot of commands she requires. She does pull on leash some if something interests her. So 'Heel' is the only one she has to work on so far. She is very strong despite being slow because she is part Mastiff and of course a bit stubborn from that as well.
Final Comments:
This girl is a wonderful dog who deserves much love and has so much love to give. She is a low activity dog and rates in the Purple Category. She’s low energy, maintenance, and quite frankly a couch potato. A slow walk a day would be enough for her or some time in a backyard. She does like the dog park and we recommend that her world remain open through walks and/or the dog park. Lilac is social and likes meeting new people and seeing new things. Though she is not the kind of dog for hiking long distances or vigorous activity, she can still have a good time. She can swim and we highly recommend hydro therapy. She has lived in a home with a pool and can get out of it once she is shown how (the stairs).We do have one amusing warning, She snores!
Status – Foster
Type - Dog
Breed – Cane Corso/ Labrador Retriever
Date of Birth – 5 years approximately
Color – Lilac (Dilute Black & Tan)
Eyes – Light Brown
Ears – Pendant
Claws – Black
Tail – Undocked
Altered - Yes
Distinguishing Marks – White Blaze on Chest w/ spots, Slightly Curled Tail
Allergies – None Known
Crate Trained – Yes
Housebroken – Yes
UTD on Vaccinations – Yes
Rabies – Yes
Microchip – No
Dewormed – Yes, Panacure
Flea treatment – Yes, K9 Advantix 2
Heartworm – Negative
Collar Requirements – Standard Collar for Tags ok, Should also have a Chain Collar
Leash Requirements - None
Medications – Rimadyl and Tramadol (For Swelling and Pain as needed)
Overall Physical Health – Fair (3)
Lilac Blossom is in Fair Health. She is at a good weight but must stay slim without question. She has a good coat now and it has been found to be a double coat so she will 'blow' her coat probably twice a year. Her ears must be kept clean, done at least once a week, more if she’s been rolling in dirt, gone in the water, or any activity that can involve needing a bath. Lilac came in with horrendous Ear Infections and was on medication for several months. Though she has recovered, she may have some slight hearing loss. She has severe Hip Issues including Dysplasia and must have access to her medicine (Rimadyl and Tramadol) for Swelling and Pain. She has good days and bad days. On her worst days she cannot get up without assistance and requires a Good Dog Bed, preferably Orthopedic. A raised bed would be ideal, though she is perfectly happy with a couch. Lilac's ears must be cleaned regularly to prevent ear infections due to having such long pendant ears. These reasons are why she rates Fair in the health category. Her weight must be kept at a 4 – 5 to ensure there is not too much extra weight on her hips.
(1=severely emaciated, 5 – 6 normal, 10 = morbidly obese)
Overall Mental Health – Good (4)
Lilac Blossom is in Good Mental Health. She is friendly to all people and animals. Lilac has a very easy way about her. Lilac has a Momma dog personality and will not tolerate fighting between other dogs. She is of lower average intelligence and will follow commands once she learns them. Mastiffs can be a little stubborn but it has not been established as to whether the ‘ignoring’ behavior is related to stubbornness or some hearing loss due to the terrible ear infections she came in with.
People – Excellent (5)
Lilac Blossom is friendly with everyone and comforting to be around. She can fit into most families, and would make an excellent companion for someone who is older or needs a low maintenance pet.
Children – Good (4)
Lilac Blossom is very sweet with all people and patient with children. She likes them and with her gentle personality she is quite tolerant of their noise and movements. We do not recommend she live in a home with very small children Full Time due to her hip issues although Visiting is Perfectly Fine. Children old enough to know better (6 and up is more ideal) not to try and climb on her or manhandle roughly are ok. Lilac is not a dog who is going to engage in rigorous play, she is best as a companion in the home and gives off a feeling of comfort and wellbeing to people of all ages.
Dogs – Excellent (5)
Lilac Blossom is great with other animals. She enjoys the company of other dogs and likes the dog park and visiting other homes with dogs in it. From Little Dog to Big Dogs, she shows no issue with any breed or size. She would make a great companion for another dog and her calming personality could help a dog with separation anxiety already in the home. She rates as an upper middle pack member and we refer to her occasionally as a Momma Dog. She has no overwhelming desire for Pack Leadership among other dogs but will carry the mantle if necessary. She does not like it when dogs fight and will try to intervene if it gets out of hand.
