Hi, I’m Goombay. I am 4 months old. I am a very unique 4-month-old puppy because I was rescued from Abaco in the  Bahamas. I am a Bohemian Potcake. I am a little bit shy at first but I warm up quickly. I am very sweet, I love to give kisses and snuggle. I am extremely gentle. I think I am a lap dog because every time my foster mom sits down I hop into her lap. I am a very calm puppy. Even though I am pretty relaxed, I also love to play. I like to play with the squeaky toys so much that I even try to press the squeaker myself with my paw. I am a fast learner as well. I am learning how to go potty outside and I am doing amazing at it. I know how to walk on the leash so well too. I love to go on walks outside so much that every time I see my foster mom pull out the leash or hear her say “you want to go outside” I start to wag my tail super fast. If I need to go potty really bad and I wont make it outside in time I am also learning to go on a pee pee pad. I am doing extremely well with potty training. I definitely prefer to go outside because I get to met and see new people and dogs. My foster mom is also trying to teach me some commands such as, sit, stay, and come here. I have mastered the come here already and with more practice I will master sit and stay in no time. I am definitely a “people pleaser” dog. I get along great with people and dogs.  I am very friendly around other dogs but I prefer to be around calm dogs. I love people very much; I don’t have a mean bone in my body. Every time someone comes up to me I wag my tail so fast I sometimes don’t even recognize it is mine. Once someone meets me they fall in love with me, I just can’t help it. I have a special personality. I have so much love to give and I want to share that love with you. So please make your home my new forever home.

WHAT IS A POTCAKE?

Glad you asked!

"Potcake" is the Bahamian term for the thick, leftover food that remains in the bottom of a pot of peas 'n rice after several reheatings. Traditionally, Bahamians fed potcake to the outdoor, indigenous dogs that freely populated the Bahamas. Hence the dogs have come to be known as Potcakes.

Although officially considered mixed breed dogs, the Royal Bahamian Potcake is now a recognized breed in The Bahamas. They have distinct characteristics of size and temperament. This is because, until very recently, all island dogs shared the same isolated gene pool. This makes the Potcake an extremely unique species of canine.

Depending on what genes are available on any Bahamian island, Potcakes strongly resemble each other. Some islands’ Potcakes look more like the typical "pariah dog" found in locales such as India and North Africa. Elsewhere, their lines hint at hound, mastiff, spaniel, terrier or retriever ancestors.

Some believe the original Potcakes came to the Bahamas with the Arawak Indians from Central or South America. If so, Potcakes are as close to nature's perfect genotype dog as possible. More recently, in the days of Tall Ships, The Bahamas played a major role in maritime commerce. Early terrier breeds, carried aboard ship to keep provisions safe from rats and mice, probably ended up as shore dogs in places such as Eleuthera, New Providence and Abaco. Add to this genetic soup the distinctive (and still existent) Carolina dog, who came -- primarily to Abaco -- with Loyalist Tories who settled during the Revolutionary War, and you have the basic ingredients of a modern-day Potcake.

As a general rule of thumb, Potcakes have smooth, short fur with little or no undercoat, cocked ears, a hound-like rib cage and long terrier-shaped faces. More rare are shaggy or rough coat Potcakes but they do occur naturally. While the "typical" Potcake is brown, colors range from parti to black, white, cream, yellow and red. Adults stand about 24 inches high at the shoulder. Normal adult weight in the bush is about 35 pounds. Healthy, homed Potcakes can weigh anywhere from 45-55 pounds, depending on bone structure.

Potcakes are very smart and best suited to people who not only understand but also conscientiously practice positive reinforcement training techniques. House training can begin as young as 8 weeks old; paper training and the desire not to soil their nest seems almost instinctual in Potcakes. Caloric intake should be monitored; not only is obesity generally considered unhealthy, it also places undue strain on a Potcake's natural skeletal structure. Socialization – with other companion animals as well as a wide variety of people and situations – should be initiated immediately and continued at least until the dog has reached maturity at about 10 to 12 months.

Potcakes are an excellent choice for someone who wants to share their life with an extremely intelligent, quick witted and bonded companion. They are beautifully graceful runners, intuitively empathetic, and the right match for someone desiring a long-term, interactive relationship with another intelligent species.