Uju ::ADOPTED::
In December of 2020 a feral Uju was wandering around a neighborhood in Asan, South Korea. He was reported to the local pound and someone brought a trap to catch him. He went right into the trap to eat and must have been very hungry, because Jindos aren’t the easiest to catch. Uju spent the following three months at the high-kill pound in an outdoor area for the larger pups. He was incredibly timid but he was gentle with everyone who interacted with him. We were eager to help him but knew he wasn’t ready for a flight so we reached out to a wonderful foster family in South Korea who had recently fostered Riri & Ana. They agreed to give Uju a chance and are actually the family who gave him his name! Uju means universe.
Things started out difficult, as expected, and Uju was quite the challenge. It took two weeks for him to finally go outside willingly. Up until then his foster would gently carry him outside, set him down, let him sniff and observe his surroundings, and then carry him back inside. He was completely frozen other than pooping himself with fear.
Little by little he acclimated and got into a routine. Once Uju had a breakthrough he became the most loving, playful, and loyal dog. He even got to spend some time with recently adopted Suho in South Korea! He spent 6 months with his devoted foster family there and continued to blossom. Instead of regressing once he arrived in the US, Uju has continued to grow and thrive. See his foster journey in South Korea here.
A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE Uju THINGS FROM his FOSTER FAMILY…
Uju is a fun-loving, highly protective and devoted guy to people he knows, likes, and trusts. This vivacious boy needs a little time to adjust (he can be a bit jumpy and easily startled until he feels at home). Once he trusts you, which really only takes a week or so, he turns into a lover! He will lean into you for lots of loves and rubs. When he wants attention, he makes his needs known – lots of leaning on you, paw pokes to your legs, and following you closely until he becomes the focus of your attention. Licking his people’s toes is also a favorite pastime and a way to let you know he is needing a little more of your focus.
He loves to go for rides (it did take awhile for him to feel comfortable loading up into an SUV, but now that he does, he wants to go everywhere). At the office he is a quiet and calm work partner. He rarely barks, and when he does, it is primarily at squirrels who are barking at him! He does growl at people he doesn’t know, but quickly quiets down with a “HUSH”.
This handsome man loves to be outdoors! He “protects” the homestead from all those crazy squirrels and chipmunks. He really does need a fenced yard to protect and to get the “zoomies” out of his system as needed. Racing up and down our back hill is a favorite pastime of his. Going for afternoon runs with our 14 year old daughter is also a must for this guy. An active home is the best fit for him. He wants attention, but can also be quite aloof and cat-like. He does best in a busy household with sound and flurry – if the home is too quiet he becomes jumpy and highly reactive.
He sleeps in his kennel with no issues – he actually puts himself to bed when ready. Once he is in bed for the night, he doesn’t get up. Sometimes in the morning he doesn’t even emerge from his kennel until I have had a cup of coffee. He isn’t food or treat motivated (doesn’t mean he doesn’t appreciate food and treats, they just aren’t motivating for him). When it comes to eating, he is slow and methodical, fully chewing every single bite. While in foster care in South Korea, he was noted to have slight food aggression and we haven’t noticed that characteristic at all. He has been fostered with our geriatric French Bulldog (who is food aggressive) and a couple of cats, and he hasn’t shown any issues. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the capacity for it, we just haven’t seen it. We do feed him separately to be on the safe side, no need to invite drama where there is none.
Uju ADORES other dogs! He is so gentle, and so accepting, of dogs – big, small, his size, it doesn’t matter, he loves them all. He did have one episode of nipping at one of our cats shortly after coming to foster with us, but was quickly corrected, and hasn’t had an issue since. We do keep him crated/kenneled when we aren’t at home, to make sure there is no unmonitored interaction with him and the cats/dogs.
A FEW THINGS Uju IS WORKING ON FROM his FOSTER FAMILY…
We have made strides in his training. He sits (hand motion) about 80% of the time asked. He waits at thresholds very well. Heel is getting there, but those squirrels, and all of his dog friends in the neighborhood, sometimes get to be too much and he forgets that arms need to stay in sockets. When I or my step-daughter call for him to come in from outside, he races to the back door. However, when my partner calls for Uju, he pretends not to hear him. In our home, he is much more receptive to women than men. He needs to work on recall…he is an apt student, but can also be a stubborn boy.
THE IDEAL FAMILY FOR Uju WOULD HAVE THE FOLLOWING:
A fenced yard.
Another friendly, already trained dog in the home or access to friendly dogs for frequent playdates.
An active home.
Patience, time to train, consistency, and lots of love!
Uju’s Details:
Breed: Jindo Mix
Age: 3 years old
Sex: Male
Size: 44lbs
Color: Black/Brown/White
Spayed/Neutered: Yes
Microchipped: Yes
Vaccinated: Yes
Medical notes: N/A
Housetrained: Yes
Site: Wildhearts Rescue
Location: Foster home in Portland
Intake Date: 09/15/2021
Good with cats: Yes, with a slow introduction
Good with dogs: Yes, with a slow introduction
Good with children: Possibly, older children with a slow introduction
Good with adults: Yes, with a slow introduction