Dante

Meet Dante! Location: Georgetown, KYDOB: 9/3/24If you're looking for a big, goofy, affectionate boy who believes personal space is completely overrated, Dante might just be your guy!Dante is a sweet, people-loving Great Dane with an average energy level, a playful personality, and a serious talent for snuggling. He wants to be wherever his people are, preferably touching them at all times. Couch time? He's in. Relaxing after a long day? He's there. Sitting down for literally any reason? Congratulations, you now have a lap dog who happens to be Great Dane-sized!One of the best things about Dante is seeing the dog he becomes when he's settled, calm, and listening.

He has made tremendous progress learning how to live in a home, and it's amazing to see how far he's come. He's also proof that first impressions don't tell the whole story. This boy arrived with virtually no leash skills, and now he walks better on a leash than many dogs who've been doing it their whole lives! Dante's hidden talents?Leash superstar: He walks beautifully without pulling and responds wonderfully to leash pressure.Excellent road-trip buddy: He settles nicely in the car and makes traveling easy.Polite public companion: He's done wonderfully at the veterinary office, staying calmly beside his person without making a fuss over other dogs.Professional snuggler: He's happiest close to his people and loves affection, attention, and being included.Part-time comedian: Dante loves his toys, especially squeaky ones. He'll toss them into the air, pounce on them dramatically, and entertain himself with his own antics. Just watch out when the big stuffed toys start flying!Dante has average energy and doesn't need constant activity to be happy. He enjoys little bursts of play throughout the day but is also content to settle down and relax with his people.He's still learning, and that's okay!Dante spent much of his life outdoors before being abandoned, and he appears to still be learning that he doesn't have to be on high alert all the time. At times, he can become overstimulated, making it harder for him to listen and respond to direction. As he continues to settle in and learn that he's safe, consistency, patience, and clear expectations will be important.He's housebroken, does well on a leash, and is great in the car. He's also working on becoming more comfortable with his crate and continuing to develop good household manners. He has already shown that he's a capable learner and will benefit from an adopter who is willing to keep building on that progress.Let's talk about other animals.Dante's biggest challenge is understanding boundaries, particularly with other dogs. He is a confident boy who can get pushy when he wants to interact, sometimes crowding other dogs, standing over them, or attempting to hump them even when they'd rather have some space. He doesn't always recognize when another dog has had enough, so he needs people who will step in, redirect him, and help him disengage.He has done well with a smaller, older female dog who communicates her boundaries clearly. He can also play and relax appropriately with a more submissive male dog when he's calm and respectful. However, he has had serious conflicts with a more dominant male dog, resulting in injuries. For that reason, he would not be a good match for every canine household.Dante would likely thrive as an only dog, where he can enjoy all the human attention he could ever want. He may also do well with a carefully selected canine companion who is calm, tolerant, and not interested in challenging him. Slow introductions, thoughtful management, and continued work on boundaries are essential. A home with multiple dogs may be more challenging for him.Dante has not met cats, and his foster family does not think a home with cats would be a good fit.What about kids and new people?Dante has met toddlers, elementary-aged children, middle schoolers, adults, and strangers, and he has done well with them. He's a fr