Ivan is cleared for adoption.
Ivan, whose name means “God is gracious,” is one of the recent Cherokee Release dogs. He’s a quiet, tender-hearted cocker spaniel who’s slowly discovering that people can be safe. He wants connection. He just needs someone willing to move at his pace.
UPDATE 05/26/2026: House training is progressing beautifully. We’ve had no accidents indoors, and he’s beginning to show early signs when he needs to go outside. He is crate trained, though not yet comfortable being left alone for long periods. Ivan is calm and quiet in or out of the crate the entire night. He prefers sleeping in the same room as his foster.
Grooming and baths make Ivan a bit anxious, though he handles them relatively calmly and continues building ease with patient care. Leash training with Ivan is less about obedience and more about building trust. A soft voice, encouragement, and emotional reassurance mean far more to him than treats.
He's very shy with new people and unfamiliar environments, and startles easily with sudden movements and unexpected noises, but his comfort level is growing. Indoors Ivan often needs encouragement transitioning between rooms but clearly finds comfort in being near his people. His naturally affectionate nature is blossoming.
Outdoors is where Ivan’s sweet and playful personality has truly started to shine. He loves playing with balls and chewing bones. He seems incredibly smart and is catching on to the game of fetch, modified a bit for now. When other dogs happen to pass by, he seems interested but cautious. Because Ivan is still learning trust and recall, he does best in a securely fenced area.
Ivan would thrive in a quiet home with calm, compassionate people who understand that trust takes time. Watching him slowly but surely learning trust again truly feels like a small grace unfolding.
