Clover is a lovely 5-year-old girl who was released from a commercial breeder.  She weighs about 17 lbs.   When she first arrived at foster care, she was unfamiliar with human touch. She would approach and sniff her foster parents with her tail wagging, but they couldn’t pet her. She would flinch and run if she was touched. After 2 weeks, Clover decided that her foster mom could pet her, and she learned to thoroughly enjoy chin scratches and chest rubs.  Over the next two months Clover became very attached to her foster mom and would let her pet her all over and love her.  It took a lot longer for Clover to be ok with her foster dad. He did not force the issue and he would sit on the floor and not make direct eye contact with her and let her approach at her own pace.  Finally, at the two-month mark, a switch turned on in Clover’s brain and she decided that her foster dad was great, too.  The teenage boys had arrived back home from college around that time as well and Clover accepted them and allowed petting from them in about 2 weeks.  Clover is now very affectionate and loves to be pet, but she is not a lap sitter or snuggler.  She will follow you around the house and be a constant companion and happily seek out affection. Perhaps at time goes on and she develops a bond with her family she will want to sit in a lap, but that is not something she enjoys at this time. 

Clover has worked hard to understand what life in a home is like and has really started to settle in and show her true personality.  She is a funny, spunky, friendly little lady and she is a delight.  She has discovered toys and likes to really chew at plushies.  She will often collect toys and bring them to a crate to sit in a comfortable spot and chew.

She gets along well with all the dogs she has met in her foster home and will thrive with another well adjusted dog in her new home.  Clover watched the other dogs closely when she arrived in foster care and looked to them often for guidance in learning how to accept people, behave in a home and how to have fun.  We suspect she will need those reassurances again when she goes to her new family, so at least one other, well-adjusted dog is a must in her forever home. 

Clover has done beautifully with housebreaking.  In her new home, she may not signal to go out so she will need to be offered many opportunities to go outside until she understands the new environment.  Clover enjoys her crate and has slept in a crate and also on the big bed.

Clover is a moderately vocal dog.  She does not bark at wildlife or without reason, but she does bark at mealtimes as well as when she’s excited to see her foster mom in the morning or when returning home from errands.  Clover is also vocal if something startles her like a new sight, sound or a new person entering the home.  This “alarm barking” has lessened significantly as she has become accustomed to the sights and sounds of life in a home environment.  When she goes to her forever home there may be an initial period with more barking as she learns the sounds, sights and people in the new environment. 

Clover has been spayed, updated on vaccinations, HW tested negative, had dental and is In good shape and read for a home of her own. 

An ideal home for Clover would be a quiet home with a regular routine and at least one other dog, preferably a Cavalier,  who can help Clover feel comfortable and confident in her new home.  Clover’s new family will need to be patient and understand that it may take time for Clover to readily accept affection and to allow her to take her own time to settle in and adjust.  Children would be overwhelming to Clover, but calm, respectful teenagers would be ok.  Once Clover feels safe and comfortable in her forever home, she will be a delightful, sweet little companion who loves her people very much.  A securely fenced yard is an absolute must, no exceptions.  We do not ship dogs or support any long distant adoptions.  Please understand this before applying.  Please complete an application if you are interested in Clover, the contact Mary Coyne, mary401339@aol.com.  Clover is being fostered in CT.