My name is Bud!

This handsome lad is Bud and he is a big German Shepherd/Lab mix who is super friendly and very loveable. He has the deep black colouring of the Lab along with the gregarious, happy personality, but he has the size and body shape of a German Shepherd. Bud is 2 yrs old and is almost 85lbs!! He is a tall dog and very athletically built. Bud attracts a LOT of attention wherever he goes and he glorifies in that. Bud has yet to meet a person who he doesn’t adore and he has learned to sit nicely in front of people to greet which is a blessing because 85lbs of love and happiness is a lot of dog!

Bud came to us from a rural pound where he was an unclaimed stray. He was in an unkept state and reeked of barn. The water ran black when he was bathed. His fur was so dry and dull that it had a brown tinge to it from poor nutrition. This is now transforming to a glossy and soft coat now that Bud is on a top quality diet and gets brushed regularly. Bud loves to be brushed! It is a newfound glory for him. It became immediately apparent that Bud had never been in a house before as everything was new to him , floors, stairs, TV, dog beds… Bud has come a long way since we first rescued him and he now loves being a house dog and the extra attention and niceties that come with that.

Bud is housetrained and crate trained now. We still let him out regularly and are sure to crate him when we leave the house to ensure he doesn’t mess or get into mischief. He knows some basic commands like “sit” and “shake a paw” and we are continuing to work with him to teach him more commands. He is a very smart dog and his capacity to learn is endless. He is also a real pleaser and he tries very hard to make you happy which helps with training as well. Bud is food motivated so positive reinforcement training using food treats to start learning a command works well with him. Bud is good on leash but due to his size, he is very powerful so we walk him on a Gentle Leader head halter to gain control of him in a gentle manner. He does well with this and he loves his daily walks. Bud is an active dog and needs walks and running play daily. He would be a good running partner for someone as well but if there isn’t a runner in the family then he will need to be played with and taken for long walks every day. A fenced in yard of a decent size is a must for Bud as he needs to run around and being a big boy, he needs space to move. Bud has the herding instinct to chase anything that moves so he needs to be leashed when not in a fenced yard to keep him out of harm’s way as he will be tempted to chase bunnies, cyclists, cars etc. He is not suitable as an apartment dog or small condo dog. He needs space indoors and out to move around and be happy.

Bud will be your constant and loyal companion. He loves to be with his people. Bud is happiest when he is by your side “helping” in whatever you are doing. Mowing the lawn with the riding lawn mower became a 2 person job as Bud followed along the entire time, back and forth, over and over, until the whole yard was done. You can expect a constant yard companion and when in the house, he will be lying by your feet while you relax. That is of course if you aren’t petting him, because pets and affection are his number one love. Bud will greet all of your guests very enthusiastically so hopefully your guests are dog people! Bud doesn’t believe in strangers, everyone is just a friend he hasn’t met yet. He is often seen with a smile on his face and a waggy tail which takes away the intimidation factor of his size and colouring and piercing gold eyes.

Bud is getting used to car rides. He is nervous in the car and drools some but he is getting better the more we take him. He will need continued exposure to car rides to get comfortable with them. Bud needs a family willing to take him to obedience school to bring out the best in this lovely dog. He will love the social aspect of it and the car rides to and from this fun place will be good practice for him.

Bud is living in a foster home with cats and dogs. He is good with the cats and mostly ignores them. Our cats are quite used to dogs though and they don’t panic or run from dogs so they don’t incite his desire to chase. He would do well in a home with a calm and dog-savvy cat. Bud is great with the foster dogs in his home and he is quite dog social. He would love to have another dog in his forever home to be buddies with, although this is not a necessity. Should he not have another dog though he would need to have good natured dog buddies and regular play dates to keep up his dog socialization. Bud is not being fostered in a home with kids, but with his good nature we feel he would be fine in a home with kids over 8 years of age, as he is just too big and too much a “bull in a china shop” when he’s excited and he would bowl over small children.

Bud wants nothing more than a family that will be as committed and as loyal to him as he will be to them. He needs a family that will ensure that he is never left to roam stray again, and is loved and cared for until the end of his days. Anyone considering Bud needs to have the space to accommodate a big, joyful boy, and also needs to understand that the big dogs come with bigger expenses. Medicines are based on weight and the big guys need more meds. Also, Bud needs to be kept on a top quality diet, so this will be an expense that needs to be taken into consideration. Thankfully Bud has more of the German Shepherd appetite than the Lab and he’s not a voracious eater. He will not eat you out of house and home. Bud has been a joy for us to foster and we will be sad to see him go, but we know he is going to be so happy to be in his forever home. Bud is a true love of a dog, and he will be your best friend and companion. He is a real gem and we can‘t believe that someone didn’t come looking for him. We know he’s going to be a great dog for a lucky person or family, maybe this is 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.