Arlo Black Labrador Retriever Mix Male 1 Year Old ID #3503

Arlo is now available please read his PetFinder post https://www.petfinder.com/dog/arlo-d6f6ba7b-eeaa-48f6-a70c-8ea4e6171d32/pa/warrington/brookline-labrador-rescue-pa06/details/

Before coming into the rescues care, Arlo’s life had already been filled with uncertainty. He was originally part of a family with a one-year-old child, but they made the decision to rehome him and placed him with a friend. Unfortunately, that home already had several dogs, including a pregnant dog who soon gave birth to nine puppies. Overwhelmed and unable to manage so many animals, the friend contacted ACCT and surrendered Arlo as a stray.

When Arlo entered the shelter, he was severely underweight and battling pneumovirus. Sadly, he was placed on the euthanasia list for February 14th. Just in time, Brookline Labrador Retriever Rescue stepped in and saved his life.

March 16, 2026

When Arlo first came into foster care, he was a very stressed and anxious dog with a lot of pent-up energy from his time in the shelter. Over the past few weeks, he has truly blossomed into a wonderful family dog. Arlo is incredibly cuddly, lovable, and just the sweetest soul to have around.

Arlo is very attentive to his people and always eager to please. He really wants to be your best friend. Since our last blog, we’ve been working on the “come” command, and Arlo picked it up quickly. He now responds enthusiastically when called and happily runs over to join you. Once he understood recall, we began allowing him off-leash in the yard. Arlo has done great staying close and following us around. When we leave him in the yard while letting the horses out, he simply waits patiently at the gate for our return.

Arlo thrives on routine and has really settled into our daily schedule. He no longer feels the need to rush outside to use the bathroom the moment the door opens. After the first few accidents during his first week, he has been completely housebroken since.

Recently, Arlo did start the not-so-pleasant habit of trying to eat his poop. We clean the yard quickly, but sometimes he beats me to it before I can grab the pitchfork. We’ve been working on the commands “leave it” and “no” to discourage the behavior. I suspect it’s just a puppy phase that he’ll grow out of soon. I considered trying supplements designed to stop the behavior, but they can take months to work. With consistent training, I think Arlo will learn much faster.

Arlo has also been great with kids. He has met several children and has always been friendly and gentle. He has been exposed to bikes and scooters and handles them calmly. Like many young dogs, he sometimes tries to join in when kids are running and may jump up in excitement, so we’ll continue working on teaching him more polite manners.

When guests come into the house or yard, Arlo does not bark or jump and greets everyone in a friendly way. He has also been welcoming with other dogs. A friend recently brought two dogs over, and we introduced them to Arlo one at a time. Arlo was very happy and affectionate with both, though they weren’t too interested in playing with him. Because of that, I’ve been trying to set up a playdate with a younger dog. Christina and Cooper are expected to visit this week, and I have a feeling Cooper and Arlo will have a great time together.

We’ve also taken Arlo on a few outings to retail stores to give him more exposure to new environments. He does get excited and tends to pull more than usual on the leash, but overall, his behavior has been very good. While at PetSmart, I walked him near the adoptable cats to see how he would react. He didn’t pay much attention to them, although they were mostly still. He was much more interested in watching the fish and birds, which were very active.

Over the last few days, I’ve noticed that Arlo is no longer showing the anxious behavior he used to have around the couch. At first, I thought it might be related to prey drive, but after watching him closely, it seemed more like anxiety. The pacing and fixating usually happened when he was feeling unsettled—often when I sat down to rest or when I was busy cooking dinner. At first it was frustrating, especially after we had spent so much time playing, training, and cuddling, only for him to immediately run to the couch and start the behavior. Toys didn’t seem to distract him in those moments, so I often had to stop what I was doing to redirect him.

Over time, those episodes became less frequent and easier to interrupt. I also began giving him a bully stick or braided collagen chew if I noticed the first signs that he might start the behavior. That seemed to help him settle, and now it appears he has broken free from that cycle. It has been incredibly rewarding to work through these challenges and watch such a great dog emerge.

