FRANKIE

Hi there. My name is Frankie, and I’m looking for my true forever human.

If you look at my pictures, you’ll see I’m a pretty handsome 15-month-old guy with reddish-brown fur, a white chest, and little white toes. You might also notice some scars on my neck and legs. I came from a really bad place before the shelter found me, where I had to fight for food and never learned how to be a normal dog.

When my current family took me in two months ago, I didn’t even know what a dog bed was! It took me two weeks just to trust something softer than the floor. But once I realized I was safe, my true colors came out. I am an absolute, total goofball! When I’m happy, I don’t just run—I bounce on all four legs like a bunny rabbit. My favorite thing in the world is finding a grassy hill, going to the top, and literally rolling down it. I even do intentional forward flips when I’m chasing my toys. I love tug-of-war, chewing bones, and playing a game where my humans roll a frisbee across the ground for me to chase.

Inside the house, I am a massive cuddle bug with my trusted people—my mom and my 19-year-old brother. I love to sleep right in bed with my mom, snuggling as close as possible, and I will happily curl up right in her lap. I also love to roughhouse and play with my brother. I am a bit standoffish with my dad, but with everyone else outside of our small circle, my default is to bark and lunge out of pure fear at first.

You see, my past left me with some big anxieties.

When I see strangers or go to new places, I panic. For example, I am absolutely terrified of the vet’s office. When I go, I shake, bark, and lunge out of pure panic. Because I am so scared, the vet does muzzle me and I require sedation to be examined or treated safely. With my trainer, I also got very scared at first, but we found a trick! If we just spend 10 to 15 minutes playing fetch in the training yard first, I calm right down, lose my fear, and will happily let the trainer pet me and work with me.

Because of my fear, I had a really scary moment with my 17-year-old sister early on when I was startled in the dark while she leaned over the bed. Because I haven’t been able to rebuild trust with her, I have bitten her when feeling threatened or anxious around her. A veterinary behaviorist evaluated these and noted that while they are very serious, they have all been inhibited “warning bites” that have never broken the skin or drawn blood.

My family loves me so much, but we all agree that because I am struggling to feel safe and can no longer trust everyone in the house, I really need a different environment to succeed.

What I’m looking for:

An experienced “Project Dog” handler: I need an adult-only home with someone who deeply understands trauma, fear-reactivity, and space management.

A very quiet environment: A predictable home without teenagers or kids, and without a lot of foot traffic, strangers, or visitors coming and going.

Room to bloom: A home with a fenced yard where I can do my hill-rolls and bunny hops, and someone who will take me on quiet hikes to splash in creeks.

The Only Pet? The shelter said I liked other dogs, but I haven’t lived with any since. I also haven’t met cats yet, so a pet-free home might be easiest for me to decompress.

Medical-wise, I’m in tip-top shape! The nice people at Damascus Veterinary Hospital have me fully neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, parasite-free, and up-to-date on heartworm meds. I just recovered from oral surgery to fix some old cracked teeth from my past, and I take a daily anxiety medication that helps keep the world from feeling quite so loud.

It takes me time, patience, and slow management to realize a new person is safe. But once you are in my circle? I will give you a lifetime of bunny hops, hill rolls, and the deepest cuddles you’ve ever had. Will you help me learn to trust the world? Note: 52lbs

Contact info: Jennifer Gay 301-801-7114 ldmch98@gmail.com
Posted May 24, 2026