about BUSTER BAR

If Buster Bar were an ice cream treat, he’d be the extra-large size with a little bit of everything packed inside: sweet, substantial, occasionally a little nutty, and absolutely impossible not to love.

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Buster is a big, handsome gentleman with an equally big heart. There are pieces of his past we will never know, but it is obvious that somewhere along the way, this dog knew what it meant to belong to someone. He gravitates naturally toward people and affection, leaning his whole big body into you when he wants some love. For a dog who has traveled so far, lost the people he once knew and had his entire world turned upside down, his willingness to connect with humans says an awful lot about who Buster is.

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Now a couple of weeks into foster care, we are watching more of his personality emerge as his confidence grows. Sudden or unfamiliar noises can still startle him, particularly unexpected sounds from neighboring children, but he recovers quickly and continues on with his day. His foster family is taking their time introducing him to new experiences and allowing him to build confidence at a pace that feels comfortable for him.

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Buster is learning to walk nicely on leash with his Gentle Leader and is working on the basics, including learning his name and mastering “sit.” He is navigating and beginning to understand new commands and expectations, but food is a wonderful motivator. He currently eats one cup in the morning and one cup at night, with treats used throughout the day to reward good choices and help with training.

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His kennel skills are also coming along beautifully. With calm, gentle movement and a little treat motivation, Buster will now go into his kennel at night and sleeps well once he is settled. He can be a little whiny when he thinks he is missing out on something, apparently Buster Bar has opinions about being excluded from the fun, but he is learning that relaxation is part of life too. His foster family has started using a tie-down to practice that skill, and Buster seems familiar with the concept already. He settles nicely and is doing very well with it.

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Car rides are another win. Buster may whine for the first three to five miles, especially while he is busy enjoying the world with his head out the window, but once the initial excitement wears off, he settles down and will sit or lie quietly for the rest of the ride.

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He is developing a good relationship with both his foster mom and foster dad and continues to show us what an affectionate, people-oriented dog he is.

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There is a whole lot of dog in this Buster Bar, but there is even more heart. He is affectionate, funny, eager to be included and growing a little more confident every day. Watching him settle into foster care has already given us glimpses of the dog underneath everything he has been through.

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And we have a feeling this big Buster Bar heartthrob is only going to get sweeter from here.

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More to come...

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SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO BUSTER BAR'S FOSTER FAMILY FOR THEIR TIME AND DONATIONS:

Sara & Rueben​

BUSTER BAR NEEDS A SPONSOR!

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Click here to find out how you can sponsor an SEPR dog.

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