Sooty

🐾 Sensitive, affectionate, soft-natured
💥Energy level: medium-high
🐈 Not good with cats
🐕 Good with other dogs
👶 Can be tested with children
👽 Good with new people
❄ What makes Sooty special: making funny faces! He has the biggest, goofiest smile on his face when he is happy, gives you a nervous grin when he is anxious, and has the sweetest puppy eyes when he wants cuddles.

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We rescued Sooty from the government shelter in early 2026. Most likely, he had an owner before, who kept him as a hunting dog. He will have spent his whole life living outdoors on a chain or in a cage, except on hunting days, when he'd have been put into a dark cage attached to a car, driven to the mountains, and let out only to hunt.

We don't know why his owner abandoned him at the shelter, but as soon as we spotted him, we knew he was struggling. He was standing at the back of his crowded kennel, shaking all over, anxiously wagging his tail. He was absolutely terrified. It was clear he hadn't been able to get to any food in the crowded shelter, and he was completely malnourished. Thankfully, he made a full recovery in the Melez enclosure.

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Sooty is a sweet, sensitive dog who truly craves love and reassurance from people.

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He prefers people to other dogs, so he's mainly focused on them. He's very sensitive and can easily feel overwhelmed, and when that happens, he really seeks comfort from people. Both in his kennel and outside it, he shows this through affection: constantly seeking people out and jumping into the arms of familiar and unfamiliar faces alike. Sooty loves to cling to you and would happily never let go. He truly is a very affectionate dog.

 

In the busy shelter, Sooty becomes overstimulated and stressed. There's always a lot going on around him, and he simply doesn't cope well with that. He shares his living space with many other dogs, and it's loud and chaotic there. That's really too much for a dog like Sooty.

 

Generally speaking, he's doing well at the shelter. He fits in nicely with his kennel mates. When faced with new dogs, he sometimes isn't sure how to behave, and gets a bit nervous and uncomfortable. Otherwise, he quietly goes about his business.

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As soon as a person enters his kennel, though, it's a different story: he immediately throws himself at your feet with a heart-wrenching look in his eyes. You simply can't ignore that "please take me home" look. It's very clear: Sooty desperately wants to leave the shelter.

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He's very submissive towards people. If he's startled by a sudden movement, for instance, he immediately lies down and shows his belly. Although he craves people's approval and longs to be accepted and loved, he doesn't yet trust them completely. Yet he never goes on the defensive, not even when he thinks something bad is about to happen. Instead, he adopts a submissive posture.

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Outside the shelter, he's much more relaxed in quiet areas. He loves going for long walks and exploring. When things are calm around him, he's cheerful, lively, confident and easy-going. He's always very focused on you and seems keen to please, really wanting to do well. Sooty also loves going for a drive with you. When he's relaxed, his playful, enthusiastic side comes out; after all, he's a young dog who loves toys, treats and, of course, attention.

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In busy environments with traffic and noise, though, his confidence disappears straight away. He finds it all very stressful and tries, above all, to make himself as small as possible. He clings to you and craves a great deal of reassurance. Future adopters will play a vital role in helping him through this.

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The only time he isn't focused on you is when his hunting instinct kicks in: if he spots a cat or picks up the scent of another animal, instinct takes over completely, and he forgets you're even there. You'll see his nose working overtime as he goes into hunting mode.

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When Sooty first came to us, he was severely underweight. Now, thankfully, he's healthy, but he hasn't forgotten the times he went hungry: he won't share his food with other dogs.

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Sooty is a sensitive dog who is easily overwhelmed by the world around him. With his gentle, submissive nature, he really needs a stable home where he can learn that nobody is going to hurt him, and that he's completely safe. He wants nothing more than to be loved and to have a lovely time with kind people.

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Sooty just wants a chance to show how much love he has to give. He is eternally grateful to the people who show him kindness. Time, attention and reassurance will be the key to a happy, relaxed life for him.

 

Sooty is currently in Turkey and will be ready to travel to the EU/UK from September onwards.

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The dogs arrive in their homes microchipped, up to date on their Rabies and Mixed vaccinations, spayed/neutered, dewormed and deflead and tested for Heartworm, Ehrlichia, Leishmania and Anaplasma. The dogs visit the vets for a final health check before they travel. If needed, their teeth are cleaned and X-Rays are taken of any potential areas of concern. Any concerns or potential health issues we are aware of will be communicated with you beforehand.

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A home visit, adoption contract and adoption fee apply. 

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