Meet Van Howlin, the legendary rockstar of the dog park! With a name that howls back to the golden days of Van Halen, this senior pup brings classic charm and a mellow groove. He may take a minute to warm up (like any true artist before a performance), but once he’s in the zone, he’s all about good vibes, tail wags, and furry friendships. When he’s not out on a stroll working on his next big hit, you can catch him sunbathing like the rock royalty he is… fluff in the wind, soaking up the spotlight (or just the sunshine). Whether he’s howlin’ at the moon or just chilling in the grass, Van’s got that timeless cool.
Here’s some notes from his foster:
Van H came home with us Friday afternoon and did okay in the car ride from Muttville to Alameda. He was in a crate, which was probably best for both him and the driver. He did pant the entire car ride, but didn’t bark/whine or try to get out of the crate.
When it comes to napping/sleeping, it seems like Van H prefers a doggie mat and/or blanket over a dog bed. And seems most comfortable when he’s able to stretch out.
Friday night we discovered that he liked to be hidden away a bit and had found a comfy/safe spot in our bedroom closet. So, we set him up with a doggie mat and blanket and that’s where he slept. And Van H is a great sleeper! Both nights he slept about 12 hours.
We think Van H is potty trained, but his “tell” isn’t always clear, so best to simply take him out a few times a day until his routine is known. And he isn’t a marker either, which is good.
Van H does appear to have some vision challenges…specifically around depth perception. He had a few stumbles in the house (e.g., walking into the water bowl), and then took a small tumble when going down the three stairs off our deck. So, he would be best in a home without stairs. And if he has access to a deck/porch, it should have railings/bumpers, so he doesn’t walk off the edge.
And Van H may do best when he doesn’t have access to the entire house. We have a small house, so it wasn’t a big issue, but keeping him in areas that he’s familiar with and have mapped out, may work best for him. That said, if he gets “stuck”, he’ll bark to call for some assistance from his humane.
He was mildly interested in our pack (Asher and Ebi). Now and then he would trot after one of them. He mostly just did his own thing. He may enjoy the company of another pup that goes at his speed, but certainly doesn’t need to be a solo dog.
He does like to follow a human around, which is sweet. And he likes to be petted as long as he’s not surprised by the touch. He let us pick him up to take him outside for his potty breaks and would give us licks whenever we offered our hand. Van Howlin’ would probably do best in a home where his human would be around frequently, and the household is calm.
