Carter (VA)

Meet Carter, a charming 2-year-old dog with a shy nature and a gentle spirit. At just 10.5 lbs., he is a little guy that needs some extra help learning developing his confidence. Until recently, Carter lived with at least 15 other small dogs that got dropped off at a shelter when their owner died. Once he got his new rattitude, Carter has been moving past his fears and is learning about living in a busy neighborhood with people and dogs and lots of loud noises.This little dude is very interested in his people but is still a bit leery of big movements and loud or unfamiliar sounds. His dislikes include vacuums, joggers, and anything new. His likes include a quiet sunny spot for napping, a comfy pile of pillows or a fluffy dog bed to lay on, and a biscuit before bed. While Carter may be curious about where you are, he gives humans their space and likes his space in return. Carter feels the same about the other small dog in the house and would be fine living with another small dog. Once you make it into Carter's inner circle, he will interact more freely, but it takes some time to build his trust.Meeting strange people and dogs outside is still very scary for Carter and he needs to develop more skills in meeting both dogs and humans that are new to him as he most often reacts with some loud sounds (like a meerkat warning its family). He enjoys both treats and affection as part of training and needs to find an adopter that can continue working with him to overcome his fears and be his best self.Carter is house-trained on a schedule and is learning to let you know when he needs to go out. He sleeps well in a crate all night in the human's bedroom without complaint and is trustworthy to be uncrated during the day. Carter wants to find a forever home that can help him continue to learn that not everything is scary, and help him expand his friend list! His shyness is endearing, and his sweet nature shines through once you get to know each other. Carter will require a slow introduction and his new family will ideally be able to visit with him near Alexandria, VA, prior to his adoption being finalized. To learn more about cutest little Carter, check out his photo album http://www.imageevent.com/newrattitude/carter . Beginning March 1, 2025, our adoption fee is $250 for adult dogs or $300 for puppies under 6 months old. If you are interested in adopting this dog, PLEASE READ THE DETAILED ADOPTION PROCESS information on our website at www. NewRattitude.org/adopt/ From there, you can access our adoption application or contact our Adoption Team for more info.