Chico

Meet Chico, our handsome fawn-and-cream mystery mix of Mastín and Malinois, and a boy who has definitely found his paws at Adana!

Chico has now been with us for a few months and is much more confident with people, happily making friends wherever he goes. He can, however, be a little headstrong and over-zealous when he first sets off on a walk, especially while he’s still surrounded by the noise and sometimes chaotic energy of shelter life. Give him the first five minutes to leave all that behind, let the adrenaline levels drop, and you start to see a rather different Chico emerge.

And Chico certainly has an opinion on things! In fact, he is proving to be quite the commentator, always ready to have his say about what everyone else is doing - whether anyone actually asked for his opinion or not! But underneath all that exuberance is a lovely dog who simply needs the chance to switch off, take a breath and show you who he really is.

Chico is a perfect example of so many shelter dogs who can easily be overlooked. Life in a busy kennel environment can make dogs appear more excitable, noisy or intense than they really are. Sometimes they just need a little peace, a little time, and someone prepared to look beyond those first impressions. Once the excitement fades, the true personality has room to shine.

As Mastín/Malinois mix, Chico is a fairly large, strong, intelligent and energetic dog, with plenty of personality and a mind of his own. He will need someone who is comfortable handling a powerful dog, enjoys getting out and about, and is prepared to put the time into training, boundaries and good manners. He isn't looking for a life of simply wandering around the block and then snoozing all day! He needs mental stimulation, consistent guidance, plenty of exercise and, just as importantly, an owner who understands that building a relationship with a dog like Chico is a two-way process. Give him clear, kind leadership and something worthwhile to do, and he has every chance of becoming a wonderfully rewarding companion.

We suspect Chico is one of those boys who needs to be met more than once. A few walks together, getting to know each other away from the shelter, could be enough to reveal his potential. Even better, could you offer Chico a couple of weeks in foster and give him the chance to experience what life outside the shelter is really like?

We know Chico may not be the dog people immediately notice, but perhaps he is the dog who simply needs someone to stop, take a little time, and discover just how much this gorgeous boy has to bring to their life. Sometimes the dogs who take a little longer to get noticed are the ones who surprise you the most.