Cats – Average (3)
Lilac Blossom likes cats just fine. She can go into a home with nearly every type of cat. The only cats she gets concerned over are Extremely Skittish Cats that run away. She will follow them until they stop and if they freak out, she will bark at them. Some of this could be genuine concern; some may be her trying to ‘correct’ the behavior. (Momma Dog) Otherwise she could care less about cats either way and will be happy with their company should they choose to engage with her.
Pocket Pets – Unknown
It would need to be discovered. ALPRAS does not currently have any pocket pets. She may do alright with them due to her personality. Introductions would need to be done very supervised and we would do so on a home visit.
Behavioral Issues – Minimal (1)
Lilac Blossom has so few issues they nearly do not rate. Some of it is simply Personal Preference to the potential owner. She will lie on couches, formal or not. We have never discouraged this behavior due to her hip problems and designate a ‘dog couch’ for the most part. She does have a Dog Bed as well and will use it equally. On her worst days she prefers the couch as it is easier to get off of. She barks at such minimal levels it barely rates. We list it simply because if she sees another dog, cat, or animal beyond the fence she will bark once or twice and must be told several times to come away. She is not protective of her food against people though she will growl if another dog tries to get in her bowl, which is understandable. She can be fed in the same room as another dog nearby in close quarters without issue save the one mentioned. At the dog park, if dogs ‘fence run/fight’ she is more than happy to join the chase barking and running. This is more dangerous for her health because she forgets her pain in the moment. She has fallen, twisted her hips wrong, and over done it on a few occasions. We always discourage this behavior in her. Otherwise she isn’t a problem at all.
Energy - Low (1)
Lilac Blossom has a very low energy level. She will on occasion join in on some romping but it last only a few minutes. We believe she self regulates and seems to know her physical boundaries most of the time. She can go on walks on her good days but she'd much rather be a couch potato. We cannot be 100% certain of her age. some vets say around 3 others around 7. We've settled on 5 years to be fair to both sides and by watching her interactions and activity. Regardless of whatever her age may be, Lilac is really a love to be around. She is gentle and will be content to lick your hand and lounge around. Since she is so low maintenance, she is perfect for someone who has limited mobility themselves as a companion, but as stated before, she can fit into most any family that knows and understands her limitations.
Barking - Minimal (1)
Lilac Blossom is not a big barker. Noted previously, she may bark at something on the other side of the fence, but most likely she will whine instead. Her whining is usually something she is concerned over, such as when a cat or dog is acting scared or erratic. This we attribute to Momma Dog nature. The other time she whines (and will often come lick your hand as well) is when she wants to go outside to go potty. She is a quiet dog and for those who hate barkers, she is wonderful.
Swimming - OK (2)
Lilac Blossom can swim. We try to make sure all dogs know how to swim and how to get out of a body of water without panicking. She is not overly interested in going into the water but will do so with help, reluctant as she is about it. If someone has the means, she could benefit from Hydro Therapy. Even allowing her the ability to be 'weightless' for a while is good for her. As far as swimming, she can take it or leave it and it is not intrinsic to ownership.
Toys - Excellent (5)
Lilac Blossom does very well with toys. This is mostly because she isn't very interested in them. She does not shred 'plushies' or damage any toys. She will chew on bones from time to time. A squeaky toy can interest her somewhat, but we believe it is her Momma Dog instincts taking over and wanting to see if the toy is ok. She could possibly learn to play with toys given the proper motivation. Games like tug of war are probably not good for her body as it utilizes so much strength from the back legs and hips.
Known Commands - Sit, Down, Couch, Crate, Stay, No, Yes, Take, Get out of That, Go, Come, Wait, On, Off, Outside, Go Potty, Go Poop, Eat, Drink, Stop, Bed
Commands Working On - There really are not a lot of commands she requires. She does pull on leash some if something interests her. So 'Heel' is the only one she has to work on so far. She is very strong despite being slow because she is part Mastiff and of course a bit stubborn from that as well.
Final Comments:
This girl is a wonderful dog who deserves much love and has so much love to give. She is a low activity dog and rates in the Purple Category. She’s low energy, maintenance, and quite frankly a couch potato. A slow walk a day would be enough for her or some time in a backyard. She does like the dog park and we recommend that her world remain open through walks and/or the dog park. Lilac is social and likes meeting new people and seeing new things. Though she is not the kind of dog for hiking long distances or vigorous activity, she can still have a good time. She can swim and we highly recommend hydro therapy. She has lived in a home with a pool and can get out of it once she is shown how (the stairs).We do have one amusing warning, She snores!