Penny Lane in Prairie Village, KS

Here is the pup with her new family…

Say hello to Penny Lane. Penny came from a commercial breeding facility and was released to rescue. She is five years old, born on March 5, 2019. Penny is still a bit timid when she meets new people, but little by little, she is coming out of her shell. She needs time to build her confidence and learn how to trust humans. She is seeking a family that can offer plenty of patience and understanding.

After Penny came into rescue, she was examined by our vet and scheduled for spay surgery. Her heart is strong (no cardiac murmur), and her knees checked out fine (normal patella). She is up to date on vaccinations, had a dental cleaning, has been spayed and microchipped, and is on monthly flea, tick and heartworm preventatives.

Penny is doing very well at her foster home. She enjoys the company of her foster family’s three Cavaliers. When foster parents call her, she responds by turning and looking at them (but not necessarily coming to them). When they give the other dogs love and attention, Penny wants to be a part of it. If they pick her up, they do so cautiously so as not to startle her. She will sit on their lap for a long time as they pet her. Penny will thrive in a quiet, calm environment with patient owners and another friendly dog in the home.

Penny is doing much better at potty training, with only an occasional accident. This usually happens if foster parents forget to let her out right after meals or being inside for a while. But she is quickly learning, partly because the other doggies are helping to teach her. Penny loves following the other dogs out the back patio door. She smells their spots on the grass and goes almost immediately.

Penny has also been learning to play. When she’s outside with her foster brother, he likes to run circles while she chases him. She’ll follow the dogs anywhere in the fenced backyard, and in the house as well. Her ideal family will have another dog, as a canine companion will give her comfort while adjusting to a new home. Penny is a follower dog, not an alpha dog.

Penny sometimes chews on foster Mom’s indoor plants, but when she is told “no” she quits. (One time, she was trying to chew on foster Dad’s cell phone cord, so it was hidden behind furniture.) Penny shows interest in rope toys, but her foster sister is a toy hoarder and takes them. Occasionally, Penny will pull back on a toy that her sister is trying to take, and Penny wins it on it back in a gentle tug-of-war. Penny is  learning to claim her toys, at least some of the time.

Penny eats well and is definitely food motivated. When she first came to live with her foster family, she was bashful and got pushed out when getting treats. But now she is finding her spot to get a treat with the other dogs. At first, Penny would only take the treat on the floor and the other dogs would take it. But now she is accepting it by hand. She eats dry kibble, and loves food and treats. Penny stands up on her back legs when her meal is being prepared. Along with soft gentle praise, a few small treats could be used effectively for positive reinforcement as she learns to trust humans.

At night, Penny was initially sleeping in her crate for the first couple of weeks. But then she started waking up in the middle of the night and whining and pawing at the crate door. So now she sleeps on the floor by her foster brother in the master bedroom. Penny hasn’t had any nighttime accidents. She also has a cute little snore.

Penny Lane is being fostered in Prairie Village, Kansas. If you think you might be the right person or family for her, please fill out our online application if you have not done so already. Then email Deborah Barnes at deborah@smarnes.com to let her know that you’re interested. Applicants who live within a reasonable driving distance of the Kansas City area will be considered.  Please also take a moment to read about our adoption process here: https://www.cavalierrescueusa.org/process/

Online Application