Hi, my name is Lucky and I am a super loving and handsome gentleman!
Quick Facts:
- Breed: Belgian Malinois
- Gender: Male, neutered
- Age: 7-8 years old
- Size: 65 pounds
- Good with…
- Dogs? Yes!
- Cats? Yes!
- Kids? 8+
History
I was born in California, and was adopted from a shelter in the town of Lompoc when I was about a year old. I don’t remember anything about being a little puppy, but I was healthy and happy, and when I went to live on the ranch, those were the happiest days of my life! I had a 10 year-old boy who loved to play with me, a pack of 6 girl dogs who bossed me around (but were nice too), and I lived with cats in the house and out in the barns. I loved tagging along on horseback rides, and chasing gophers and squirrels. After a few years though, my people had to move off the ranch. Then they got divorced. We traveled to Texas for a while, and then came here to Ithaca, New York. I LOVE snow, by the way! But not thunderstorms (scary–more about that later).
The boy grew up and moved back to California with his dad, and the lady has to work away from home all day now. So now I have to be cooped up all day in a little apartment, and whenever I go outside, I have to be on a leash, and this makes me all very sad. I love my mom and my little Chihuahua dog buddy very much, but … this is no life for a noble Belgian Malinois!
Personality
I am told that I am a very special, incredibly wonderful soul. I am a beautiful, wise, loving and silly dog, who is one part protector (making sure that my people are always safe and happy), one part lover (snuggling and nuzzling and being gentle and loving and sweet), and one part total goofball (dancing with hilarious joy at my favorite squeaky toy)! By the way, I’m not one of those dogs that jumps all over people and goes crazy licking folks. When it comes to affection, I’m all about tenderness, with sweet nuzzles and butt scratchies and belly rubs.
When I was younger, I had a LOT of energy and was super athletic – I loved long hikes and running along for horseback rides. Now that I’m middle-aged, I’ve pretty much got all that crazy energy out of my system. I like a nice walk, a few minutes of tug or chase the ball every day, I enjoy walking the perimeter of a fenced yard, but mostly what I care most about and what makes me happiest is just being close to my people. I really like to be right next to them, or where I can keep my eye on them, so that I know they’re all right. I also love snuggling on the couch for a bit of TV at night, and I like to sleep at the foot of the bed.
My absolute favorite thing in the world is a squeaky toy, and I will literally dance and dance and make you laugh out loud when you see just how goofy I can get with my squeakies! I also love love love car rides! I don’t care if they’re long or short. I love going with you (as long as it’s not hot out of course)!! And I have excellent manners in the car…I mostly just look out the window or take a nap—you won’t even really know I’m there until you look in the rear view mirror and see me smiling. Because I love to be with you!
I love walks too! And I’m super good about not tugging or pulling my person along. Well…except if there’s another dog nearby. I’m what they call “reactive” to other dogs when I am on leash. I just want to make sure that other dog isn’t going to be dangerous! So I test him by putting on my scariest bark, and I might even try to squirm right out of my collar so I can run over and see what they’re made of. I’ll listen to a good, strong leader, though, who can let me know that there’s nothing to worry about. A new home in the country where I won’t have to bump into other dogs very often would be more relaxing!
But just to be clear—I do really like other dogs! Just not when I’m on leash. Once I get to know a dog, we’re total buddies. I’ve lived with lots of dogs and always got along well. In fact, the funny thing is, I’m not even an alpha-type! I live with a Chihuahua now, and man, I just let him call all the shots! Seriously! I know how to play gentle with little dogs, too! I’m a sweetheart!
By the way, I’m not one of those dogs that jumps all over people and goes crazy licking folks. When it comes to affection, I’m all about tenderness, with sweet nuzzles and butt scratchies and belly rubs.
A word about my house manners: I pride myself on being a gentleman, and have impeccable habits regarding elimination functions. If there were ever to be an accident, you can assume something is medically wrong, because I would rather die than leave a puddle or pile in the house!
I never used to have any anxiety, but since coming to NY and being alone in the house all day, I have developed some new separation anxiety. I also find thunderstorms to be quite unnerving (we never had them in California). Since the separation anxiety is new, we’re all thinking that if I found a better situation where I wasn’t being left alone for such long periods every day, that might resolve on its own. For the thunderstorms, I just need some understanding and reassurance please!
Cohabitation
Once I know people, I love them!
I’m a bit wary and aloof with strangers, but once my people let me know the people are fine and/or once I have a chance to get to know them a bit, then I love them!
I am not comfortable around toddlers and little kids, but I LOVE kids who are a bit older (8 and up) and especially if they want to play with me or throw a ball for me!
The first 5-10 minutes of meeting new dogs can be a bit bumpy, but once we get past that, we usually become good friends! I’ve lived with plenty of dogs, large and small, and it’s all been good.
I’ve lived with cats just fine. Of course if they run, I like to chase them, but hey, I’m a dog! But I would never hurt one.
Favorite Activities
- I love just being with my people!!!
- I love having a job, and going on patrol walks around the yard!!
- I LOVE LOVE LOVE squeaky toys!!!
- I love car rides!
- Did I mention squeaky toys? I LOVE SQUEAKY TOYS! And little stuffed toys. And towels. For some reason I really like towels too. And squeaky toys. Don’t forget squeaky toys!
Why I am looking for a new home
My person – who I know loves me very much – tells me she thought we were all going to live on the ranch forever. She worked from home, and we spent plenty of time taking care of horses in the mornings and evenings, and took long walks around the ranch every day. It was perfect. But then the man moved away, and then we had to move, and she has to be away all day now, and I’m stuck at home in a little house. And now she says we have to move again, and this time, we won’t even have a fenced yard, and I’ll have to be on a leash all the time. Ugh. We Malinois are working dogs, bred for athleticism and protection. Being cooped up in an apartment makes me so sad and anxious. I get all wound up, and then I make mistakes. And then I feel terrible. And it just keeps getting worse. The lady is really really sad, but wants me to be my old happy self, and so that’s why she’s trying to find a new home for me.
Medical
I’ve been well cared for, and I’m super healthy and in the prime of my life! I should have another 7 or more good years ahead of me at least. And I’ve got all that puppy shenanigans out of my system too, so I don’t need the level of exercise I needed a few years ago. In fact, I’m just starting to get a little bit stiff with arthritis now and then – very common for dogs my size and type. Leisurely daily walks of 15-20 minutes are just fine, and an opportunity to run and chase a ball or stick for a few minutes to stretch my legs is perfect. If I play too hard with another dog, or go on a more strenuous hike, I’ll be stiff. It’s probably time to start me on fish oil and Dasaquin and some Boswellia!
I eat grain-free food which has kept me from being itchy. My mom feeds me a bit of FreshPet sausage with every meal too, since I can be a bit picky, and it helps keep my appetite up.
Summary
Sorry if I’ve been a bit long-winded. I hope you can see that I’m a loved, and very loving dog. I would be so happy to live in a house with a fenced yard, where I can get back to work securing your yard! (And if you have a sunny deck or porch where I can keep an eye on things from, all the better!) I would love to have someone around most of the time – maybe someone who’s retired? Or who works from home? That would be awesome. We could have a great time bonding together with a trainer for a few weeks as we get to know one another. My mom says she’s happy to help, too. If you’d like a companion who balances dignity with goofiness; who will make you feel safe and secure, and who is extremely handsome and debonair to boot, let’s see about meeting each other!
If you are interested in adopting me, please fill out an online adoption application and live close to Ithaca , Syracuse, Binghamton, Rochester, or Elmira. We do home visits on every applicant, and can’t do home visits where we don’t have local volunteers.
