Quartz is a bouncy and playful 6-month-old puppy looking for a patient family willing to go slow with him as he settles into a new routine. Quartz enjoys playing with other dogs and would love to go to a home with a confident resident dog. Quartz (and his brother, Milo) originally came to HSWM when they were about 12 weeks old. The pups in this litter did not experience much socialization with people or new environments when young and subsequently they have a hard time adjusting to big changes in their lives. Here at the shelter Quartz is often willing to approach new people for treats, but he is not comfortable with petting or other forms of physical affection from new people. The easiest way to earn Quartz's trust is to spend time feeding treats and throwing toys for him in an outdoor space (even better if there's another playful dog involved). Quartz is a quick learner and loves playing confidence-building training games like hand targeting and place training. In puppies, a lack of positive exposure to a variety of people, places, and experiences within the first 5 months of life is associated with fear and avoidance of new things they may encounter in the future. Dogs that did not receive adequate socialization when they were younger can still continue to go through thoughtful exposure in adulthood as long caregivers understand that older dogs lack the adaptability of young puppies and will need to be socialized slowly and carefully. HSWM's behavior team is happy to speak with interested adopters about the process of remedial socialization in older puppies and adult dogs. An ideal home environment will be relatively quiet and have low foot traffic, already contain a confident resident dog, and have access to a secure yard/room to run. If you think Quartz could be a good fit for your home, please visit the shelter during open hours, Wed-Sun from 1-6pm, or email behavior@myhswm.org with questions!