My name is Oscar!

Oscar is a darling one year old Schnoodle . This mix of Poodle and Miniature Schnauzer is usually very hairy but Oscar was shaved as his whole body was one big matted mess when he was found as an abandoned stray. His hair is growing in but he is just so cute shaved. He is non-shedding and has black, grey and white colouring. He has an off center black strip running from his nose to his eye and the most adorable dark brown eyes. When you see this guy you will melt! He is 10 pounds of absolute adorable-ness!

Oscar came from a puppy mill and was used as one of their breeding dogs. Because of this Oscar has been robbed of a normal, loving upbringing. Because of his past experiences things that may seem to come normal to other dogs isn't so normal for Oscar. Oscar never experienced love, a warm bed, toys, treats or fun. That is until he found rescue and was placed in his foster home. He is loving all the attention he gets and “luxuries” like a dog bed and warm blankets and regular meals.

Oscar may be a tiny little dog but he is a very strong willed dog and never gives up. His strength is an example to everyone to never give up and things will get better. He is hesitant when meeting new people but once he smells them and is around them for a while he lets his guard down.
He needs someone with a lot of patience and love to show him how amazing life can be. He is learning that humans can be loving, patient and kind. He is like a puppy as many new sights, sounds and experiences are new to him. He is very curious and enjoys going for walks in new areas and car rides to different places. As much as all these new things are scary for him, it doesn’t stop him from wanting to experience them. He is game for pretty much anything as long as his beloved person is with him.

Oscar is still very shy with people so he needs a patient and loving person or family that will understand that you need to gain his trust. He needs a home with no children as he wouldn't like the surprise of a young child trying to play with him. He would also like a quiet home where he can relax and spend quiet times cuddled up on the couch with his person.

Oscar lives with a cat right now and likes to watch him climb on things around the house. He would do well with a cat or medium to small dog as well. As Oscar missed one year of his life learning and experiencing things it would be great for him to live with another dog as he can watch and learn how to be a "normal dog". He gets along great with dogs and his curious nature has him following his foster cousin around the house. If he were to be the only dog it would be nice if he could have a few nice natured dog friends to socialize with on a regular basis.

His forever home will need to understand that Oscar is a shy little guy and it will take some time for him to bond with his forever companions. Once you have Oscar's trust he will be your best friend forever. He will be a dog who will accompany you to anywhere you'd like to go; cuddle in bed with; go for walks with; hang out on the couch watching TV with. Eventually he will need to go to training but first it is important he becomes comfortable in his forever home. Oscar does best with routines as he knows what to expect next. The unknown can be scary for anyone who lived the way Oscar did for a year of his life. He would do best in a home with someone (or a couple) that is home a lot so he can be with his people.

Oscar is crated when he is home alone and he enjoys his crate a lot. He has some blankets to sleep on particularly a blue one he was given as a present. He loves his bed and takes it with him when he visits other homes. He likes to sit on it to watch what's happening and then when he's comfortable he goes to investigate. He sleeps on it at night time with his blue blanket.

He does not yet understand toys and playing but his head tilts on an angle when he hears and or see's something interesting. With time he will learn that there are toys you can play with, chew and fetch.
He just loves being petted, especially around the ears and head. He will lean in to your hand with you petting him and look up the moment you stop. He does not yet like kisses as he is very uncomfortable having someone's face close to his body, especially his face. He was obviously never shown affection in this manner before and it scares him.

Oscar loves going on adventures especially car rides! He loves watching people and scenery and will look outside or lay down nicely during longer rides.

One thing Oscar wants you to know is that he doesn't want you to feel sorry for him. Rather, he'd love for someone with patience and love to help him get out of his shell. Being a puppy mill survivor doesn't define who he is, it is something that happened to him in his past that he will never experience again.
He came to his foster home extremely uneasy and scared of humans, being picked up, and loud sounds. In a few short weeks he has trusted his foster Mom to pick him up and even go to her to be cuddled on her lap. He now is able to let his guard down and not assume something bad is going to happen.

He loves laying beside his foster Mom on the couch and will take any blankets in the area softly in his mouth to move and shape in a desired way. It is so cute to watch when he does this. Oscar has overcome many horrible experiences and continues to be a curious strong soul. His forever home will help him to continue his fun adventures and cuddle time.

Sadly, a short time after Oscar came into our care, he had a fall that resulted in a broken leg. He was just so poorly nourished and fragile at the time that his bone broke easily. He is on a top quality food now and is getting stronger and healthier every day. He had to have his leg surgically repaired so it would heal properly. He’s had the surgery and is on the road to recovery. Anyone interested in adopting Oscar will need to follow his recovery plan which includes a few more weeks of rest and no walks and being crated whenever he is not being supervised. He will also need to return to the vet that did the surgery after Christmas for a recheck. Once he gets the all clear from the vet he can resume his strolls around the neighbourhood. He isn’t bothered by his leg, even when he had to wear the cast. He is a trooper! Oscar will rebound from this slight set back and won’t let it hold him back. Since his surgery Oscar continues to be such a fighter. He is healing well and has gotten back into his normal routine of cuddles and pets. He is eating well and putting on weight and looking a lot healthier.

Oscar cannot wait to experience the many other sights, sounds and above all unconditional love and patience of his forever home. If you are looking for a small, non- shedding dog and are home a lot and wouldn’t mind a tiny companion to be your best friend then maybe he is the perfect dog for you. He needs someone who will be strict with the rest and inactivity he needs for the next few weeks so that he heals properly. He can go out for bathroom breaks but walks are out of the question until that leg has healed. Thankfully he is tiny and he doesn’t mind being carried around. Oscar is looking for his forever home, all he wants is to be loved and cared for. That’s not too much to ask for a tiny puppy mill survivor.

If you think Oscar just may be the dog for you, please check out our website www.pounddog.ca and fill out an application.