Brownie

My story

Give me a minute… I’m figuring you out. Hi, I’m Brownie! I’m 3 years old, about 28 pounds, and I’m a shy guy trying to figure out a really big world. I’m not the kind of dog who walks into a new home and immediately acts like I own the place. I need time to fully decompress, learn the lay of the land, watch how everything works, and decide who I can trust. Once I do, my sweet side really comes out. I love kisses, belly rubs, booty scratches, toys, walks, cuddles, and just being close to my people. I’m probably going to pick my person. You’ve been warned. I will most likely find my one person in the human pack, and that’s who I’m going to look to for guidance and reassurance when I’m unsure. I need that person to be calm, confident, and willing to lead me. I really don’t want the job of being in charge! I feel much safer knowing my person has everything under control and will help me make good decisions when I’m not quite sure what to do. My face will tell you before I do. I have some pretty obvious tells when I’m uncomfortable or unsure. My eyes get BIG and wide, and that’s usually me saying, “Ummm… I’m not sure about this.” Occasionally, if I get overwhelmed, I may attempt to nip. My person needs to understand not to panic or make it into a huge situation. Calmly redirect me and I stop immediately—and I usually look like I regret my life choices about two seconds later. I need someone who can read me, respect when I need space, and confidently redirect me when necessary. I went and had my photos done this first and I was not a fan of outfits so I nipped at the photographer. I went the second time with Bob and had a blast and then 3 other dogs showed up and two were puppies and I did great! I wore this fancy bandana and I stayed by my person for pets and she helped me be calm. Occasionally I went and got in the mix of playing chaos and ended up having a great time! So I need time to trust and sometimes when you trust me, remember I still need space. I like to cuddle but on my terms. Please don’t rush me. I promise I’m worth getting to know. Sometimes the best thing you can do for me is simply leave me alone and let me observe. I don’t need everyone constantly reaching for me, testing me, or forcing affection. Let me come to you. Show me that you’re predictable, safe, and trustworthy. Every time I realize nothing bad is going to happen, I get a little braver. I’m building confidence, and the right person is going to understand that trust with me is earned—not rushed. My play style? Subtlety has left the chat. I do really well with smaller dogs. Bigger dogs can be a little more questionable, mostly because apparently I have the social skills of a bull in a china shop. I head-butt, get hyped up, and sometimes launch myself right into another dog’s face like, “HELLO! WE’RE FRIENDS NOW!” I need appropriate dog friends and a person who understands when I’m getting too excited and knows when to step in and redirect me. I love dogs my size and smaller and sometimes I join the fun other times you can catch me hanging out on the couch or dog bed observing Walk? YES. Car ride? We need to discuss the terms. I absolutely LOVE going for walks and exploring with my person. Car rides are still a little intimidating for me, especially when it’s hot outside, so we’re working on building my confidence there too. I already know sit, kennel, and shake, and I really do want to make my people happy. Give me clear direction and encouragement, and I catch on pretty quickly. Kids need to understand my boundaries too. I can be incredibly loving with my people, but I would do best with older teens who understand dogs, respect boundaries, and know when I’m asking for space. A calm environment is important for me. Once I feel safe, I’m a goofy, affectionate, lovable boy, but I don’t want to live somewhere chaotic where I constantly feel like I have to be on guard. And then there are… cats. I’m still trying to determine exactly what cats are and why they behave the way they do. The investigation is ongoing. If there’s a cat in my future home, interactions will need to be supervised while we figure each other out. I’m still collecting evidence before I release my official findings. My foster mom saved my booty… literally. Medically, I’m actually a pretty healthy guy! When I first came into rescue, my tail was in rough shape and everyone thought I might need surgery. My foster mom worked really hard on my tail pocket, and it turns out what I really needed was some serious TLC. My tail is now back to normal! I do have a small tail pocket that needs to be cleaned regularly to keep everything healthy and comfortable. I also have some mild allergies, but we’ve learned that a healthy, good-quality diet really helps keep those under control. I don’t need you to feel sorry for me. I need you to believe in me. I’m not looking for someone who expects a perfect dog on day one. I need someone who understands decompression, structure, boundaries, patience, and leadership. Underneath my uncertainty is a really sweet boy who just needs help realizing the world isn’t such a scary place. Give me time to trust you, show me that I can look to you when I’m unsure, and I’ll give you all the kisses, cuddles, goofy moments, and big-hearted Brownie love I’ve been saving for my person. Brownie is neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. His adoption donation fee is $1150.00, and he is being fostered in Mesa, AZ. You can apply for Brownie at freedomfrenchierescue.org.

If you have any questions or would like to adopt Brownie, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.