Inside the house, Arlo is very well behaved and does well with his crate. Arlo does protest with some loud whines when being crated but settles fairly quickly. Recently, we started letting him sleep in our bedroom at night, and he’s adjusting nicely. The first night was a bit restless—you could hear his tags jingling as he walked around the room—but he has since settled and now sleeps peacefully through the night.

We also tried leaving Arlo in the kitchen for a short period instead of crating him. Unfortunately, within a few minutes he managed to pull something off the counter, so for now he is still crated during the day. I’d like to try another out-of-crate trial soon, possibly in the family room since Arlo loves to curl up and sleep on the couch.

For the time being, our farm sitter continues to stop by daily to give Arlo a midday break. With his age and playful energy, I don’t feel he’s quite ready to be crated for a full workday yet. My next goal is helping him learn to relax safely outside the crate so he can eventually have more freedom during the day.

Arlo continues to make amazing progress, and it has been such a joy watching him grow into the happy, loving dog he was meant to be. 🐾

March 5, 2026

🐾💕Arlo Update

Arlo continues to make progress every day. He is learning the commands we’ve been working on very quickly and will now perform them even without treats. He has also stopped “hunting” around the house. Occasionally he will still fixate on the recliner, but we’re now able to easily correct and redirect him.

Arlo has been having a great time enjoying all the toys from his welcome box! He especially loves exploring new ways to play and stay busy. The snuffle mat and lick mat that Dee sent have been a big hit as well—thank you, Dee! They’ve been wonderful enrichment tools for Arlo and have helped keep his curious mind engaged while he settles into his routine.

We’ve started doing short, supervised sessions where Arlo can see our ferret, Kevin. Arlo has made great progress with this and will now calmly sit and watch him. I’m hopeful that over time he’ll simply lose interest in Kevin. I’ve also been using the girls’ Live pet toys to simulate small animals and teach Arlo to be gentle. He has been responding really well and seems to want the toys to play back with him. I think Arlo would really enjoy having another dog to play with, so I’m hoping to set up a doggy playdate soon.

Arlo is also adjusting back to crate time during the work week. My husband was home for several days after being laid off due to the snow, so the first day back in the crate was a little tough and he cried for a while. By the second day he was already settling in better. Our farm sitter still lets him out around noon on those days, which is when he also gets his lunch.

His weight is looking much better now. He no longer looks emaciated like he did when he arrived. He’s still a little thin but overall looks healthy, and his beautiful dark brindle coat is shiny and coming in nicely.

Last week we spent a lot of time outside, which Arlo absolutely loved. Most evenings he was exhausted by dinner time. One day we even took him to a small nearby park that has a dog park area. There were no other dogs there, but Arlo had a great time running laps around the enclosure and barking with excitement. We tried a few pieces of agility equipment as well. He happily jumped over the jump, though he wasn’t quite sure about the steep ramp. He did climb two rungs for me, which was a good start!

While we were there, a group of young kids brought a small goat over to the dog park area and placed it inside the small dog section. I’m not sure where their parents were, but Arlo handled the situation really well. He looked at the goat through the fence but listened to our commands and stayed calm.

At home, I’ve started unclipping Arlo’s tie line and allowing him to follow me around the yard. He’s doing great and stays right by my side. Once we’re confident in his recall, I think he’ll be able to enjoy the yard without the tie line entirely. He has even been inside the chicken coop with me without any issues. He will wait patiently while I finish feeding the animals and doing my chores.

Arlo truly seems to be enjoying life on the farm. He loves being outside in the fresh air and has shown no interest in chasing any of the animals. It’s been wonderful watching him relax and start to really enjoy life. 🐾

It’s a little heartbreaking to see that Arlo hasn’t received any applications yet, especially after escaping death at the shelter just three weeks ago. He truly is such a wonderful dog with so much love to give, and he absolutely deserves an amazing home of his own.

While he may not look very “labby,” he definitely has that classic Lab personality—happy, friendly, and full of love for everyone he meets. It’s hard not to smile when you’re around him.

In the meantime, I’m grateful to get some extra time with this sweet boy while he waits for his forever family to find him. Whoever ends up adopting Arlo is going to be incredibly lucky. 🐾

Arlo loves riding the UTV-

February 24, 2026

Arlo has truly begun to settle into life in our home, and it has been such a joy to watch his personality shine. He is a lovable, happy, and friendly puppy who greets each day with enthusiasm and affection.

