My name is Norah!

This plus sized gal is Norah, a 3 year old German Shepherd/Collie cross weighing in at (gasp) 74lbs! Although Norah has been working very hard to shed some pounds, she will need to continue to be on a weight loss regime in order to get down to her ideal weight which will be about 60lbs. We don’t know why life brought Norah to a county pound but can assure you it is not due to any fault in her character: Norah has a wonderfully loving personality and “zest” for life that has won over everyone she has met since joining her foster family. Norah deserves to be in a home where her people will teach her boundaries, love her unconditionally, and stay with her until the end.

Norah is an extremely smart and energetic girl that requires an active family. Norah walks well on her gentle leader and will make an excellent walking partner to anyone who enjoys being outdoors. She gets excited when she sees other dogs but only requires a quick correction to calm down. Norah’s weight is an effective tool when walking as she tires easily which is ideal for continued leash training. Norah is currently walked in the morning and evening and it would be great if Norah had a fenced back yard so she has a place to run around and burn some energy. We have also recently tried biking with Norah and she did very well and this is an activity that hopefully her new family will continue in order to help her slim down and get to a healthier weight.

Norah is left in her crate throughout the day (with a half an hour break at noon) and sleeps in it throughout the night. Although she is getting used to her crate she still shows signs of anxiety when it is time to go in. As long as she is left in a calm state and has her Kong and Antler to chew on she does fine. She has also been left out of her crate (confined to just the kitchen) for up to three hours and has slept out of her crate with no issue. Norah has been known to counter surf so ensuring food is tucked away would be beneficial if intending on leaving her out.

Norah is generally very quiet while in the house and rarely barks. Norah does not react to the doorbell/knocks at the door and does not jump up when meeting new people. She is fully house trained and has had only one accident in the basement but we think it was because she got confused with the litter boxes. She follows her foster parents from room to room and is almost always underfoot but will settle with the other dogs if told to go lie down. She is not destructive and doesn’t generally chew on the blankets that are left with her in her crate, especially if she has had a good walk in the morning before we leave for work.

Norah would do well with or without animal companions in the home. She is currently living with two dogs and three cats and has fallen in line with the pack. She eats and sleeps with the dogs and has never once shown any sign of aggression or dominance with them. Norah has recently shown interest in playing with one of her foster brothers but needs to be corrected when she gets too excited. Norah doesn’t seem to have any experience with other dogs but with continued socialization would be a great play mate and companion. One thing to note is that Norah is very vocal when playing with other dogs. Although it may seem like she is being aggressive, the growling/grunting noises that she makes is just her way of expressing herself. Although Norah is interested in the cats and would never hurt them, she does need frequent reminders that chasing cats is not a way to win their hearts! Norah would be ok in a home with a calm cat used to dogs that won’t run from her or freak out when she is around as these behaviours will entice her to want to chase a cat. Norah has been making quick progress and it has become common to see a cat rubbing up against her face.

Norah is currently being fostered in a home without children but has shown positive interest in them (tail wagging) when walking by schools in the neighbourhood and seeing them on the street. She is a strong girl and sometimes uses her weight to her advantage so it may be wise to have the adults in the home walk her until she has bonded with the family and knows the expected rules.

Norah is a smart girl who catches on extremely quickly to learning new tricks/tasks. She is food motivated (obviously) and it is a great way to get her attention to correct behaviour or to teach something new. She knows basic commands (sit, shake a paw, law down, stay/wait) and has mastered giving space at the door while waiting to go out until instructed. She plays fetch and isn’t above retrieving items such as cardboard boxes or anything else you can find around the house. She is very good at playing “find foster dad” and has even tried to join him in the shower after finding him there! She almost always grunts and groans like a pig and farts as she walks up the stairs. She is not a girly girl that is for sure!! She roots through open cupboards and picks things out of grocery bags left on the floor. She is a bit of a ‘bull in a china shop’ and makes us laugh every day.

Although Norah has countless positive attributes, she still has a few quirks that require continued training and correction. Norah is very uncomfortable in the car and panics with unexpected moves (turns, stops, etc). This anxiety has decreased since we started crating Norah in the car but short frequent trips will be required in order to overcome her insecurity with vehicles. She gets nervous when walked down very busy roads or brought to high traffic areas (pet stores, parking lots) and it is clear she is not used to the hustle and bustle of city life. Her anxiety continues to decrease after each experience but continuing on with this exposure is essential to help Norah learn to remain calm regardless of her surroundings.

Since in Pound Dog’s care Norah has had a few minor concerns that we have dealt with and she is doing quite well now. Along with the usual spay, Norah had a couple unknown lumps (one on her chest, the other in her groin) removed and biopsied. The lump on her chest ended up being fatty tissue and was able to be removed completely. The larger mammary lump was also benign but was not removed. This lump may continue to grow or she may develop other similar lumps over time but the risk of these being malignant is extremely low, dogs just sometimes get fatty lumps and that’s what these are. Norah has some food related allergies that require a specific diet to control (but don’t let all this scare you off—it’s manageable)! The food she is on is available through a veterinarian and is a hypoallergenic, skin diet.

Overall, Norah is a kind hearted, sweet soul that will be a loyal and loving companion. She loves to be hugged and kissed, have her ears rubbed, and start trouble with the cats. She will definitely be missed by her foster family. If you are looking for a loving, affectionate and happy family dog then Norah may just be the girl for you!



All Pound Dog Rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, heartworm tested, de-wormed (if required), and microchipped prior to adoption. The adoption donation of $400 is applied to assist in the costs of veterinary care and the overall care of the dog. For more information and adoption applications please consult our website at www.pounddog.ca.