Fritz (Dripping Springs)

"Famous" Fritz was picked up as a stray in South Texas and was never claimed. He weighs about 65 pounds and his age is unknown but we think 10 years old at least. When Fritz first came to me, it seemed he had never lived in a home. He loved the soft couches, beds and blankets and would roll and roll and push his face into them. The callouses on both his front and back legs confirm he most likely lived outside on concrete. Fritz peed in the house a couple times the first day but then figured out the rules and never did it again. He is left uncrated with my 4 dogs and has had 0 issues and has never chewed or ruined anything, but he will chew on his toys! Fritz has had 0 problems with any dog or person he meets— including children. He is very easy going and is just such a great dog! Fritz is great in the car and also at the vet but he does pull on the leash a bit and we are working on that.

Fritz went to the vet for a full exam and complete bloodwork panel and unfortunately, he tested positive for heart worms and has a moderate heart murmur. The bloodwork looked great! Fritz was neutered, had a small non-cancerous growth on his bottom eye lid removed and was started on the slow kill heart-worm treatment which he has been tolerating well. Overall, the vet was pleased with his body/muscle composition and mobility but due to some stiffness in the morning or after long naps, he was prescribed Rimadyl and Phycox joint supplements which he gets daily. The vet thinks he will be weaned off the Rimadyl in a few weeks. Fritz is moving around much better and seems happier. The heart murmur is nothing to worry about now but will be monitored— no meds are needed at this time for the heart murmur.

Fritz is crated at night in my room and does not make a peep. I believe he also would be fine if left out of the crate at night. He typically gets tired around 7pm and goes in his crate around 9:30pm. My dogs are up and fed at 6:30am but Fritz likes to stay in his crate and likes to be served breakfast in bed. He usually will get up 30-60 minutes later when he is ready. The summer heat is hard on him so when we go outside, it is usually in the mornings and after 6pm. When we go outside during the day, we limit it to a few minutes. He loves to play fetch!

Fritz is definitely a Velcro dog… always wants to be next to a person and wants to be loved on. I think he would do best in a home where someone is home the majority of the day with him. We are working on him giving people some personal space… he literally wants to be on you. He does not play much with my 4 dogs so a home with or without other dogs would be suitable. Fritz can be a little territorial with toys… if he has a toy or ball in his mouth, he does not like people taking it away. He will clamp down on the toy and will become very stiff and his lips will go up a bit which is a fair warning to back off. We must either give him a treat so he drops it and we grab it or give him another toy so he drops the other one. We have never heard him growl, he has never humped and no biting at all but again I do have concern if someone were to try and take his toy from him (we are working on this). I do not think it would be a good idea for Fritz to be in a home with young children just due to him not liking his toys taken away. He does great with my niece and nephew who are 7 and 9 years old but they have been told never to try and grab his toys from him.

I have completely fallen for Fritz and this will be the hardest foster goodbye yet. He is very special and such a handsome boy who loves to love. Everyone who meets him…. falls in love with him. As you may know, he has quite the fan club — someone even sent him his very own cozy cave! I would keep him in a heartbeat if I could, but I am at my max amount of dogs according to my HOA. This boy has a lot of life still in him and he will for sure make someone very happy.

Positives

Great loving dog. Easy going. Low energy. House trained, crate trained and potty trained. No anxiety or bad behaviors have been observed (besides the toys). Gets along with all dogs and people he has met. Does not need to be crated. Good in the car and at the vet.

 Negatives

Pulls on the leash. Needs to learn to give people some personal space. Will sometimes jump on people when they enter house but will stop when directed. Territorial with his toys.

Medical Alerts: Does have heart murmur but not a concern at this time. Is undergoing treatment for heart worms and rescue will cover treatment until heartworm negative.