My story

　　Lafayette (nicknamed Lex) is currently being fostered in Roseville, CA.

　　Lex is the only pup in the litter that is all white, with only a touch of beige on his face. He has short hair, weighs 9lbs at 11 weeks of age; we're guessing 18-25 lbs adult weight. His mom weighs 18 lbs, and came to us pregnant from a southern CA shelter. She was a stray so we have no idea who the daddy is.

　　Lex is muscular and stocky in build, and very smart at figuring out how to get whatever he may want. He is very curious and interested in his surrounding activities, noises, and smells. He is learning to use puppy pads and already knows how to use the doggie door. He climbs small rocks and likes sticks and toys.

　　His mom had a tough life on the streets of Southern CA and does everything she can to remain safe, including keeping a safe distance from unknowns. Unfortunately, Lex learned a little too much from his mom, including her fears and anxieties, and has (we hope temporarily) adopted some of his mom's methods of avoiding new situations, including meeting strangers. He looks to his mom and siblings to make safety choices, so we're separating him from mom as much as possible to stop his copying of her over guarding behaviors while we can still correct this. The other 5 siblings did not do this, so we are very hopeful that he will soon gain back his confidence and see strangers as fun experiences and not something to fear.

　　He is 11 weeks at this writing and a very new to the world of becoming a companion and family member. He will need protecting, training and lots of patience as all puppies do. Puppies are a lot of work, go through various stages of fear and destruction, like chewing inappropriate objects, potty training, learning your routine etc. Don't get a puppy if he will be left alone for many hours daily. If you are not home during the daytime to train him, love him and form a strong bond, he will develop coping skills for himself to overcome his loneliness and boredom that will not be acceptable to you. This is a commitment that lasts 15-20 years, costs money for vet bills and food, and dogs do bark (sometimes when you don't want them to). So be prepared to give a lot of yourself, especially the first year. They are a joy and a responsibility. Be honest with yourself when determining if a puppy is a good choice for you and your family. Your choice is this dog's future. There are too many untrained or neglected dogs in shelters already, and it is much harder to change bad habits than to learn good ones from the start. Consistency, positive reinforcement, patience and a gentle hand are keys to success. Trust is essential.

　　If you are interested in meeting and possibly adopting Lafayette, please go to our website and click on 'Adopt' to submit an adoption application (note: sometimes the application won't submit properly if you try to do this from your phone).

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