Birthday: January 1st 2003 Favorite Toy: tennis balls & tug toys Arrival Story: DUKE is our five to six year old buff Cocker boy. Duke loves to play tennis ball and also loves to play tug toy - but his most favorite thing of all time is to on a long walk, he gets so happy when he sees his leash come out! Duke is sensitive in regards to strangers handling him or picking him up and he also does not like his paws handled. For this reason Duke needs to be placed in a dog experienced home with no children. We feel that Duke has the potential to make a great dog with someone who can give him the time that he needs. He is very introverted at first and really needs someone patient and not get too handsy with him until he can build up trust. Once he comes out of his shy shell with you, it is so rewarding! He is housetrained to use a doggie door and is dog friendly (he really thrives with the company of other dogs). The special kind of adopter for Duke, is going to be someone willing to just let him be - so he can come around as he is ready. It took him four months with us before we could pick him up and cuddle him (like in the picture on the right). We think that cuddling is something new to Duke and that possibly he may not have experienced very much human affection in the past. It is like he is learning a foreign language and he is only just now learning how to enjoy being touched. I've Been On Dogster Since: