Guess who’s ready for a forever home of his very own? It’s Shepherd’s tongue, which is so long it needs its own write-up! And Shepherd too, of course. Read on to find out whether this handsome boy and his tongue are the perfect fit for your family.

Shepherd was tearfully surrendered when his military family had to move overseas, and were unable to take him along. We are grateful for their service and have promised to stop at nothing to find Shepherd the absolute perfect forever home.

In case it isn’t obvious by now, Shepherd is insanely, ridiculously cute, with that tongue lolling out 24-7. He is an active boy, who loves his morning walks and doing zoomies in the backyard. Once playtime is over, he’s content to just hang around the house, either enjoying a chew toy or following his person from room to room (in the hopes of getting a chin rub or twenty). And then there’s the garden hose—Shepherd goes absolutely bananas when that thing is turned on, and will chase and leap at the water spray until he’s tuckered himself out.

Health-wise, Shepherd is in great shape! His stickie-outie tongue is the result of one side of his jaw being lower than the other. It doesn’t cause him any discomfort, but he does drink a lot of water to keep it moist, so it’s important he always have access to a full bowl. Shepherd is also crate-trained and leash-trained, although his manners on a leash could use a bit of work…okay, maybe more than a bit. He is VERY full of gusto on his daily constitutionals, and can pull remarkably hard for a dog of his size. As far as housebreaking goes, Shepherd pretty much always goes potty outside, but needs to be monitored for the occasional marking. We anticipate this behavior will improve once he’s settled into his forever home, especially if he is the only dog.

Behavior-wise, things are a little more complicated. With his people, Shepherd is an absolute lamb, full of cuddles and sweet Frenchie snorts. But he is also a resource guarder and is very possessive of things that are “his,” including food, toys, his crate, and his people. He has never shown aggression toward people, but he has snarled and snapped at his canine foster siblings. Shepherd is otherwise friendly with dogs—he plays with his foster siblings in the backyard and is eager to meet doggie friends during his walks—but he must be fed separately and closely monitored when toys are present. For this reason, potential adopters who already have dogs must have experience with resource guarding. Otherwise, we think Shepherd would be perfectly happy as an only Frenchie, where he wouldn’t feel the need to compete with anyone else for the love and attention of his people.

Shepherd is also a bolter! He is so excited to run and play and romp about that he will make a run for open doors, and he sure as heck doesn’t come back when he’s called. Accordingly, a fenced yard where he can play safely is a must. It’s also important that everyone in the household be conscious of Shepherd’s bolting and be especially cautious when opening and closing doors and gates.

The ideal home for Shepherd is one with dedicated, patient people who are willing to work with him on his training and help our little ball of smoosh-faced fire to be the best dog he can be. He needs a home with a securely fenced yard, and may not be the best fit for an apartment or townhouse, since he tends to get barky when excited. Any kids in the household must be older, dog-savvy, and responsible enough to keep doors closed at all times. Young children and cats are a no-go. And if you have other dogs in the house, please be sure to tell us about your experience with resource guarding.

Shepherd’s foster mom is understandably head-over-heels for this boy, and tells us, “Shepherd has only been with us for a short time, but I just love him to pieces. He is a happy, healthy Frenchie who is full of energy and love. He needs some guidance on his leash manners and has strong feelings for anything that he considers his. He is the most generous cuddler and loves everyone he meets!”

If you think you’d be a perfect match for Shepherd and his tongue, then click on that “apply” button and tell us why! Just be prepared to travel, as Shepherd is sparring with the garden hose in lovely Pennsylvania, and will not be shipped.

FBRN dogs are in foster care in people’s private homes. For the foster families’ safety, we do not disclose specific locations, and we don’t set up meet and greets prior to applications. For detailed information about the dogs in our care, please read the extensive bios on each dog.