Charlie

From Farm Dog to Family Dog

Charlie is a 5-year-old, 78-pound Fox Red Labrador Retriever who is neutered and up to date on his vaccinations. After spending the last four months in foster care completing heartworm treatment, Charlie is healthy, thriving, and finally ready to find the forever family he’s been working so hard toward.

Charlie came into foster care after spending his previous life as an outside farm dog with very little training or experience living indoors. Thankfully, Charlie is an incredibly eager learner. In just a few short months, he has become house-trained, happily enters and relaxes in his crate, walks nicely on a Gentle Leader, and has grown much more comfortable with handling. He already knows sit and down, and he’s currently working on off.

Charlie is a happy-go-lucky Lab who absolutely loves his people. He’s full of enthusiasm for life and can be a bit of a rowdy goofball, especially when he’s excited. His playful energy sometimes causes him to forget he’s a 78-pound dog, so he would do best with an active family that enjoys walks, adventures, and continuing his training. Charlie has made tremendous progress, but he’s still polishing his manners. He may counter surf, snatch food or toys if given the opportunity, and can occasionally get himself into harmless mischief. With supervision, consistency, and positive reinforcement, he continues to improve every day.

Charlie is a submissive dog who reads other dogs well and gets along appropriately with them, though his size and enthusiasm can be overwhelming for puppies or very small dogs. He also lives peacefully with dog-savvy cats. Because of his exuberance and continued work on manners, he would do best in a home with children over 10 years old. Charlie also has a loud bark and is quick to alert when he hears things like car doors closing or people passing by, so an apartment setting would not be the best fit.

Charlie has come farther than anyone could have imagined in just four months. From an untrained farm dog to a loving companion eager to learn, he’s proven that with patience and guidance, he truly blossoms. His future family will be rewarded with a loyal, affectionate best friend who is ready to keep learning and loving.

Charlie is fostered in Lafayette, Indiana, and is eagerly waiting to meet the family who will help him write the next chapter of his story.