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| Name: |
Cooper
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Age: |
Three years old
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| Gender: |
Male |
Breed: |
Basenji |
| Home: |
San Diego, California, USA |
This
is Cooper, a three-year-old basenji from San Diego, California who is
obsessed with horses. The picture was taken at Fiesta Island Off-Leash Dog
Park where Cooper and his pack of basenji friends were playing a few Sundays
ago. After running around the island for about an hour, they discovered a
horse and quickly made their way over to him, even though he was a good half
mile away. Although the other basenjis were a bit more skittish and would not
come any closer, Cooper made a bee-line for the horse's head and kept standing
on his back legs to try to reach the horse's head. Luckily someone was there
to catch Cooper giving the horse repeated smooches on the nose. He loved
that horse and I literally had to put him back on leash to pull him away
because he clearly was head over heels. Love at first sight!
Cooper is a basenji, otherwise known as an African Barkless dog. But do not
let him deceive you, barkless does not mean noiseless. He wakes up in the
morning ready to go and Baroos/Yodels until he gets his kibbles. He loves to
play and cannot go a day without playing at the dog park. Cooper is quite a
vocal little guy who is very treat motivated. He uses his terrific little
singing voice all day long when he wants treats or his food.
Cooper was a rescue dog from Medfly Southern California Basenji Rescue. He
had been in the rescue shelter for a year and a half and really needed some
human interaction and people love badly. And although he was scared of me at
first since I was wearing a baseball hat, he quickly warmed up and was
cuddling with me and begging for me to take him to his forever home with his
sweet face within 30 minutes. Cooper is quite a character and has not met a
person he did not like. People constantly stop me in the street or at the dog
park to pet him and ask what kind of dog he is. He especially likes people who
wear lotion, sunscreen, perfume or cologne and he will rub himself all over
you trying to get some of the smell. He is a little cuddler who cannot sleep
without being nestled up against his human.
The best trick about Cooper is when he sings and dances for treats. He can
also shake and do high fives.
Normally basenjis are known for being somewhat independent and standoffish.
However, Cooper is very affectionate and needs his cuddle time every day,
usually several times a day. He is a little charmer who usually can
manipulate multiple people at the dog park for treats and a good scratch
behind the ears, especially the regulars. Cooper also thinks that he is a big
dog and usually runs the dog park, keeping all of the big dogs in line with
his dominant personality and a few solid body slams if he doesn't get his way.
It is hilarious to watch him wrestle with the other dogs or get together with
other basenjis WWF style. All in all, he is a sweet little guy who is well
trained, well mannered and usually well behaved.
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