Although the shelter estimated his age at one year, we believe he may be younger and have been caring for him accordingly.

We take Arlo out for frequent potty breaks, just as we would with a young puppy. While he is mostly housebroken, he has had a few accidents when he gets overly excited on the way to the door. He becomes very enthusiastic when it’s time to go outside, and sometimes he simply can’t make it out in time. He does not mark indoors and still squats to urinate, which also supports our belief that he is younger.

Arlo has quickly learned our daily routine and often anticipates what comes next. One day, he even reminded me to feed the wild birds when I almost forgot. When it’s time to go outside, he happily walks us over to his tie-out line and sits patiently, waiting to be clipped in.

Mealtime & Manners

Arlo has excellent manners around food. He never snatches treats or nips hands and shows no interest in trash cans, countertops, or people food. He is currently fed three meals per day, along with plenty of positive reinforcement through treat-based training.

He has not attempted to eat non-food items while in our care and is always supervised indoors and outdoors. Recently, he even passed doggie bags he had eaten at the shelter, which still surprises me, as he shows none of that behavior here. With consistent care, exercise, and mental stimulation, I feel he will not return to those habits.

Training Progress

When Arlo arrived, he had no formal command training. In just one week, he has already learned:

Sit, Stay (even out of sight), Down, Crawl, Leave it, and Drop it.

He is highly engaged during training and learns quickly. We do several short training sessions throughout the day, which he truly enjoys.

Managing Prey Drive & Energy

Arlo has a strong prey drive and initially became fixated on certain areas in the home, pacing, whining, and scratching as if “hunting.” Each room seemed to have a spot that caught his attention. In the beginning, this behavior happened many times per day.

Through consistent redirection and training, we have made significant progress. Now, he only fixates a few times daily, and the intensity has greatly decreased.

We learned that mental work was just as important as physical exercise for Arlo. Since he was not initially interested in fetch or most toys, we began using training sessions whenever he started to fixate. We also focused on strengthening his “leave it” command to help him disengage.

One of our biggest breakthroughs was discovering a toy he loves—a lunge whip, commonly used in horse training. The movement of the popper mimics small prey, making it perfect for channeling his instincts in a healthy way. Arlo loves chasing it and knows to “drop it” so the game can continue.

We also introduced scent training using “find it” games, giving him another positive outlet for his natural abilities. These activities have greatly reduced his indoor hunting behavior and helped him feel more balanced.

When needed, quiet cuddle time also helps him reset and relax.

Arlo will need continued structure and engagement to prevent old patterns from returning. His prey drive is noticeably stronger indoors than outdoors. Outside, he remains calm around our horses and birds. When he spotted a bunny recently, he responded immediately to a tug of the leash and “leave it,” which was very encouraging, he then walked calmly on the leash.

Based on what we’ve observed, Arlo would likely do best in a home without cats, small animals, or small dogs. He would thrive in an active household and may even excel in a working role that involves searching or scent work. He is intelligent, eager to learn, and happiest when given a purpose.

Crate Training & Time Alone

Arlo is very comfortable in his crate at night and during the workday. During his first few nights, he cried for about 20 minutes before settling. Now, he goes in willingly and usually settles right away.

He sleeps soundly through the night and rests well during the day. When I had to work, our farm sitter let him out and reported steady improvements in his confidence and behavior.

Friday, Arlo spent seven hours crated while I was at work. I monitored him through a camera and saw that he remained calm and relaxed, napping most of the time. While he handled this well, given his age and energy level, he would benefit from a midday dog walker if regularly crated for full workdays.

Socialization & New Experiences

Arlo continues to impress us with how well he handles new experiences. He has shown interest in animals on TV and becomes excited when they appear. He has also been introduced to our robot vacuum and ignores it completely while supervised.

Arlo is a vocal dog and loves to “talk” when he’s excited or frustrated. Despite all the changes in his life, he has never shown any signs of aggression—not even a growl.

This week, Arlo met several dogs and people. He did wonderfully meeting my brother-in-law’s dog, remaining calm and respectful after an initial moment of excitement.

He also did great meeting my nieces and watching them play on the trampoline without becoming overstimulated.

