Meet Maurice!

Maurice is a 1-year-old shepherd mix weighing about 47lbs with a handsome face, a goofy personality, and a heart that's absolutely worth earning.

At first glance, Maurice might not be the dog who runs up to greet every stranger. He's the dog who quietly watches from a distance, takes his time deciding you're safe, and then becomes one of the most loyal, loving companions you'll ever meet.

His foster family has been caring for him since he was just 4 months old, and watching his personality emerge has been one of the most rewarding parts of fostering him. Beneath that shy exterior is a complete goofball.

Maurice loves rolling around on the floor with his toys, making silly faces, and keeping everyone entertained with his goofy, lovable antics. While his brother, Lefou, is the smooth, athletic one, Maurice is more of a lovable goober who sometimes seems completely unaware of just how funny he is. His foster mom frequently finds herself looking at him and saying, "Maurice, you are the biggest goober in the world."

Once Maurice trusts you, his true personality shines. He's incredibly affectionate and loves couch cuddles, surprise kiss attacks when you're least expecting them, and soaking up attention from his favorite people. He's independent enough to entertain himself or nap nearby during the workday, but he also genuinely enjoys spending time with the people he loves.

Maurice is fully house-trained, crate-trained, and sleeps soundly through the night. In fact, his crate is one of his favorite places and serves as his safe space. When his foster mom asks, "Do you want enrichment?" Maurice runs straight to his crate, knowing a special chew, puzzle, or treat is on the way. He's still working on building confidence with things like leash walking and car rides. With consistency and plenty of treats, we think he'll continue progressing and be ready for new adventures!

One of Maurice's favorite things in the world is playing with other dogs. Wrestling, tug-of-war, chase games, sneak attacks, and backyard zoomies are all high on his list of favorite activities. Because of how much confidence he gains from canine companionship, Maurice must have another friendly, confident, playful dog in his forever home. He truly thrives when he has a canine role model and playmate by his side.

Maurice can be nervous around new people and will need a family that understands trust takes time. When meeting strangers, his response is never aggression. Instead, he retreats, observes, and waits until he feels safe. The quickest way to win Maurice over is to simply let him go at his own pace. No pressure, no expectations, no forced interactions. Given patience, consistency, kindness, and plenty of treats, he slowly begins to come out of his shell and show his wonderful personality.

Because of his sensitive nature, Maurice would do best in a relatively calm home with a predictable routine. He is not looking for a busy social life. He's looking for a family that will appreciate him for exactly who he is and celebrate every milestone along the way.

Maurice is a smart, food-motivated boy who already knows basic commands and enjoys enrichment activities like puzzle toys, snuffle mats, bully sticks, and long-lasting chews. He loves having a job for his brain as much as he enjoys exercising his body.

The family lucky enough to adopt Maurice won't just be getting a dog. They'll be getting the biggest goober in the world, a built-in best friend for their dog, and a loyal companion with a huge heart and so much love to give. And that's a pretty special thing.

Maurice is currently being fostered in CT and is available for adoption throughout Northeastern states.

*All breed listings are educated guesses and not guaranteed*