Rufus is a white puppy with a black mask, black ears, black spots on his back and the base of his tail: His fur is so soft and thick that you can't help sinking your hands into it. His black nose and tiny freckles are adorably cute

Rufus D. Dawg is an energetic, playful puppy who loves chasing his foster sisters, chewing his toys, and hanging out with his foster people. In true puppy fashion, he has two speeds: wide-open and stop! Wide-open means that he is running full-speed after the girls, jumping and wrestling. And once he stops, he becomes a lovable pile of puppy mush who just wants to lean into you, snuggle, and hope for belly rubs.

Rufus loves hiking, meeting new people, car rides, and learning new things. He learned 'sit' and 'down' quickly: He really wants to please his people! His leash skills are already very good for a puppy, and we continue to work on those as well.

Rufus still is a little uncertain about his crate, but we repeatedly let him know that it is a safe place, and he has made HUGE progress. His potty training is coming along well, too. Rufus is a great puppy and so much fun to teach!

IAR subsidizes post-adoption professional training with Jane Marshall (www.cheerydogs.com) to encourage a life-long and successful bond between the dog and the adopter. Group classes for puppies and adult dogs are provided at a substantial discount to IAR adopters.