Hi! I’m Dolly. I’m a 90-ish lb. girl in the prime of life. I came into GDFRL foster care not long after the world said goodbye to the other Dolly, so my new friends decided I needed a name with a little extra sparkle.

I may not have the rhinestones or the big blonde hair, but Foster Mom says I’m gorgeous, with something she calls “soulful eyes.” I’m pretty sure Dolly Parton would approve of a girl like me making a fresh start. It took the nice people at the shelter about a week to catch me, and Foster Mom and Dad don’t know anything about my life before that. They’re pretty sure I belonged to someone, though, because I came with some very good manners.

I’m perfectly housebroken, I don’t bother things that aren’t mine (Foster Mom even leaves her SHOES out!), and I know sit, down, and shake—with BOTH paws, thank you very much. I’m also crate trained, although I may cry a little just to make sure you know I’m still in there. At night, I sleep quietly in my own bed in Foster Mom and Dad’s bedroom. During the day, I’m a big fan of naps, especially if I can find a sunny spot. I also love going for long walks with Foster Dad, working on my chew toys, playing, and cuddling.

When Foster Mom gets home from work, sometimes I get a serious case of the zoomies. A girl has to celebrate! I’m also an excellent passenger in the car. Seriously. Foster Mom says I’m PERFECT. I like other dogs, too. My new BFF is a Miniature Schnauzer who comes to visit, although she apparently has not received the memo that we are supposed to play and zoom together. Personal space seems unnecessary to me. I also recently met Iris, a Dane who was adopted from Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love, and we got along beautifully. On walks around the neighborhood, I’ve met several other dogs successfully, too.

I might enjoy having a confident dog-friend in my new home. Cats, however, look very chaseable to me.

Now for the stuff I’m still working on. I LOVE my Foster Mom. Maybe a little too much. I bonded with her very quickly, while it has taken me much longer to decide that Foster Dad is okay. At first, I would sometimes growl when he came into the room, but then would turn around and cuddle with him on the sofa (I’m complicated, okay?). I’ve made progress, but can still be a little protective of foster mom so we are doing all the things to help build my confidence! New people can make me nervous, too. My hackles go up, and I may growl or bark. The funny thing is that I often really WANT to meet them—I’m just not completely convinced yet that unfamiliar people are safe. Give me a little time, a thoughtful introduction, and maybe a treat (dried salmon skin is my current fave), and I usually warm up really quickly. I’ve already met lots of visitors successfully at my foster home. Foster Mom says I don’t need someone who will force me to be everybody’s best friend. I need someone calm, confident, and consistent who will help me learn that I don’t have to be worried—or be in charge—when new people come around.

I’m treat motivated, I redirect pretty easily, and I’m already getting better on walks when we encounter people or dogs who make me unsure. Because I’m still learning to feel safe around new people, Foster Mom thinks a quieter adult home would probably suit me best. We don’t know how I feel about children yet, and I’m probably not ready to figure that out while I’m still building my confidence. I need a family who will keep working with me rather than expecting me to trust everybody immediately. Once I trust you, though? I am all in. I’ll follow you from room to room. I’ll curl up with you for a nap. I’ll hang out beside you on the screened porch. I’ll go for a nice long walk and then sack out afterward. You can touch my ears, feet, toes, and pretty much everything else—even though I would like it entered into the record that nail trims are not my favorite activity. I’ll play with you, cuddle with you, and greet you with zoomies when you come home. Foster Mom and Dad say I’m a really good dog who just needs some help understanding that the world—and the people in it—can be safe. I’ve already learned a lot in just a few weeks. With patience, consistency, clear boundaries, and lots of love, they think I’m going to be a fabulous companion.

So if you have a quiet home, a little patience, a pocketful of treats, and room in your life for 90 pounds of soulful eyes, zoomies, cuddles, and absolutely no respect for personal space, maybe you’re the fresh start I’ve been waiting for.

❤️ ***If interested in adopting Dolly send us an email to info@greatdanefriends.com. Dolly is being fostered in Conway SC.