Meet River Phoenix (20251016-01)

Foster insights/backstory:
River Phoenix - Wow! Basically the perfect dog!
The big-hearted shepherd mix with an even bigger personality!
River Phoenix is a 1.5-year-old, 72 lb white shepherd mix who is fully vetted and ready to find his forever family. This handsome boy is a wonderful blend of confidence, charm, and cuddles – a gentle giant who thinks he’s a lapdog!
River Phoenix is great with everyone – dogs, kids, adults, and even cats!! He has a medium energy level, is house, leash, and crate trained, and would thrive in a home with a fenced yard where he can run, play, and lounge in the sunshine.
He’s incredibly smart, obedient, playful, and eager to please. He rides great in the car, loves adventures, and enjoys snuggling just as much as being active. Whether you’re looking for a walking buddy, co-pilot, or couch companion, he checks all the boxes.
River Phoenix was found abandoned on the side of the road with a litter of puppies, and would do best in a home where he gets the love, patience, and presence he deserves.
If you're looking for the perfect mix of loyalty, fun, and affection, he is your guy.
River Phoenix loves to be around people, loves to be in your lap, loves to go in public and meet new people.
He loves to play tag with his sister, lick a cat or two, and plays with kittens.
He will "dance" for his supper then sit and wait for you to put it in his bowl.
He will sit under a tree, staring up into the limbs trying to figure out how to get that bird that just flew across the yard. If he sees another dog walking down the street, he will just sit there and watch him go by even as much as he wants to go play, if told “no stay.” He loves laying in the yard watching the deer next door.
At bedtime, he digs through the toy box to find the perfect toy for the night. He used to sleep in his crate at night but now sleeps on the couch. He is crated when we go to town from 2 to 6 hours with no problem and still goes in it for naps during the day. He can be a bit lazy and doesn’t love mornings