Later, he greeted our neighbor and his friendly dog with the same calm behavior, offering plenty of kisses and affection to our neighbor. Another neighbor stopped by with young children, ages two and three, and Arlo happily watched them play while remaining relaxed on his tie-out.

He even joined us on the UTV while we ran chores and gave the neighbors a ride back, handling the busy day like a champ.

After such a full day of socializing and activity, Arlo curled up on the couch after dinner and slept soundly until bedtime—completely content and exhausted.

In Summary

After just one week, Arlo has made incredible progress. He is affectionate, intelligent, eager to learn, and deeply bonded to his people. With continued structure, training, and enrichment, he will make a wonderful companion for the right home.

Arlo is truly a special dog, and watching him grow and thrive has been incredibly rewarding. 💙

February 16, 2026

While in the shelter, staff noted concerns about possible pica, a condition where dogs eat non-food items. There were a few incidents where Arlo managed to get into things he shouldn’t have. However, after reading his evaluations and watching his shelter videos, I felt that what I was seeing was simply a young, stressed puppy who lacked structure, enrichment, and consistent playtime.

Since coming into my care, I have not seen any signs of pica. Instead, I’ve seen a sweet, curious puppy who is learning how to feel safe again. With routine, exercise, and love, Arlo has begun to settle in beautifully. He still has bursts of typical puppy energy—complete with zoomies—but nothing out of the ordinary.

So far, my instincts about Arlo have proven true. Beneath the rough start and shelter stress is a wonderful young dog who is finally getting the chance to thrive.

February 15, 2026

We believe he is a black lab mastiff mix. He is dark brindle color. Shelter has him as 1 year old, I believe he is younger than that. I will see if my vet can get a better age estimate on him.

Today, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for Dot for evaluating Arlo and to Brookline for rescuing him from the shelter. It breaks my heart to think about what could have happened if they hadn’t stepped in. Arlo is a beautiful young soul with so much life still ahead of him, and I am so thankful he was given this second chance.

Yesterday, we picked up our Valentine, Arlo. On the ride home, he rested his head in my arms while I gently petted and reassured him. It was as if he already knew he was safe.

Once we arrived, we took him to the barnyard to potty and burn off some energy. He loved running around and playing ball on his leash.

He was quite eager and pulled a bit while walking, especially when he noticed the horses—he clearly wanted to join them in the pasture! He also showed interest in the chickens and peafowl, which may indicate a higher prey drive. As he settles in, we’ll continue guiding and correcting him so he learns to coexist peacefully with our animals.

After about 20 minutes of play, running, and walking, Arlo began to settle nicely on the leash. He did not try to eat any non-food items outside. When he noticed a large rock, a simple “no” was enough for him to move on, showing how responsive he already is.

Inside the house, Arlo’s excitement returned. We allowed him to explore one room while staying on leash. He has plenty of puppy energy and was eager to investigate every corner. When he spotted Kevin in his cage, he briefly thought he might be a snack, so we corrected him and relocated Kevin to give Arlo time to decompress.

Before long, Arlo relaxed and spent the next few hours cuddled up with the family. When my parents unexpectedly stopped by, he barely lifted his head from the couch, only greeting them when invited. He remained calm, quiet, and relaxed—no barking, just gentle curiosity.

Arlo has already taken to several of his chew toys, especially his treat-filled marrow bone, which he happily brings into his crate to enjoy. He also handled his first bath beautifully, standing patiently the entire time. Afterward, he was clean, soft, and still carried that sweet puppy smell.

At home, Arlo is a total love bug. He adores cuddling, gives endless kisses, and enjoys lounging on the couch with the family. He does get excited around food, which is understandable given his past. He eagerly runs around while waiting for meals or when he smells something cooking, but he has not counter-surfed or tried to snatch food from our hands. During treat time, he gets excited at first, then quickly settles once he understands there are no more coming.

The shelter had noted concerns about possible pica, but so far, we have not seen any of that behavior. What we are seeing is a normal, energetic puppy who simply needs guidance, consistency, and training. He is already learning quickly and seems very comfortable with us.

Arlo has only been here one day, and he is already showing us what a wonderful companion he can be. We are so grateful to be part of his journey and can’t wait to see him continue to grow and thrive.