Matti is a sweet but scared girl who came to MTM from Charleston, SC. She's been in and out of shelters the last couple of years and is slow to trust, but she is willing to try. She is housetrained and will come and nudge or lick your hand when she wants to go out or thinks you have some yummy food worth trying. The shelter said she's crate trained, but at 6 years old she has had free reign of her foster house and pretty much keeps to her bed. Her favority game is to chase you around the yard (as much as an old girl is going to chase) and then jump around and wag her tail when you turn around. She has learned to let us scratch her ears and rub her down when we are done running around.
Likes: HER BED!!! It's unknown if she has ever had a dog bed, but once she got on one - she hasn't left it. Rotisserie chicken and turkey - she's not very food motivated, but those two meats won her over. She has even started letting us know she's trained to sit.
Dislikes: Any unexpected sounds or movements, things that are out of place, and going on walks. While she's been on a leash, walks haven't been a great success yet.
Personality: Shy and tentative, a little lazy, and she loves to sleep. She needs to come to you at her own speed and does not love to be approached.
Temperament: Gentle and lazy.
Energy Level: Low
Favorite Activities: She has a couple of toys that she will play with at night when no one is around, but really her favorite thing to do is play one-on-one in the yard. She walks nicely on a leash once she is on it, but it seems to stress her.
Good with cats, dogs, and kids (over 6)? Cats unknown. Dogs yes - all sizes. Kids who understand to give her space. She's good with kids - they just stress her if they try to force themselves on her or chase her.
Not good with: So far Matti has done great with anything she's been introduced to.
Housetrained? Yes - she'll nudge your elbow when she needs to go out. :)
Crate trained? The shelter said yes, but she currently has free reign of her foster home.
Requires a fenced yard (physical fence and/or invisible fence)? Yes - physical fence required. You can tell she will run if given the opportunity until she becomes comfortable.
Walks well on a leash? Yes, but is seems stressful for her.
Challenges: When she first arrived, Matti was looking for a way to escape and would have been classified as a "runner." That behavior seems to have subsided now. Meeting new people is very stressful for her. From day to day, even after a moth, she can be easily spooked by sudden movements.
Any medical issues? Approximately 5% cataracts. Normal arthritis for her age. She's being treated with glucosamine. Full blood panel came back great! She has a cracked tooth that will be extracted.
What would be the best kind of home? Mattie needs a fenced in yard and a quiet home with very patient owers. If there are children (preteen - teen) they need to understand that she needs space and time to build trust.
MATTI IS LOCATED IN WILMINGTON, NC.
Application Fees, Adoption Donations and Rescue Policy:
Please know that 100% of our fees and donations pay for the costs of rescuing dogs. These include, but are not limited to: pull fees from shelters, veterinary examinations, vaccinations, medications and care, microchips, neuter/spay surgeries, heartworm treatments, behavior evaluations, and foster care, as needed.
Our rescue policy requires the following:
Adopters must have their primary residence in one of the following states: Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and parts of North Carolina.
We will not adopt a giant breed dog to homes where the dog will have access to highly varnished hardwood steps inside the home. Any inside steps to which the dog(s) have access, must have carpeting, securely fixed stair treads, or a non-skid surface. We encourage you to remediate potential safety issues while your application is under review, prior to the home visit.
Methods or devices using pain or force on the dog to control the dog, or to deter undesirable behavior is prohibited.
Applications for giant breed dogs must be submitted by the property owner.
Homes with children under 6 years of age will not be approved for adoption.
Homes with children should have a fenced yard.
Pets currently in the applicant's home must have a history of appropriate veterinary care. Veterinary records will be checked.
All references must be checked before any visitation of the dog is permitted at the foster home.
All family members must be present during the home visit to the applicant's home.
Any dog(s) in the applicant's home must have an introductory meeting with the rescue dog being considered, before any adoption can be completed.
Homes with intact dogs will not be approved for adoption. Exceptions to this policy can be found on the Adoptable Dog Page.
Mastiffs To Mutts Rescue reserves the right to approve or deny any adoption that occurs through this organization without disclosure. We reserve the right to make exceptions for special circumstances.
More about Matti
Good with Dogs, Good with Kids
Application Fees, Adoption Donations and Rescue Policy:
Please know that 100% of our fees and donations pay for the costs of rescuing dogs. These include but are not limited to pull fees from shelters, veterinary examinations, vaccinations, medications and care, microchips, neuter/spay surgeries, heartworm treatments, behavior evaluations, and foster care, as needed.
Important notes before applying.
Approved adopters must have their primary residence in one of the following states: Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and parts of North Carolina and Kentucky.
You must be at least 21 years of age to apply and legally sign our contract for adoption.
Applications must be completed by the homeowner.
We do not adopt giant breed dogs to renters.
If you are renting, and you are applying to adopt a dog that is not a giant breed, permission to adopt an animal must be obtained from the landlord or property owner.
We do not adopt giant breed dogs to homes with children under 6 years of age.
Homes with children should have a fenced yard.
Applications will be denied if anyone residing in the household has a record indicating drug/alcohol abuse, theft, or violence.
Pets currently in the applicant's home must have a history of appropriate veterinary care.
Homes with intact dogs will not be approved for adoption. Proof of any of the following exceptions is required:
The intact dog is a working member of a law enforcement, or search and rescue/recovery team.
The intact dog is registered under the auspices of the American Kennel Club and is actively being shown.
A veterinarian has determined the sterilization procedure would harm the intact dog.
We believe in Force Free Training Methods and do not approve of methods or devices using pain or force to control the dog, or to deter undesirable behavior.
Homes with highly varnished steps must have carpeting, securely fixed stair treads, or a non-skid surface. **We encourage you to remediate potential safety issues while your application is under review, prior to the home visit.
Any inside steps to which the dog(s) have access, must have carpeting, securely fixed stair treads, or a non-skid surface.
Homes with highly varnished floors must have non-slip area rugs or mats wherever your animal walks or rests frequently.
**Puppy Adoption Policy**
To ensure proper house training and socialization, puppies will only be adopted to homes where an adult will not be away more than an hour per day, per month of age of the puppy, up to 6 months.
Certain large-breed dogs should not be sterilized prior to 12 - 18 months of age. If you adopt an intact puppy, you will sign an adoption contract agreeing to have the dog sterilized at your expense at the time your veterinarian recommends.
Proof of sterilization must be provided to Mastiffs To Mutts Rescue as soon as the procedure is completed. If the puppy is not sterilized as required, Mastiffs To Mutts Rescue reserves the right to claim legal ownership of the dog.
**Mastiffs To Mutts Rescue reserves the right to approve or deny any adoption that occurs through this organization without disclosure. We reserve the right to make exceptions for special circumstances.
**PA Kennel License: 05845
Other Pictures of Matti (click to see larger version):
