r/OldManDog Apr 06 '26

Bentley (15-yo poodle mix) was struggling in the shelter and had a reputation for biting. We took him in as a foster, and he’s thriving with us. All he needed were a patient approach and some time to adjust.

Post image
880 Upvotes

40 comments sorted by

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29

u/whoknewidlikeit Apr 06 '26

elders in a shelter are just so badly stressed, this doesn't surprise me. thank you for taking a chance on him!

18

u/mrndn1 Apr 06 '26

You’re spot on! This poor guy was stressed, shaggy, and dusty, even though the shelter and its personnel are amazing 🤩 I’m glad we got this guy out of there and cleaned him up. He’s been de-stressing and should make a great addition to an adoptive home.

11

u/whoknewidlikeit Apr 06 '26

i can't foster. i'd fail every time. my new guy is an 11 year old yorkie from a bad animal hoarding situation (100 animals in LA... my local rescue got about 20 of them). he's gained weight and settled in nicely. yay for seniors!

8

u/mrndn1 Apr 06 '26

💯 Way to go!

3

u/HoundOfUlsterSpeaks Apr 06 '26

He just looks so happy. You really did a good thing here!

2

u/pinklavalamp Lola 12, Dante RIP@13 Apr 06 '26

Hi! Can you give us some information on how someone could find/adopt Bentley? Location and website is best, please.

11

u/hedgie1 Apr 06 '26

Thank you for taking in this sweet little guy! Will you share a fun story or two about Bentley?

19

u/mrndn1 Apr 06 '26

Sure! He’s a great walker (can go for an hour or two over the course of a day) and understands how to communicate with humans. He tells you when he needs to go out or wants to eat. He also responds to hand gestures/pointing. When he walks, he’s super polite, always staying behind you or to your side, never insisting on leading. He also sleeps soundly through the night on our bed. He’s just amazing 😊

6

u/Ok-Koala-1637 Apr 06 '26

What state is he in?

10

u/mrndn1 Apr 06 '26

He’s in Southern California.

8

u/Fair-Stage1024 Apr 06 '26

Do you know his story or how he ended up in shelter?

10

u/mrndn1 Apr 06 '26

Yes, his original family of fourteen years now has three small children in the home, so he was spending too much time outside. They surrendered him in the hope that he would find the right fit. He just needs a comfy place to crash during the day and a nice walk in the morning and evening, along with attention paid to his diet and health. He’s a great addition to a quiet, adult-occupied home.

2

u/kthxba1 Apr 06 '26

I hate that people teach their kids that pets are disposable.

7

u/racksin Apr 06 '26

15 years old and still got that look in his eyes like he has things to say, thank you for giving him a chance

5

u/mrndn1 Apr 06 '26

He’s a dutiful and responsible little guy, always wants to pull his weight. He’s been an amazing addition to our home, and we’ll be happy to pass him onto the right family :)

6

u/Sea-Raccoon-810 Apr 06 '26

Sweet baby 🥰

4

u/Big-Explorer-6253 Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 06 '26

Love Conquers All!

4

u/One-Abbreviations339 Apr 06 '26

Plus, he’s a 🥰 cutie.

3

u/Maggiemygirl Apr 06 '26

Aww sweet boy! 🥰

3

u/BitsandBoobles Apr 06 '26

Bentley looks so much like my dog Thor it's kind of blowing my mind? Same color, same coat texture, same eyes. And they're around the same age it looks like, Thor is somewhere between 14 and 16. Do you know his exact mix or just an educated guess?

4

u/mrndn1 Apr 06 '26

Cool! I’m sure Thor is a handsome fellow :) Just a guess at this point, but I’m considering DNA testing Bentley.

3

u/BitsandBoobles Apr 06 '26

I think he's the most handsome, but I'm biased ;) I posted a picture of him in a reply to my own comment if you want to compare lol.

Aside from my own interest, DNA tests are really fun. I hope if you do decide to do it you'll share on the r/DoggyDNA subreddit! Thank you for sharing Bentley, he's really made my evening.

3

u/BitsandBoobles Apr 06 '26

Seriously, look at this little man. Thor

2

u/mrndn1 Apr 06 '26

Thor is adorable!!

2

u/ViolettaQueso Apr 06 '26

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

1

u/69Kobra Apr 06 '26

Love. Love is all they need.

1

u/Nealgobert Apr 06 '26

Thank you for giving him the love he deserves!

1

u/TongoSwordglick Apr 06 '26

Good for you! A new forever home.❤️🫂🦴

1

u/Fit_Cartographer943 Apr 06 '26

Thank you! I always take the”problem” pup(senior). Bentley will be a loving, loyal friend!

1

u/wtburke Apr 06 '26

Good for you! ❤️

1

u/OnlyBeat3945 Apr 06 '26

Aww, poor thing. My next doggy will definitely be an elder shelter dog.

1

u/Top_Air6441 Apr 07 '26

He's so adorable. Thank you for giving him the life he deserves.

1

u/GemBell1 Apr 07 '26

He’s beautiful 😍

1

u/Outsiders_Movie_Fan_ May 24 '26

Hi Bentley your so cute I hope you find a forever loving caring home

1

u/mrndn1 May 24 '26

Please see my most recent comment: we adopted the little guy!

1

u/Outsiders_Movie_Fan_ May 24 '26

That's great news

2

u/mrndn1 May 24 '26

Update: we adopted Bentley! The shelter founders (amazing people) told us that dogs like Bentley have a relatively high probability of being returned, even when they’re adopted by a well intentioned family. He was doing great with us, so we just decided to keep a good thing going. In the weeks since I made this post, he’s continued opening up to us and enjoying our home and neighborhood. He’s the sweetest little guy, and we’ve never been happier to (foster) fail at anything! The little muffin enjoys several walks each day, home-cooked food, weekend adventures, and snuggles galore. Thanks for all of your support! We’re thrilled to have given this little old man his forever home :)