Adopted: Yoda

We sorry, and saddened to report that Yoda has passed away.

Quick Facts:

  • Breed: Carolina dog x Kangaroo Mix (kidding!)
  • Gender: Male neutered
  • Age: 3 years old
  • Size: 43 lbs
  • Good with…
  • Dogs? Usually, see below
  • Cats? No
  • Kids? 13+

Hi-hi- hi! I’m so excited to meet you!

Background:

I was found as a stray and landed in an over-crowded shelter in rural KY, where I became a staff favorite, because I was incredibly affectionate, had such zest for life, and unbridled enthusiasm!! Hearing such great reports, Cayuga Dog Rescue rescued me and I made my way up the Canine Underground Railroad (that’s a thing!) to get here and wiggle my way into more peoples’ hearts. I am so excited that they decided to save me—I love getting to know everyone, and really dig the toys, dog beds, and couches that I have been introduced to! It is all so wonderful!

Personality:

I am told that I am a very special and amazing dog! In multiple ways!

First, of the more than 550 dogs that CDR has rescued, apparently, I am among the most intelligent! Thus the name Yoda. Well, plus the ears. My ability to focus and problem-solve—when you are holding a tasty high value treat, mind you– is truly amazing! If you have a treat in your hand, I WILL figure out how to get you to give it to me! Sit? Gotcha. Dance? I’m there! Do your taxes? Where’s my pencil? I am also learning impulse control, like ‘stay’ and ‘leave it’, which is hard for me because I just want to love everything all the time! I would really love to go to positive training classes with my forever family, and am certain to be the star if you want to take me to agility class!!

I am also among the most affectionate of dogs! I am wildly, amazingly, wonderfully affectionate! I love cuddling and snuggling, draping myself all over you while we watch TV or read books, getting pets and belly rubs and ear and chest scratchies, and being near to where you are. I love closeness and sharing affection!!

I am an exuberant, passionate guy! My exuberance is mostly evoked when something new happens–like someone comes to visit, or you arrive home after work. Then you see my bouncy-bouncy, excited self! But when a new thing isn’t happening, I’m really quite chill and content to lay around, chew on a toy, take a nap, or watch a movie with you. So, though I’m certainly an active young guy and have a great athletic energy, I settle down quite beautifully most of the time. Some of my favorite past-times are snuggling and cuddling and hanging out. I LOVE to snuggle up next to you and help you watch TV!

I do love going for walks, hikes, and chasing after balls in a fenced yard! I walk really nicely on leash and can walk/hike for as long as you want, and am well-mannered when we meet other people and other dogs (as long as they are not unneutered male dogs, more about that in the cohabitation section). Once in a while I get “the zoomies” and race around like a crazy man, but most of the time I’m pretty normal!

I’m not clingy, but I would hate to be alone all day long, so am hoping for someone who doesn’t work long hours all the time, or who can take me to work with them sometimes. I have incredible coloring, with this gorgeous brindle coat and a white blaze on my neck. My fur is soft and they tell me that my smile is so wide and endearing and full of bright happiness, that they dare someone not to feel joyful when they see it!

Here are some other important things to know about me

  1.  Regarding the training stuff…I pretty much only work for treats. If you love positive reinforcement training, we’d be a great match, but if you’re not someone that enjoys rewarding your dog with treats, then I am not your dog. Also, I respond very poorly to the more domineering “Cesar Milan” type of training style, so if that is your style, please don’t consider me.
  2.  I am what is called a “status seeking” dog. That means, I care about being high up in the pack hierarchy. If you are a solid positive leader, who I respect, then I’ll fall into the pack behind you and all will be awesome. I will have great manners and be my best self! But if you are inconsistent, or if you are a pushover dog parent who sort of lets me run the show, it will bring out my worst self, and I’ll get bossy and irritating! So, I am looking for that strong, positive, loving, fun, and consistent owner, who can be my leader. So I can be my sweet, fantastic, well-mannered self!

I am of course house trained, and will let you know when I need to go outside. I would LOVE a fenced backyard or someone who is going to take me on super regular walks every day, so I can explore the world!

Cohabitation:

I love people very much! I can be a bit shy/wary when I meet someone new, so please just give me a tiny bit of time to warm up and see that they’re nice!

I love playing with other dogs…a lot. Unfortunately, I have an over the top, rough-and-tumble play style, which a lot of dogs find annoying or unpleasant right off the bat, and other dogs get tired of after we have been playing for some time. You have to monitor my play and separate me from other dogs when the other dog wants to be left alone, because I pretty much never stop on my own. For this reason, I am no longer allowed to play in the doggy play group at the kennel where I am being fostered, so I instead play 1-1 with a kennel staff person in the yard.

And though I might love a doggy sibling, the rescue folks think that I would do best either a) in a home with a very alpha female dog who is not going to stand for any nonsense from me, or b) as an only dog. They do not think I would do well sharing my home with another male dog or any dog that isn’t going to keep me in my place.

Also, you should know that I am not safe to take to dog parks. I truly hate unneutered male dogs, and since you never know when an unneutered male is going to come into the park, it’s not safe for me to be there. I would love 1-1 play dates with female or neutered male dogs though (as long as they enjoy my rough, neck-bitey, exuberant play style)!

I am probably not great for a house with kids and since I am such a rough player, best not to have me around cats either! I don’t think I would ever purposely hurt a cat, but I might do so accidentally if I was too rambunctious with my play.

Medical:

I am a super healthy dog! Up to date on vaccines and in tip top shape!

Summary:

The rescue folks say that I am one of those incredibly special dogs and that, if you are the right person for me, I will be your “once in a lifetime” dog. The kind of dog who– despite how much you love all dogs—will be the dog more special than all the rest.
If you are a solid positive leader, with positive reinforcement dog training experience, and if you are affectionate, easygoing, friendly, happy, joyful and kind, and if you like walks or hikes, and teaching tricks and playing games, then please please please come and meet me. I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!

If you are interested in adopting Yoda, please fill out an online adoption application and live close to Ithaca, Syracuse, Rochester, Binghamton, or Elmira. We do home visits on every applicant, and can’t do home visits where we don’t have local volunteers.

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