Sophie

Saint Simons Island, Georgia
Female Age: 5 (DOB 4/12/2018) 24.5# (needs to lose a few more) Health - One luxating patell (asymptomatic) Adoption donation: $500
SOPHIE | ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GEORGIA AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION 🌱 Safe and secured fenced yard 💜 Older (teen+), gentle children okay 🏡 Someone home much of day/ low alone time 🛑 If you do not check ALL of the above requirements, your application will not pass the screening process for consideration. We do not compromise on these requirements as we feel they are essential to a successful adoption with Sophie. MEET SOPHIE 🐶 In July, sweet 5 year old Sophie (DOB 4/12/2018) came to us as a breeder release. She arrived very obese and very uncomfortable but her sweet Cavalier spirit still shined through. We have spent the past few months working to get extra weight off her which paired with her new lifestyle has given her a whole new lease on life! Sophie is a very happy girl who is ready to find her perfect match family to live her best life with! MEDICAL 🩺 Sophie is a healthy girl! She is now up to date on vaccinations, spayed, is microchipped, and on monthly preventatives. We found her eyes, hips, heart, and right knee to be clear and congenitally sound while she does have a left luxatella patella (unstable knee) that doesn't give this active girl any trouble at this time. That said, she need not have any extra weight on her joints so her continued weight loss is imperative. After being treated for a bad urinary tract infection, all of her labwork, including her fecal test, heartworm and tick borne illness test, bloodwork, and urinalysis is now all normal and negative. She does have a small cyst on her neck which was aspirated and sent out for pathology where we learned it was thankfully benign. However, it is recommended that it be excised whenever she is under for a dental or next procedure as it could increase in size and therefore cause issues. Sophie is a healthy girl who is not on any medication and does not require any additional vetting outside of regular wellness checks at this time. FOOD & POTTY HABITS 🥘 Sophie arrived to us obese at a very uncomfortable 30 pounds. She has worked hard to lose her first 6 pounds and is well on her way to her ideal weight which we feel should be about 18 pounds. To help get there, she is eating strictly portioned weight management food, limited healthy treats, and engaging in daily exercise/activity. She enjoys her twice a day meals and some of her favorite treats are small pieces of fruit like apples and berries. It is VERY important that her adopting family be committed to continuing her weight loss plan so she can reach her ideal weight, best health and best self. Sophie has been impressive with her potty training, having had no accidents in her foster home! That said, she is given frequent opportunities outside to be successful being taken out first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and every few hours in between, including immediately after meals. She loves being outside and is let out into the safe and secured fenced yard to take care of her pottying business. A small piece of a yummy treat immediately following good potty behavior will be an excellent reward and reinforcement for this clever girl. Please know that even though Sophie is very reliable in her foster home, accidents are always to be expected especially initially as she transitions to another environment and routine. PERSONALITY 💕 Sophie's foster family describe her as having a zest for life! She is a happy girl who is obviously loving her new way of life and has found joy in many things. She loves being outside and will run out the door full throttle to begin her search for lizards and squirrels. She has the same eagerness and excitement when it is time for a walk, when meeting new people, and going on any adventure with you. Her tail tells the tale and it is always up and wagging! She is also described as being a lovebug and in true Cavalier form, loves her human with complete devotion. She just can't get enough of your love and attention, and gives it back ten fold. She is quick to claim your lap, is either right on your heels or glued to your side, and likes to be engaged with her person. Simply said, she is just happiest spending quality time with you, especially if that includes a little adventure! ROUTINE ⏰ Sophie starts her day let out in the yard for pottying and then inside for breakfast. After breakfast, she will go on a morning leashed walk and then spends the rest of the day being leisurely and enjoying both indoors and outdoors. She can be found inside snoozing on the couch or comfy dog bed or following her foster mom around the house. Outside, she can be found in a shady spot on the watch for lizards. She's an outdoorsy gal who likes to have frequent opportunities to be outside whether it be for leashed walk or yard time. She has also been using the pool quite a bit as she has been swimming to help with her weight loss but she also enjoys floating and cooling off in the pool. She spends much of the day with her foster family but during the short periods of time when there are no humans at home, Sophie stays in a safe puppy proofed gated off area of the home with her Cavalier foster siblings where she has plenty of space, comforts, companionship, and does well. She has not been crated or otherwise strictly confined while in our care and it's not needed nor recommended for her. Of course Sophie is happiest being with her people and so we are seeking a family where someone can be with her much of the day and where she will have low alone time. At night, princess Sophie sleeps in the big bed where she uses pet steps to safely get on and off. We are seeking a family who will continue to invite her into the bed with them. SOCIALIZATION 💜 Sophie knows no stranger and is happy and eager to meet everyone. She is friendly, outgoing, engaged, and definitely looking to get any attention that is offered to her. She is happy to receive pets and love from anyone willing to give, and will return the love back to you. We have not found her to be fearful or cautious of much at all, and she is generally a brave, confident, well socialized and appropriately curious girl. She loves getting out to be social and meet and interact with people. This is easy to do with her as she is a wonderful car rider and also fantastic on a leash. She likes to lead the pack on walks as she is excited, eager, and always ready to go! Sophie shares her foster home with other Cavaliers who she gets along with very well. While she enjoys their companionship, she does not seek them out like she does her human. She is much more focused on her relationship with her human and for this reason we feel she could do well and be happy as an only dog in the home but only if she was able to be with her people much of the day and have very low alone time. Otherwise, she would be happiest and do best with a canine companion. Upon initial interaction with new dogs, Sophie has a tendency to exhibit 'resource guarding' behaviors. Particularly in regards to her human and seemingly trying to make it clear to others dogs that this is her person. This only goes on during initial interactions and this can be managed by only inviting Sophie to be with you when you are with the other dog and she is behaving appropriately. Sophie does like to be "front and center" and so if there is another canine companion in the home, she would do best with one that would let her take on this role and not compete with her to be leader of the pack. She has a high prey drive as evident in her backyard hunting adventures and so we wouldn't be comfortable placing her in a home with a feline friend. Because of her resource guarding tendency, we will not place her in a home with young children. She will do best in an active adult only home or a home with older (teen +), gentle children with dog experience. IDEAL FAMILY & HOME 🏡 Most importantly, Sophie needs a family who has the time and ability to shower her with lots of time, love, and attention. She will be happiest and thrive best in a home where someone can be with her much of the day and where she will have plenty of opportunity for activity, attention, interaction, and engagement. She loves her outdoor freedom and so we are seeking a home with a safe and secured fenced yard so she can continue her yard patrolling, lizard hunting, and sunbathing. For her continued weight loss, health and happiness, her family should also remain committed to continuing her daily leashed walks and 'adventures'. She is a social girl and should be given regular social opportunities. Because of her luxating patella, we will ask that any inside stairs that she would be using have carpet treads down for better traction, and she should not do any jumping so her home should have pet steps to the couch and bed for her to safely get on and off. Lastly, her family must be committed to continuing her weight loss plan so she can reach her ideal weight and best health. HOW TO APPLY 💻 This healthy and social girl is the perfect combo of sweet, snuggly, active, and zesty! She loves her people and her new way of life and will continue to thrive in her perfect match forever home! If you feel you are the great fit for sassy Sophie and meet all of her requirements, please fill out an adoption application found on our website (TheCavalierRescue.org) then email us at CavalierRescueAL@gmail.com to express your interest letting us know why you feel you are a match. Sophie is located in St. Simons Island, Georgia, and travel there is required. Sophie is available for adoption now, so please only apply if you are able and ready to move forward at this time. Her requested adoption donation is $500.