Mutts Matter: Handsome Harvey

Hey there! My name is Harvey, and I’m a handsome, proud American Bulldog who’s almost two years old and a whopping 120 pounds! I’m a big, strong, athletic dog, so running, playing, and fetch are a big part of my day. I’m also a very loving and affectionate pup who is protective of my home and family, and can be a little choosy about my canine friends and strangers. I need a calm, assertive owner who knows dogs and will work with me to continue my training and socialization, and help me reach my full potential.

I was found as a stray in Montgomery County, most likely abandoned by my owners who no longer wanted me. Can you imagine a big boy like me running free through your neighborhood? I was barely a year old at the time and left on the side of the road to fend for myself, so it’s no wonder I have a few trust issues to work through. Thankfully, some Good Samaritans rallied to rescue me and took me to the local shelter. When no one came to claim me, they called Mutts Matter in to help.

Mutts Matter found me an awesome foster family who is helping me transition and settle into family life. My foster mom is my rock and is committed to my success. She and my foster dad work from home, so I always have folks around to keep me company. I bunk with my 20-year-old foster brother, AJ, and we have our own separate apartment to hang out in, but my best friend is my 12-year-old foster sister, Morgan. We play fetch and soccer, and I love to pull her around on her skateboard. She’s taught me rules, like biting her soccer ball is a no-no, and I pretty much listen to everything she tells me. We go on bike rides around the property, and I let her set the pace, because she’s the boss.

I really love it here, but I’m not always respectful of the other dogs in the family, especially the littlest one. I would do best as an only dog, and am probably not a good candidate for a house with cats either. I have a few quirks, but I also have a lot to offer the right family. I’m potty-trained, crate-trained, know a lot of commands, and have excellent recall off-leash. I've been trained on a vibrating collar to help give my owner more control with a big, powerful dog like me, and have learned commands like “leave it,”  “sit,” “stay,” and “down.”

As a family dog, I’m gentle and patient with kids, excellent in the car, and love to go on road trips with my family. I’m also content just snuggling up like a lap dog to watch some TV. I’m a natural protector of my family, so I can be reactive to strangers if I perceive there to be a threat. I will need to be properly introduced to visitors or crated when there’s a lot of activity around the home. I need an experienced owner who can lead me and commit to my training and a consistent routine, and of course someone who can give me belly rubs and play fetch on a regular basis. I will play fetch for as long as you can throw the ball, and I love it!

Whoever is lucky enough to adopt me will get a free training session with my trainer, Drew Sandberg. He has a broad training background and works with pups like me to improve recall, and trains us to understand that being near their owner is safe and always the best place to be. Mutts Matter is fortunate to work with great local trainers like Drew who can help dogs who need a little more management with their new family.

If you are dog-savvy and looking for a big, active, and sweet love bug, I'm your guy! I mean, who can resist this smile?

To learn more about Harvey, go to the Mutts Matter Adoption Page and fill out an application, or you can contact Suzanne at suzanne@muttsmatterrescue.com.

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