Hello world! My name is Charlee (previously known as Jani) and am a LOCAL GAL (in Duncan, BC)! Here is some info about me:
PHYSICAL INFO:
- Breed: Shepherd/Lab Mix
- Age: approx. 1.5 years
- Gender: Female
- Weight: ~45 lbs (18.4 kg)
- Height: 61 cm
- Length: 82 cm
- Neck circumference: 36 cm
- Chest circumference: 63 cm
- Current Location: MEXICO CITY
RESCUE STORY – Me and my four sisters (Rizzo, Frenchy, Sandy, and Marty) were rescued from La Marquesa, a rural park area in Mexico City. We were incredibly young puppies and our mama was nowhere to be found. We certainly would not have survived long out there if we hadn't been rescued... so we were sooo grateful to have been taken in by our amazing rescuer. Me and my sisters ("the Pink Ladies") spent almost our whole lives at the shelter in Mexico. On February 14th, 2024, I got the opportunity to fly to Vancouver to meet my potential family. As much as my humans love me, they don't feel like they are the best fit for me in the long run... so I am starting my hunt for a forever home once again.
TEMPERAMENT - my current foster fam says that I am a sweet pup with a LOT of love to give. I am trying to be such a brave girl in this new world, however I have quite a few fears that I am working through (although I'm making big progress!). I am looking for really patient adopters who will help me continue to build up my confidence and become the best version of myself. Currently, I am pretty fearful of passing cars or outside sounds. Some loud noises and sudden movements at home frighten me too. I have made progress already and am slowly growing accustomed to the sounds of daily life, but this will take continued exposure and desensitization for me to truly be comfortable. When I'm not feeling frightened, I am a playful girl that loves balls (video), socks (video), and a good game of tug. I get very excited when my favourite human (my foster mom) comes home (video) and that's when I really show my puppy energy! I get very excited to see my people in the morning and often get the zoomies, hehe. I love to receive snuggles and scritches (video) from people that I feel comfy around and I will happily curl up into a ball and lay beside them during some down time. I don't like affection (or even eye contact/attention) from people I'm not comfortable with. This is something I am working on. Right now, I have shown more timidity around men, however I warm up with time. I recently met some new people in my foster home (men and women!) and although I was shy and timid at first, I got more comfortable and brave with time. Going at my pace and letting me come to you is the key to success. Guess what? I do very well during nail trims and when being dried off after a rainy walk!
FOSTER UPDATE: March 20 - I have been taking a daily dose of 45mg (AM & PM) of Benadryl and my foster parents have seen a significant improvement out on walks and even when going into the backyard. My nervous shaking has subsided quite a bit and I am showing more interest in sniffing and exploring my surroundings!
FOSTER UPDATE: April 3 - We have seen some major changes in Charlee over the last week!
- Charlee has been jumping into the car by herself which is a huge win! She really enjoys riding in the back seat. Before she was very afraid and would shake so much.
- She has been absolutely loving going to the beach! It’s the one place where we see her really come alive and enjoy herself. We can see her tail and ears up and she is so immersed in all of the smells (video)- it’s so nice to see her feeling comfy outside of our house. She also is willing to take lots of treats while we are there!
- Charlee’s ongoing place and crate training are going very well! She is aware that going to her crate/place will earn her some high value treats and she is mastering her bed/place command more and more each day!
- Charlee will come into the garage on her own while I am working out and is more curious than afraid
- Charlee interested in sniffing other doggos on our walks, and she has been soooo good at sitting and waiting for her collar/leash to be put on when we get ready to go for a walk! She has been so brave and so sweet.
ENERGY LEVEL - Medium - I have very typical young doggo energy! I play hard and I crash hard (although I may need help learning how to settle and self regulate... continued crate training will likely do wonders for me!). I am looking for a family who can provide opportunities for me to release my energy through both exercise and mental stimulation. Once I've been sufficiently tuckered out, I bet I'll be happy to cuddle up next to you and have a little cuddle.
GETS ALONG WITH:
- Kids – Unknown.
- Dogs – Kind of! You see, in Mexico, I lived with LOTS of other dogs at the shelter and we got along just great (video). However, I've been living with another doggo since I came to Canada and I am not super comfortable with him. Luckily, I am very good at displaying body language when I am feeling uncomfortable (growling, showing my teeth etc.) - so my humans need to know to step in at that point and advocate for my space. I think for now, I should probably live in a solo-doggy household.
- UPDATE: although I would still like a solo-dog household, I am doing a very good job of neutrally walking parallel with my foster bro (video)
- Cats – Unknown.
PREY DRIVE - I have shown minimal prey drive and have only displayed minor interest in rabbits and birds.
TRAINING: I respond well to tone of voice and positive reinforcement - I am very eager to please my people!
- Leash skills – I do need to work on my leash skills, but I have already improved greatly since arriving from Mexico. I am keen to learn and a very smart girl, so with dedicated training, I will surely improve! I will need a patient adopter who is happy to work on my leash training and who can teach me how to walk nice. A well-fitted collar/harness and lots of positive reinforcement will help me learn quickly :)
- Videos from Canada: here, here, and here. As you can see here, I do pull quite a bit. This is something I'll need to work on and I'll surely improve one I'm less frightened everywhere I go!
- Videos from Mexico: here and here
- House trained – I have had very few accidents inside my foster home! I do get very frequent potty breaks though, so that definitely helps set me up for success. I respond well to praise and positive reinforcement when I do my business outside.
- Obedience Commands - I have already learned how to "sit" and am mastering my “bed” command more and more each day.
- Car - I am quite afraid of going into vehicles, but once inside I settle down a bit.
- Crate Training - I do very well in my crate when left alone and have not shown any signs of separation anxiety like barking, howling, or destroying things! I will happily settle with a Kong in my crate and then nap afterwards.
Please Note: WCP Dog Rescue partners with Unleashed Dog Training (Hannah Swain, Balanced Dog Trainer) to offer adopters 50% off one training session (not including tax and applicable gas surcharges). Any subsequent sessions will be offered at standard rates. WCP also highly encourages adopters to do some research and training on their own before their dog arrives.
HEALTH NOTES:
- I am spayed and vaccinated. I tested negative for Brucellosis, Distemper, Parvo, and Heartworm before I flew to Canada. I have proof of all my vaccines.
- NOTE: It is not uncommon for rescue dogs to require dental work/cleaning after they are adopted. West Coast Paws does not cover the costs of dental work and/or vet visits. These costs are the financial responsibility of the adopter.
ADOPTION FEE:
- My adoption fee is $550.00 CAD + applicable taxes. Any travel costs associated with meeting me on Vancouver Island are to be paid for by the applicant/adopter.
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DISCLAIMER:
Please visit wcpdogrescue.com to read about West Coast Paws Dog Rescue and it's adoption process.
The info included in each WCP bio is provided to us from the international rescuer. WCP does not have in-person access to overseas dogs and cannot always verify the accuracy of their descriptions, although we ask for video proof of a dog's attributes wherever possible. Every dog is an individual and can act differently in different situations based on the person(s) adopting them and the environment in which they live.
WCP is unable to guarantee the accuracy of a dogs age and/or breed. These are strictly "best guesses" based on veterinary exams and their educated estimates.
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