Arlington Pet of the Week: Duke

Meet Arlington’s newest Pet of the Week, Duke, a 2 year old German Shepherd who loves to play in the snow.

Here is what Duke’s owner told ARLnow about their life together in Arlington:

Duke is a 2-year-old silver German Shepherd. Even though he weighs about 105 lbs, Duke is a big baby with a very caring heart. Sometimes, because of his size and breed, he gets mistaken as mean, aggressive, or dangerous. In reality, he loves all people and fellow doggos and all he really wants is affection, attention, and a few head scratches here and there.

Duke is originally from Mississippi, where he was born into an unexpectedly large litter and was unable to be cared for by his parent’s owners. At 5 weeks old I took him in and we have been inseparable ever since! Since moving to Arlington, he has adjusted to city life pretty well, however the only things he can’t seem to get used to are the subway grates. He approaches them very cautiously and refuses to walk over them – he doesn’t trust them. On the other hand, one thing he has learned to love since moving here is snow. In his eyes, the magical white dust that falls from the sky is magnificent and turns the whole city into a playground. To him, there is no downside of snow – he loves to roll around in it, burrow his face in it,  pounce into it (as if attempting to catch the ground by surprise), and lay quietly in it to enjoy the cold.

Duke’s favorite day-to-day activities are swimming, playing fetch, and napping – and he excels at each one! He enjoys splashing around in any body of water (except in the bathtub), no matter what the temperature is outside – whether it’s 33 degrees or 98, that’s where he wants to be. He would also play fetch until he passed out, if he were allowed. His favorite places to go around Arlington are the Shirlington Dog Park, James Hunter Dog Park, and the U.S Marine Corps Memorial next to the National Cemetery.

Duke’s favorite thing about living in Arlington is having so many new friends (human and canine) to make friends with every day! If you happen to spot Duke walking around Courthouse or Clarendon, feel free to say hello and give him some pets – it would make his day.

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner of eight consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.

Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency preparedness.