My name is Norm!

All Pound Dog Rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, heartworm tested, de-wormed (if required), and micro-chipped 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.

We at PDR firmly believe in the importance of obedience training, regardless of breed or size of dog, and have a clause in our adoption contract requiring adopters to attend and complete a basic obedience course at a facility of their choosing. Only in certain circumstances will we waive this clause, so please be prepared to attend dog school should you wish to apply for a dog through our program.

For more information and adoption applications please consult our website at www.pounddog.ca.


This giant galute is Norm, a 1-year-old Bull Mastiff/Boxer X that is looking to find his very own family. We don’t know why life brought Norm to a county pound but can assure you it is not due to any fault in his character: Norm is an absolute sweetheart and loves everyone that he meets. Weighing in at 70lbs (and still growing), Norm is a gangly, excitable puppy who is absolutely hilarious! He falls down the last three stairs on a regular basis and snores loud enough to wake you from a deep sleep. He steals lip chap and pens from purses like a pro and nothing brings him greater joy then tearing off in the backyard with something he stole out of the recycling bin. He bumps into walls, knocks things off of the counter, and sneaks his toys and bones on the couch every chance he gets. He is fun loving and adventurous and wants nothing more than to make you happy.

Norm is a fairly energetic dog that will require an active lifestyle. Although Mastiffs are typically lower energy dogs, Norm has inherited the energy of a Boxer and needs a decent amount of daily exercise to keep him satisfied. He will require more than just walks on a daily basis and must go to a home with a fenced back yard where he can run around and burn excess energy. On top of going for two walks a day, Norm has recently started going for bike rides with his foster dad around the neighbourhood and absolutely loves it. He is learning to walk well on a gentle leader at our sides but still does pull when he gets too excited seeing another dog or any type of exciting event (skateboards, children running and playing) that he can’t reach. Norm doesn’t seem to have had much exposure to the outside world and doesn’t understand how to appropriately handle his excitement and urgency to greet everyone and everything. His excitement can escalate fairly quickly but with the use of treats and proper guidance he is learning to stay calm and focus on his handlers. His forever family will need to continue his exposure to many different environments so that he understands appropriate responses and what is expected of him. Norm is great in the car and is always up for anything so travelling to new, exciting places will never be an issue!

If Norm were a person, he would be known as a close talker. No matter where you are or what you are doing, he is almost always sitting on your foot, trying to get into your lap, or breathing on your face with the happiest of smiles. Bending over around Norm is almost always problematic as he swings his big butt around for a good lean, often knocking you over in the process. He bumps into everyone and everything while tearing after his ball and has been known to frequently mistake a foot for a toy mid-pounce. Norm’s “everything is awesome” attitude leaves very little room for him to be upset: he is always happy, always lovely, and appreciative of any affection or attention he receives.
Norm is crate trained and is left throughout the day with a 45-minute break at lunch. He currently sleeps out of his crate at night without issue. He adjusted to the crate schedule extremely quickly and will often beat you to it because he knows it involves a lot of tasty treats. As long as Norm has had some exercise in the morning he is fairly quiet throughout the day. He does bark and whine for the first couple minutes after you leave but settles very quickly. At lunch, Norm plays fetch in the back yard to drain some energy so that he settles for the afternoon. Norm has also been left out of his crate for shorter periods of time and has done very well. Because Norm has a very big voice and does have a tendency to bark when he hears noises or is protesting, an apartment will not be a suitable forever home for him.

Norm is fully housetrained and has never had an accident. He doesn’t yet make it obvious when he needs to go to the bathroom (aside from stinking up a room) so his foster family is very aware of letting him out on a regular basis and after every meal. Norm is fairly quiet in the home but will bark if he hears the neighbours come home or if someone comes to the door. Depending on the visitor and their actions with him, he can become very excited and jumpy when greeting new guests so both he and visitors will need continued guidance on how to appropriately say hello. In the backyard Norm will start to bark when he hears other dogs in the neighbourhood but is quick to stop when corrected. Norm isn’t mature enough to be left alone in the backyard for an extended period of time yet because his love of digging and chewing on plants has been known to get the better of him.
Although always in close proximity, Norm is very happy to entertain himself by chewing on a bone or playing with his toys. The day Norm realized tennis balls could squeak was the day he knew his life had changed for the better. He will spend hours honking on his tennis ball without a care in the world and has attempted to shove two in his mouth at the same time (without success) on multiple occasions. Although his heart belongs to tennis balls, his love does extend to any type of toy and he pretty much always has something in his mouth. Stuffed toys, squeaky toys, rubber toys, and chews: Norm isn’t picky about how he spends his time. He is extremely food and toy motivated and very quickly learned basic commands (sit, stay/wait, and lie down) and is a master at shaking a paw. His favourite treats are dehydrated liver and floor crumbs and he absolutely loves antlers and frozen Kong’s stuffed with canned pumpkin.

Norm is currently being fostered with dogs and cats but would do best without animal companions in the home. Although he loves dogs and would never intend to hurt them, he is unaware of his size and strength and has no idea how to play appropriately. He also doesn’t pick up on the very obvious cues his foster brothers give when they do not want to wrestle so continued socialization with friendly, easy going dogs will be necessary. Norm’s relationship with cats isn’t as straightforward. While he can be sweet and affectionate with them, he is very unpredictable and will charge and chase when they make sudden movements like jumping on the couch or playing with a toy. Norm is currently not in a home with children but has been excellent with the children that he has met. Although he loves the company of children and will lean against them gently for pets, he is a very large and strong boy that thinks nothing of throwing his paw on you when looking for attention and has absolutely no concept of his size or presence when darting after a ball. If Norm is to join a home with children it will be best if they are over the age of 13.

Although Norm has countless positive attributes, he still has some quirks that need continued training. As was mentioned previously, Norm is a very excitable boy and will need continued socialization as he learns appropriate behaviour. He will require continued exposure to various activities and surroundings using positive reinforcement to ensure he continues to learn to relax and trust in situations that are exciting and new. Norm is an extremely sensitive boy who shuts down with the slightest hint of frustration or raised voices so patience, understanding and positivity are a must when interacting with him. He will require an experienced family that is committed to continuing his training through (at a minimum) a basic obedience class to build the essential bond that is needed to help him flourish in his new home.

Norm is an absolute darling of a dog that draws a lot of attention everywhere he goes. While it is easy to fall in love with everything about him it is important to understand what is required when raising a happy and balanced dog. Because of his size it is easy to forget that Norm is still very puppy-like in his actions and behaviours and has a lot of learning to do. Norm came to PDR as a very large and strong pup who had absolutely no understanding of appropriate behaviour and had not received any form of training for the first year of his life. He has come such a long way since entering foster care and his eagerness to please and wonderful personality shine through in all of his actions.

Norm is well on his way to becoming an incredibly well behaved dog and requires a forever home with calm and assertive handlers that will instil boundaries and rules so that he will continue to excel. He is a ridiculously happy, kind hearted, gentle soul that will be a loyal and loving companion. If you are seeking a lifetime of laughter, slobbery kisses, and daily shenanigans, Norm is most definitely the dog for you.