{"product_id":"rafa","title":"Rafa","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" class=\"lxcl-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’d love to introduce you to Rafa.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" class=\"lxcl-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRafa was adopted from us about a year ago, and while his previous family loved and cared for him, over time, the setting and area where he lived led to some leash reactivity, especially when passing other dogs or seeing activity outside the home. Like many smart dogs, Rafa learned that barking “worked,” and that habit stuck. His family could not afford the needed training and support, so they reached out to us to help them find him a new home.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" class=\"lxcl-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRafa is currently in a board-and-train program and is doing exceptionally well. His trainer has been very impressed with his progress and is working with him on leash skills, respecting boundaries, and learning calmer responses to outside distractions. Even better, his trainer is committed to supporting Rafa’s future family with follow-up sessions!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" class=\"lxcl-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA quieter home or a more quiet environment would be ideal, with less frequent foot traffic and fewer dogs passing by. A secure, tall fenced yard would give him the space he enjoys, and with guidance, he’s learning that he doesn’t need to react to anything happening around him.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" class=\"lxcl-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInside the home, Rafa is an absolute love. He is incredibly affectionate, and happiest when he’s close to his people...truly a “shadow dog.” He would do best with a family that has older children (around 14\/15+), who understand how to respect his space, especially when he’s eating or resting. Rafa has shown that when his boundaries are respected, he is calm and gentle (even with very little kids). In his first home, he lived with very young children, and one evening, the youngest daughter, with autism, crawled into his crate while he was sleeping, and this really startled him. He reacted by biting the child, and although she is ok, we would suggest Rafa live with a family that has children who understand the dangers when startling a dog in this way. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" class=\"lxcl-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt his core, Rafa is a sweet dog who wants to do the right thing. He has a big bark and classic hound-dog type instincts (he'd try to tree any animal, from squirrels to bigger ones), but he is not an aggressive dog; he just needs the right environment and guidance to feel secure and confident.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" class=\"lxcl-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRafa is looking for a family who will recognize his potential, continue his training with our trainer's support, and provide him with the stable, loving home he deserves. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" class=\"lxcl-paragraph\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRafa is a sweet guy who deserves the best and MLRR is committed to him.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAge: 5 years\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGender: Male\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eColor: Black\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight: 75 pounds\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDogs: Large dogs, yes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCats: No\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChildren: Yes, older is best\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrate: Yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEnergy: Low to moderate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"MLRR","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":62783650005151,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1216\/1190\/files\/IMG_5550_jpg.jpg?v=1777402928","url":"https:\/\/mlrr.org\/products\/rafa","provider":"MLRR","version":"1.0","type":"link"}