About Basil

[Read About Natural Seizure Care] Basil has been part of our family for ten wonderful years, and she's one of those dogs who truly feels like a soul companion. We brought her home from a Cockapoo breeder in New Jersey when she was just a tiny puppy. We had been looking for an emotional support dog - someone gentle, intuitive, and loving - and Basil became exactly that from the moment she entered our lives. She has always been our shadow, following us from room to room, quietly curling up nearby no matter what we're doing. She's not a lap dog, but she loves to press her body against you and receive pets- the kind of closeness that says, 'I'm here, you're safe, we're together.' She's happiest when she's near her people. Over the years, she's been endlessly affectionate, calm, and loyal. When you come home, she wiggles her entire body from head to tail in excitement, greeting you with a kiss from her famously long tongue. She absolutely lights up at words of affirmation - tell her she's a 'good girl,' and she'll beam with joy. Basil is a snuggly, low-key dog most of the time. She spends a lot of her day lounging in a sunny spot or curled up on a soft bed, content to just be near you. But she still has her bursts of playfulness - running after a tennis ball or chasing sticks at the lake like a puppy again. She's not always committed to bringing the ball back, but she loves the chase and the game of it. Basil is incredibly in tune with people's emotions. She's the kind of dog who will quietly come sit by your side if you're sad or anxious, resting her chin on your leg as if to say, 'I've got you.' She's been an amazing emotional support companion through life's ups and downs. For years, she has been great with our nieces and nephews and with older children who understand boundaries and can give her space when she needs it. She's gentle, tolerant, and patient when kids approach calmly and respectfully. However, Basil does get anxious around younger children and toddlers, whose movements and energy can be unpredictable. She prefers a calm environment without little ones running toward her or getting in her face. We've learned that Basil simply does not do well with small children in her space. Unfortunately, when our toddler son - who is still learning boundaries - got up in her face while she had a bone, she reacted and bit him. Thankfully, he recovered quickly, but it made us realize that Basil would be far happier and safer in a home without toddlers or very young kids. She's never bit any kids before that, though she did growl in the past when she needed to tell kids to give her some space. Overall she's wonderful with older children and adults. When it comes to other dogs, Basil has lived and spent time around many family dogs over the years. She typically does well after a proper introduction and a little time to acclimate. She appreciates having her own space at first and does best meeting new dogs under supervision. With dogs who are calm and respectful, she gets along beautifully. With more dominant or overly playful dogs, she may growl a little to set a boundary, but once that's established, she settles in comfortably. Basil can be reactive toward unfamiliar dogs on leash during walks. She tends to pull or bark if a dog approaches, so we usually cross the street or give extra distance. For this reason, she's not a candidate for off-leash dog parks or group play with unfamiliar dogs, but she does well at boarding facilities when properly introduced and given her own room to sleep in. When it comes to food, Basil appreciates eating in peace. She can be protective of her food or treats if someone gets too close to her face while she's trying to eat. With those boundaries respected, she's completely calm and happy at mealtime. Basil has had professional dog training at Happy Tails in Shelby Twp. and knows commands like sit, down, place, come, and heel. She's mellow and intuitive, happy to go with the flow and adapt to whatever her people are doing. She's healthy/ active for her age, with mild, well-managed epilepsy controlled by twice-daily medication. She has about 4 seizures per year and always recovers on her own quickly. She's never needed emergency care for a seizure and remains otherwise in good health. She's starting to slow down a bit with age, but she's still playful and active - she just needs a warm spot to nap afterward. Her coat is incredibly soft and silky, and she loves being petted. She enjoys walks, naps in the sun, and sitting beside her humans. Basil would thrive in a calm, loving home - ideally with adults or families with older children. She doesn't need much - just stability, companionship, and people who understand her cues. Basil has been incredibly adaptable in apartment settings. We're heartbroken to be looking for a new home for her, but our growing family and life with a rambunctious toddler have created an environment that's too stressful for her. We want to do what's best for Basil, which means finding her a hom

Oakland County
Birmingham, Michigan