Ansel

My story

In search of active human! Ansel, a 2.5-year-old, 63-pound black male lab mix, came to DLRR because his owner became disabled and can no longer cater to Ansel's energy level. It is Ansel's prior owner's wish that he find a forever home with the one thing she could no longer provide: companionship with an active human. Ansel has an excitement and enthusiasm for life that displays through his personality and through his constant motion. He often runs zoomies around the yard. He loves toys of all kinds, especially tennis balls with squeakers. Fetch, anyone? Ansel will keep returning the ball and dropping at your feet until you decide it's time to quit, and then he will run around some more! In his enthusiasm to fetch he often does not look where he's going and has run into and knocked over his foster brother, an 85-pound lab. For this reason, Foster Mom recommends older children. Ansel loves to jump. Jump for joy over dinner, jump in the air while chasing tennis balls, and jump over doggie gates, foster brother and furniture. Despite all this jumping, he does not jump on humans. Ansel easily exhausts the older lab in the foster home but would likely do well with a younger and lively doggie companion. Foster Mom finds that after a fair amount of exercise Ansel will become calm inside the home. He's just an active boy that needs to get his "wiggles" out. At some point before living with the owner that relinquished him to DLRR, Ansel broke his back left leg. It is completely healed but points away from his body slightly. It does not affect his motor skills in any way. Ansel has excellent social skills around other dogs--he is enthusiastic upon greeting as he views each dog an instant playmate. He shares toys well with his foster brother. Ansel is housebroken and pretty well trained: he knows the commands come, sit, stay, shake, down, and drop it. He listens and complies with verbal commands. Ansel's enthusiasm extends to his time on the leash--he is strong and does pull. Ansel is a good watch dog. He only barks when people are walking outside the home or when there is a delivery. He does initially bark when people come into the house but greets all well. Ansel sometimes believes he is the size of a lap dog and will attempt to crawl into your lap for a snuggle. Ansel will also try to snuggle in the car so Foster Mom has limited his movement to the back seat. While driving, Ansel is initially anxious and whines but will settle down after awhile. He will bark inside the car if he sees people walking or riding a bike nearby. Ansel is friendly to cats but may not be a good fit for some cats as his energy level can be intimidating to them. The cats in the foster home have either completely avoided his presence or taken a swat at him. He's a smart boy--he got the cat's message and for the most part now proceeds with caution. Ansel has been known to counter surf and also investigate the trash can. Other than food being left out, he is trustworthy with all items in the home. If you are interested in this dog, please fill out an application at www.dlrraz.org. Someone will call to schedule a home visit so you can become an approved adopter. Also, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook/desertlab and follow us on Instagram (DLRR of Arizona) and Twitter (@DLRR). Thanks!

If you have any questions or would like to adopt Ansel, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.