Oakley is a very affectionate pup.  Because he is on the smaller side, we think he is a cross between a Harrier and Red-Ticked Coonhound  He was brought to us by a woman who chased him around a very busy road for nearly an hour before finally luring him to her car with cat food!  She said he is very lucky that no cars were coming either way because "nothing crosses that road and lives."  He is a very happy and fun dog!  As one of our volunteers wrote, "Oakley has no aggression in him whatsoever, was happy to meet everyone!!!" 

 

Update 12/4: Oakley is a gentle dog who is happiest when sleeping in a sunny window. He loves to chew toys and bones, to take walks with his family, and to be cradled like a baby in your arms.

He loves other dogs and cats. He knows “sit.” He walks well on a leash, is completely housebroken, and crate-trained.  Oakley is an all-around good boy!

6/19 Foster Update:
    Oakley…what a sweet little baby.  I was there the day the woman brought him, he was such a happy guy!  He wanted to greet every dog and person and just could not get enough of the new sights and smells!
    When I came to get Oakley this week, I was told he had a cold (kennel cough).  The night I was to get him, what happens?  Judy lets him out back with a couple of other dogs and he jumps the fence!  After looking high and low, with some help from other volunteers, he could not be found.  She ran errands and when she came back, there he was, sitting at the front door with a look of “where did ya’ go?  I’ve been waiting for you FOREVER!”  To make matters worse, this was minutes before that TERRIBLE storm hit…you know the one that had lightening flashing all around us and people were going 10-20 mph on I-4…yeah that one.  So needless to say, his cold got worse! 
     So we picked him up and he has a horrible cough and just aches…he also has a wound on the underside of his face that is trying to heal and so the entire right side of his face is swollen from it.  He is miserable and yet he still curls up in a tight ball at your feet to snuggle, or flips over in a full stretch on his back to get belly rubs, and will calmly place his head in your lap for some kisses.  He automatically thinks any cup or bag you are holding is a treat and he perks up instantly (a big plus with all the medicine I’m having to give him!)  He also absolutely adores…I mean is obsessed with…his reflection.  Whenever he looks excessively mopey we let him go to the BIG mirror, the one my husband should have hung up on the wall over our dresser months ago…Oakley loves it.  He stands there looking at himself and the rest of the room just wagging that tail away.
    He loves his crate.  He will go in there throughout the day, it is his favorite place to nap.  He sleeps soundly through the night and is entirely crate trained!
   It is quite obvious he has never been in a house before.  The first time he saw our big screen tv he ran up to each of the people trying to greet them.  He then started sniffing and cocking his head curiously.  As his tail picked up in speed, you knew he thought it was pretty cool!  We are working on the “No” command…he’s evidently never heard it before.  He’s picking it up quickly as he hears it quite often.  He is very good at playing all by himself and is very content surrounding himself by toys and chewing and playing away with them.  My two dogs, who are normally very unreceptive to the new foster for anywhere from 1 week to a month, have no problems with him.  They haven’t wrestled yet, but we are also discouraging it and keeping play time quiet as his boo-boo heals.
   He walks beautifully on a leash and is not a puller at all!  He is very happy to go wherever you want him to go.  He is VERY skinny right now but once his cold is gone, he’ll be more willing to eat.  He is quite little in reality…he would technically be considered a small “medium” dog based on his height, but his build is quite petite.  He curls up into a ball that would be about the same as an average-sized adult cat.
    This boy is precious.  Once he feels better and he learns “no” he is going to be a PERFECT and easy companion!!! 

6/22 Foster Update:
Happy Feet -  Have you seen that movie?  the baby penguin can't stop tapping his feet because they are happy?  THAT is Oakley.  It seriously looks like the dog version of happy feet!  He can't contain himself...I'm cracking up as I type this...so is my husband!  He is such a funny little dog and has som REALLY happy feet!  :)

7/15 Foster Update:
It’s been a while since I’ve updated Oakley.  He has been doing remarkably well!  He is SO polite now, a perfect gentleman!  He no longer hops on furniture…he doesn’t even hop up to put his paws on you or the counter!  He is 99% potty trained, the last time he had an accident was when we forgot to take him out right before bed and also decided to sleep in…he held it for as long as he possibly could!
 He LOVES, LOVES, LOVES all food and all bones. He will dance whenever you have any type of food in the vicinity!  He LOVES sleeping in the laundry basket so now we have one for him with blankets in it, if he isn’t with us, we know he is in his basket.
 He is such a laid back guy that sometimes when he is in his basket and needs to be put into the crate, he will just look at you and you will have to pick him up and cradle him like a baby and place him in his crate. He will stay in the same position you put him in the crate too in those moments and go straight to sleep!
 He doesn’t want or need a lot of exercise.  He likes hanging out in the yard and occasionally going for short walks in the evening when it is cool, but other than that he is quite content sleeping in his basket, playing with a stuffed animal, or eating a bone.
 He is probably the easiest foster we have ever had.  He loves all people and animals and is so very gentle.  He loves to be snuggled, if he had it his way, my husband would hold him like a baby in his arms all day, every day (see photos at the bottom of the page).  He does have selective hearing when he is outside, BUT if you have a treat with you…all eyes, nose, and ears are on you!
 We love Oakley and he will fit into any family PERFECTLY!!!