Peabody, The Mixed Breed Rescue
When Amanda Karkoutly’s last dog passed away in December of 2019, it was so devastating she wasn't sure if wanted another one.
“During the pandemic, I considered it, but then there was a large brush fire that came dangerously too close to my place in July of 2020. It was a miracle that it burned around me, and my building was fine,” she says. “That night, I was looking at a rescue site and saw Peabody’s sweet face and knew that was my dog. A week later, he came home with me.”
“That night, I was looking at a rescue site and saw Peabody’s sweet face and knew that was my dog. A week later, he came home with me.”
It was his sweet eyes that got her. Amanda wasn’t planning on getting another dog but reading his story and seeing him curled up in his foster picture made her feel connected to Peabody.
Read more about Amanda and Peabody’s love for each other and growth in this exclusive interview!
Dog Whisperer HQ: Tell us about Peabody.
Amanda: I adopted Peabody through the Labelle Foundation and it's just incredible to see his shelter picture compared to who he is now. I feel lucky to be a part of his happiness now. Peabody is now around five-years-old and, originally, the rescue had guessed he was a Maltipoo mix. He has a long body and short legs, so I presumed he was mixed with corgi or dachsund. Recently our vet suggested he looked like a Dandie Dinmont terrier and it floored me. He has silky hair, though, not fur (like the pure wiry Dandie) — he is definitely unique. He loves to go on long neighborhood hikes with a big grin on his face while he trots and people regularly stop to say how cute he is. Multiple people have compared him to Falcor from “The Neverending Story.”
Peabody before, at the rescue.
Peabody after.
“I adopted Peabody through the Labelle Foundation and it’s just incredible to see his shelter picture compared to who he is now. I feel lucky to be a part of his happiness now.”
DW: How is Peabody’s life now compared to when you first adopted him?
A: The rescue found him on the streets of Bakersfield with both eyes crusted shut, his hair like a long snarled shearling rug. They were able to get him double cherry eye surgery before I adopted him. You can still see his street life defenses sometimes: he is a bit jumpy still, and very able to defend himself when a person or dog approaches too quickly. At first, he barely allowed me to touch him, and only on the body. A year later, he'll cry when he wants to be in my lap. He loves to snuggle up close on the couch, he usually always has a paw touching me and now he loves having his face scratched. It's been remarkable to see him trust and accept love.
“He loves to snuggle up close on the couch, he usually always has a paw touching me and now he loves having his face scratched. It’s been remarkable to see him trust and accept love.”
Amanda and Peabody.
DW: What does Peabody bring to your life?
A: So much laughter… he's a clown. He's also a great protector and watchdog (big barks come out of such a short body) and just such sweetness. He's nothing but joy for me.
DW: What are your typical days with Peabody like?
A: If I sleep in, he'll wake me with a tail to the face when I start to stir. He'll have breakfast and we'll go out for a walk. We usually do two miles through the Hollywood Hills in the morning and stop and visit neighborhood friends along the way. He likes to pause at the overlooks and feel the breeze. He's such a curious dog; it's endearing. He'll sleep through the morning while I work, then we do a short walk in the afternoon. After his dinner, we do another long neighborhood walk and he knows exactly where his dog friends live and likes to stop to say hi to everyone. Then at night he alternates being sleeping in a ball on the sofa and then spreading out long on the floor until bed. He starts at the foot of the bed, and then usually I wake up to his head on the pillow next to me.
DW: What are Peabody’s quirks?
A: He's funny and he's always hungry. Peabody is very vocal; aside from his bark, he's a great communicator. For example, he'll lick his lips when he wants a treat and walk in place when he wants to go out. My favorite quirk is he'll spin when I guess the thing he wants. His tail doesn't just wag — it helicopters when he's excited, but his whole body gets into it and he'll move in a circle when he's happy.
DW: What are Peabody’s favorites?
A: He loves cucumbers and yogurt. He likes to be with me wherever I am, curled up on the bathmat while I shower. He isn't a chewer, but will shred toys, so he has a teddy bear made of rope and he likes to fetch with that. He then cuddles up with it when he's tired.
DW: Do you have sweet stories with Peabody?
A: I’ve enjoyed seeing Peabody relax over this last year, accept love and not always be on the defense. He's been such a wonderful addition. He's a great explorer too. I like to watch him discover new streets and areas. Taking him to the beach for the first time was special. He just stood, smelled the air with his eyes closed and then slowly wagged his tail.
“I’ve enjoyed seeing Peabody relax over this last year, accept love and not always be on the defense. He’s been such a wonderful addition.”
