Pepe

Pepe and his brother Jose were taken to a municipal shelter in Ankara as puppies. We already knew them from local feeding rounds—they were both extremely shy and fearful. When they were taken to the shelter, we stepped in, rescued them, and had them neutered. After spending about a year in boarding, they arrived in the Netherlands around 2.5 weeks ago.

Separating from his brother has actually helped Pepe grow tremendously. When they were together, he was constantly anxious and dependent on Jose, following him everywhere and struggling to settle. Since being separated, he has become calmer, more independent, and much more emotionally stable.

Personality & Behavior

Pepe is an incredibly gentle, sensitive, and affectionate dog. He forms very strong bonds with his handler and looks to them for reassurance whenever he feels unsure.

He is especially cautious around men. If an unfamiliar man approaches too directly or too quickly, Pepe may become frightened. With women, he is generally more comfortable, though still initially careful and observant.

At home, he is calm, cuddly, and emotionally soft. He used to constantly lick faces, which has improved a lot, though he still gently licks hands for comfort and affection.

Outside, loud noises and sudden situations can still make him nervous. In the beginning, he would completely panic, but now he calmly seeks safety by going to his foster mother instead. This is actually huge progress for him.

Social Behavior

🐾 Exceptionally good with other dogs
🐾 Met many dogs in dog parks without showing aggression
🐾 Respectful and calm in social interactions
🐾 Lives peacefully with two cats
🐾 Shows no aggression even when hissed at by cats
🐾 Sensitive around unfamiliar men
🐾 Strongly attached to his handler

Pepe is a very soft communicator. When uncomfortable, he chooses avoidance and reassurance rather than confrontation.

House Training & Daily Routine

Pepe is fully house-trained.

There was one stress-related accident indoors when an unfamiliar man approached him too quickly and startled him. Outside of that situation, Pepe has been very reliable with his house training.

He is also crate trained and settles well in his crate when needed.

Training & Outdoor Behavior

Pepe listens very well to his handler and responds strongly to calm guidance.

🐾 Pulls slightly on leash, but corrects himself easily
🐾 Recall is not reliable yet
🐾 Sensitive to loud noises and unfamiliar environments
🐾 Improving steadily in confidence outdoors
🐾 Very eager to stay close to his person

At one point, his foster mother accidentally dropped the leash during a walk. Pepe briefly ran off in panic—but then returned on his own shortly after. This says a lot about how attached he is to his human.

He has no food aggression or guarding behavior.

Key Features

🐾 Male, neutered
🐾 Rescued from Ankara shelter as a puppy
🐾 About 2.5 weeks in the Netherlands
🐾 Extremely good with dogs
🐾 Living successfully with cats
🐾 Fully house-trained
🐾 Crate trained
🐾 Very gentle and affectionate
🐾 Sensitive around unfamiliar men
🐾 Strong bond with handler
🐾 No aggression or resource guarding

What Kind of Home Does Pepe Need?

Pepe would thrive in a calm, patient, and emotionally safe home.

🐾 A gentle and understanding family
🐾 Preferably a quieter environment
🐾 People willing to continue building his confidence
🐾 A calm dog companion could be a great match
🐾 Slow introductions to unfamiliar men

Pepe is a very easy dog—he is simply a very sensitive one. Once he trusts you, he becomes deeply loyal, affectionate, and emotionally connected.

If you’re looking for a soft-hearted companion who wants nothing more than to feel safe beside his person, Pepe might be your boy. 💛🐾