My name is TORVI - LOCAL!!

Hiya! My name is TORVI and here is some info about me:

PHYSICAL INFO:

• Breed: Plott Hound / Dutch Shepherd mix (best guess, really!)


• Age: approx. 1 year


• Gender: Female


• Weight: 46 lbs 


• Height: 66 cm (paws to top of my head)


• Length: 81 cm (head to butt)


• Current Location: Vancouver, Canada

RESCUE STORY - I was found all alone in a mountainous area south of Mexico City. Life on the streets can be scary, but I was a brave pup and walked right up to a populated area to ask for help! Not much is known about my early days, but I was rescued in good shape and was a healthy pup. My kind rescuer provided food and shelter while I awaited my opportunity to come to Canada.

I flew to Vancouver on December 11th. While I hoped this would be my forever home, my high energy and need for exercise and lots of mental stimulation are not the right fit for my foster’s apartment lifestyle. My ideal home would have a yard with space for me to run and play! 

TEMPERAMENT IN MEXICO - My rescuers described me as an adaptable gal. I adjusted well to routine at the shelter, eating meals from my own bowl and didn’t show signs of resource guarding. I was a curious pup and loved to meet new people and fellow doggos! I even did well in the car!

TEMPERAMENT IN CANADA - I have only been in Canada for a short time and, understandably, have had a hard time adjusting in some aspects. The good news? I am absolutely a people lover- I get excited and am very sweet when meeting new people. 

My foster mom says it is hard to get me to rest peacefully and achieving structured downtime can be challenging as I’m pretty consistently on high alert. Other dogs barking and sounds within my apartment building get me all amped up and make it hard for me to fully settle and tire out. I trigger stack quite easily and get overwhelmed and overstimulated.

I have been struggling with frustration-based reactivity towards other dogs while on leash since arriving in Vancouver. As such, my walks have been most successful in low distraction areas (video here). As you can see from my video here, I am on high alert and have a hard time focusing on my handler when there are any distractions around (dogs, squirrels, fast-moving things etc.). I am a strong girl who needs a strong and confident handler. I have a lot of love to give but need help learning the time and place to give it! I need an adopter who can confidently work with me and show me the ropes. With dedicated training and lots of love, I know I will improve!

In my first month in Vancouver, I greatly improved with house training and crate training. We’re focusing on a schedule in effort to maintain balance, and I have been sleeping through the night with the crate door open. As in Mexico, I’ve been enjoying short car rides and jump into the car/crate willingly. 

I am learning to play with toys and even learning to fetch! Here's a video of me being silly! While I’m having a hard time with distractions, my foster says I’m unbothered by loud noises and can be quite adaptable. I can be handled, picked up gently, paws cleaned and gently brushed - all happily! I have a healthy appetite and have not shown any resource guarding tendencies - yay!

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR:

• An experienced adopter who can confidently handle a strong-willed, high-drive shepherd/hound mix and is willing to put in continued training efforts to help me become the best behaved pup I can be.


• Continued balanced training. (NOTE: Torvi is currently working with a trainer already)


• A detached home with a yard (no apartment living for me, please!)

ENERGY LEVEL - High - I’m still a young dog with definite puppy energy! As you can see in my videos, I made lots of friends at the shelter and we loved to play. However, I’ve been more reactive towards other dogs in structured environments, like walks, here in Canada. Check out this video of me walking with my trainer and her dog. I would thrive in a house with a yard where I can expend my energy — I’m a smart girl who needs a good amount of physical and mental exercise! I’m looking for an experienced owner who is patient and loving to help me reach my full potential!

GETS ALONG WITH:

• Kids – Yes, see video of me walking with a kiddo in Mexico. Because of my puppy energy and love for play, I would be a good fit for a home with older children. 
  
  
  
  
  • NOTE: As with all dogs, if I go to a home with children, I would need diligent management and supervision.
  
  
  
  


• Dogs –  I got along well with dogs of my size at the shelter, here’s a video of us playing. I've had a harder time adjusting to new dogs encountered while walking, here in Canada. I do enjoy playing with other rambunctious dogs who match my energy. Such a playmate can be hard to find, as I go a little too fast and hard for a lot of dogs' comfort level. I have successfully played with my trainers big doggo, but proper introductions are necessary.


• Cats – No. I have a high prey drive, so cat-free home is essential for me. 

PREY DRIVE - HIGH. Squirrels, rabbits, and cats get me very excited and can trigger my reactivity.

TRAINING:

• Leash skills – Work in progress. I’m doing well on a leash in areas with little distractions (see video and video), however I become excitable and start to pull when there are other dogs near. I will need help with pulling and distractions, and an adopter who is happy to work with me on mastering my leash manners.


• House trained – Yup! My foster reports that I have never had an accident indoors! I know when to go out and do my business on a leash. Frequent potty breaks and positive reinforcement will help with consistency in my new home.


• Crate trained - Work in progress. I will happily sleep and nap in my crate with the door open, but am a little too anxious to close the door (at home) just yet. 


• Verbal commands - Work in progress. I’m a smarty pants, but sometimes I’m a selective listener! I’m picking up on wait, sit, yes, place, break, and crate commands with my foster, but will definitely need help with tuning out distractions before I can be fully focused on verbal instructions.

HEALTH NOTES:

• I am spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped. I came to Canada with proof of all my vaccines and test records.


• I was tested for Heartworm, Distemper, Parvo, and Brucellosis before flying North. All tests came back negative - yay!

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 $840.00 CAD including tax (5% GST, 7% PST), which includes my airfare, if a flight volunteer is found directly to Vancouver.

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DISCLAIMER:

Please visit wcpdogrescue.com to read about West Coast Paws Dog Rescue and its 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.