Raon’s mother was rescued during the Andong wildfires in South Korea and later gave birth at a shelter. Raon was one of her puppies.
He has been living at a training center in South Korea, where he has grown into an affectionate, enthusiastic young dog who loves people, play, and learning new things. Now he is waiting for a family to share his adventures, celebrate his progress, and give him a secure place to call home.
Raon is affectionate, outgoing, curious, and smart. He walks right up to people he has never met, loves full-body petting, and enjoys visitors. He is happiest doing something with his people — training, exploring, or playing — and he picks up new skills quickly.
He is also sensitive to the moods around him. Noise and unfamiliar objects don’t faze him, but rough handling, overly intense interactions, or living around anxious or tense people and animals can overwhelm him. In a calm, stable environment, his confident, sociable side shines.
Raon gets along well with friendly dogs of all sizes, and the dogs he meets tend to like him and feel relaxed around him. At the training center he lives with resident dogs and regularly meets visiting dogs; he is warm with newcomers and usually makes friends quickly. If another dog is sensitive, he is careful and takes his time.
With small dogs he likes to bounce around playfully once they are friends, and if a small dog growls or shows it isn’t interested, he immediately backs off and gives it space.
One important note: a bad experience with another dog in the past shook his confidence for a while, and he became sociable and comfortable again in a more stable environment. He needs canine companions who let him walk away when he is uncomfortable rather than following, cornering, or bullying him, and his caregivers recommend that he meet only friendly dogs. He can live as an only dog or with a compatible dog — another dog is welcome but not required.
Raon usually shows little interest in cats. He ignored cats on walks and at the vet, too busy getting attention from people. However, when a cat wandered into the play yard and another dog ran after it, he joined the chase — he may copy the habits of dogs around him. His compatibility with a cat in a shared home is unknown.
| House trained | Yes — he goes to the bathroom outdoors only. Keep potty breaks consistent while he transitions from the training center to a home routine. |
| Alone time | At the training center he sleeps in his crate overnight, roughly 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., when staff are away. He may whine or bark when another dog is taken out without him, usually settling within 30 seconds to 3 minutes. Left loose and unsupervised he will play all day and find his own entertainment, so his caregivers recommend his crate when no one is home. |
| Barking | Generally quiet. He mainly barks or whines when another dog leaves for an outing without him. |
| Destructive behavior | He doesn’t chew furniture, but he loves fabric toys and small fabric clothing and can tear them up and swallow pieces — even large ones. Keep clothing and soft toys out of reach; his caregivers give him rubber toys and supervise his play. He has also chewed through a leash left on him in the car. |
| Car rides | He needs to be lifted into the car and jumps out on cue. He rides quietly in the back seat, even on long trips, but after losing his balance during two sudden stops he started drooling from anxiety; giving him a chew to work on in the back seat has helped. He may vomit water if a ride starts right after he drinks, and he will chew a leash he can reach, so use safe restraint and supervise him. |
| Favorite activities | Anything he can do with his people: reward-based agility, learning new tricks, running together, trips to new places, and treat-dispensing toys and scent games. He loves every kind of play and can keep himself busy all day with a toy. |
| Crate training | Very well crate trained. He goes in on his own when the door is opened, or right away when you point and say “house.” He sleeps and rests in his crate. |
| Grooming & handling | He tries to escape the water spray at first, but relaxes and starts to enjoy his bath when he is washed slowly with gentle, massage-like strokes. Toothbrushing has not been tried yet. |
| Food & chews | No guarding toward people — he is fine with someone taking a treat from his mouth or walking by while he chews. He shares water and lets dogs pass during regular meals. With a large, long-lasting chew, he may growl quietly and move away if another dog keeps approaching and staring, so give high-value chews separately. |
| A typical day | At the training center: wake-up and potty time at 8 a.m., class time from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (a crate nap or self-control practice), free time with other dogs from 3 to 5 p.m., dinner at 5 p.m., potty and free time from 7 to 8 p.m., and bedtime at 8 p.m. |
Raon has seemingly endless stamina. He gets three outings a day — about 30 minutes in the morning, 1 to 2 hours in the afternoon, and an hour in the evening — and he can play in the yard all day without tiring. Even after two hours somewhere as stimulating as a busy shopping mall, he was still wide awake in the car and ready to play when he got back. Because he would rather keep playing than settle on his own, scheduled naps and quiet time are essential.
He loves walks and generally walks well. He may pull toward an interesting smell, but a gentle correction is enough. When he sees something new he likes to stop and look; let him observe, and he will come back to you excited — reward him with petting or a treat, and he will happily carry on. He has kept walking calmly past dogs that barked or growled at him.
His recall is excellent: he comes right away when called, even in the middle of play. If it ever slips, his caregiver suggests making recall part of mealtime — call him, then feed him. Keep practicing in securely enclosed areas as he bonds with his new family.
Raon is reported very healthy, with no known allergies. He previously had frequent diarrhea; his caregiver gives him probiotics for about two days if an occasional episode happens.
After very intense play he occasionally limps slightly on his right leg, as if he twisted it, although his joint X-rays were normal. Balance his activity with rest and share this history with his veterinarian.
His parasite prevention is NexGard on the 1st of every month, year-round, including winter. He eats enthusiastically, enjoys every kind of treat, and currently eats raw duck and a fish-based kibble.
He weighs about 41.4 lbs (18.8 kg) and is slightly lean. His neck measures 35 cm (13.8 in) and his chest 61 cm (24 in).
Raon will thrive with an active family who loves to travel, hike, and take him along on adventures, and who will give him individual attention, gentle guidance, and scheduled downtime. He gets along with many kinds of dogs, so a multi-dog home can work, but even around other dogs what he wants most is one-on-one time with his people — a home where he is showered with love is ideal.
He fits in with most families, but people who are very rough or intense with him may wear him out. Above all he needs a stable, low-stress environment: repeated run-ins with an aggressive dog — a reactive neighbor dog he passes every day, for example — or living around constant tension could bring his old fears back.
“Right now he gets along with every dog, but he needs a comfortable, stable environment. Noises and objects don’t bother him, but he is strongly affected by the feelings of the people and animals around him. In a calm, loving home, he is a joy.”
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Raon is in rescue care in South Korea and will travel to the United States with a flight volunteer once he is matched with a suitable family. Every vetted applicant selected to adopt him receives a two-week trial and monitoring period with continued rescue support.
Adoption fee: $650 · Covers neuter, vaccinations, microchip, pre-departure veterinary exam & care, health certificate & transport from South Korea