This week we’d like to feature a very special dog, Marlon Brando. Marlon Brando - Oregon Humane Society. Marlon is a 3ish-year-old Chihuahua mix who weighs in at just over 17 pounds. He came to us here at Oregon Humane from a dog hoarding situation in San Diego. Lucky Marlon has been in foster with one of my friends for the past few months. I love regularly hearing stories about Marlon, and how he’s been coming out of this shell over these past few months. In his foster home he lives with two other small dogs. He enjoys the company of both and is an especially good buddy with one , whom you’ll see prancing around with him in his video.
Marlon Brando is a graduate of our Behavior Modification Program and is looking for a very special home. Marlon is a shy and reserved little guy, who would love to hang out around you as he adapts to his new world. He can be very playful with toys, inquisitive, and LOVES treats. He spent the first years of his life in a hoarding situation running around with siblings and little interaction with humans, he is now learning how to be a pet dog.
During his time at OHS he’s learned how to take treats from our hands, go for walks on a leash, and confidently play with other dogs. He is not the type of dog who would enjoy being picked up, grabbed, or touched often, if ever. If Marlon is cornered to interact, he will resort to growling and eventually snapping and could bite at someone if you continue to grab towards him ignoring his signs of fear. But if you let Marlon come to you and open up on his own terms, he will learn to trust you and lean up against you for naps or follow you around for walks. Marlon would not do well in a busy home with a lot of hustle and bustle or one with children. He would do well in a home with another small confident dog who could take the social pressure off him, and whom he could learn how to be a pet dog from and play with.
Marlon is mostly potty trained, however being a male and coming from his previous situation he does struggle with urine marking. While in foster care he has done best when confined to an ex-pen when left unsupervised and kept in sight when free roaming the house. This is a problem that can be best managed through supervision, frequent outings to go potty, and a thorough clean up after an incident, but it could likely take several months before he will stop urine marking all together or he might not ever stop urine marking in the home.
We recommend leaving Marlon’s leash attached to his collar for the first few weeks he’s in your home as he won’t be comfortable with you reaching out to clip it on and off. Take some time to pair treats with touching the clip and moving away, distance is calming, and walks are rewarding. Short sessions will build confidence and comfort. Marlon is learning how to exist in the world of a pet home, and we think at first, he will be frightened by new things and loud noises, a frightened dog will look for any occasion to bolt when startled: out of vehicles, out the front door, or slipping out of the leash. Keep a very tight grip of that leash! Start by walking him around your backyard, then move to your front yard and take him out during quieter times of day letting him decide the pace and distance of your walk. This will help him build confidence in you as a handler.
I love hearing regular stories about Marlon Brando from his foster/my friend. She truly adores him and living in her happy household has given him so much confidence. She and her two dogs have truly taught Marlon what it’s like to be a beloved pet.
Marlon is such a sweet little guy. He had a horrible start in life, and his world has become so much better since he became a part of the Oregon Humane Society family. Do you think he might be a good addition to your family? If so, please fill out his questionnaire in his profile and set up a time to come and meet him. Because of his special circumstance, we’ll want you to meet with him a few times before committing to take him home. He’s a tender little guy and we want to be sure that his adoption is a perfect love match for both him and for you.