Puppies and dogs in Brantford, Ontario

**IF THIS LISTING IS STILL POSTED THIS DOG IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. NO NEED TO EMAIL ASKING IF THE DOG IS AVAILABLE. PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS BIO THOROUGHLY AS INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY IS CONTAINED IN THIS LISTING** For Adoption: Pesci! Please read our dog bios carefully to be sure that the dog you are applying for suits your family and lifestyle. We at PDR believe in the benefits of post-adoption training for our dogs and their families. This allows for continued socialization, learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. Post-adoption training is a requirement in our adoption process. To apply for adoption and for more information on our process and requirements, visit our website at https://pounddog.ca/adoption-info/. Hey World, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Pesci, named after ‘Joe Pesci’ for my small size but mighty personality and sometimes loud mouth and opinions. I am a long haired Chihuahua, I’m going on 10.5 years old, I weigh around 8lbs and I am gorgeous if I do say so myself. Let’s get the ugly stuff out of the way. I was turned into a pound with limited options and I was on the chopping block. I was apparently growling at people now ok my old home and was peeing all over the house. I hadn’t seen a vet since I was a puppy and as it turned out I was a senior dog with a lot of medical issues, no friends or family that cared and let me tell you, i was hurting. See, my jaw was broken in half, I had a raging bladder infection, big stones in my bladder, one of which got stuck in my urethra, and my mouth was rotting out. In fact I had a hole rotted into my sinus cavity and my teeth literally fell out…one even on the way to the vet! Can you believe that? I mean, no wonder I was cranky and peeing everywhere, I needed help but no one was listening. My foster Mom and Pound Dog Rescue saw me and despite my less than stellar video performance, they wanted to give me a chance. They believed I needed it and although I will only ever publicly admit this once, man, I was desperate. They found me when I really needed it most. My medical issues are all cleared up and I am a healthy guy. My jaw healed in its broken state but it doesn’t cause me any pain, my mouth is just a bit wonky but I call it ‘character’. I have to eat special food because of the stones in my bladder I had before, we really want to keep that from happening again…it sucks! But the good news is, I love the food…so much so that I know exactly when meal time should be and I voice my grievances if it is not delivered on time. Due to the damage done to my urinary tract, I can sometimes still dribble a little (it’s not often, but it occasionally happens) and I need regular bathroom breaks. There is not a lot of time between when I need to go and when you get me outside, so “chop chop! No dilly dallying!”. I stay in my crate when I am left alone and overnight, and I don’t mind it one bit. I actually really like my crate. You’ll just need to make sure that I get plenty of trips outside before I go to hang out in it for an extended period of time. Let me fill you in on what makes me a unique kind of guy looking for just the right match. Due to my previous experiences, I did not like to be touched by hands. Like I said, they have not been good to me and I do not forget that. It took many months to trust my foster Mom but I am now at this place with her that I am actually really affectionate and often seek out physical touch. I like to groom her head, snuggle into her neck and face for cuddles, crawl up onto her chest during morning coffee time and am now ok with her petting me and even rubbing my belly. Of course this is all on my terms because I am very much like a cat; affection when I want it, not clingy, leave me alone when I am not in the mood for it. I won’t be suited to a family with kids or people who don’t understand this as I will get snappy. I give you plenty of warning, so if you push me to the point of losing my…mind…it’s not my fault. I am crystal clear about my boundaries and you have plenty of opportunity to leave me alone. I don’t have teeth so I can’t hurt you, I don’t even want to, I just don’t want you to touch me when I am not in that trusting, affectionate mood. Generally speaking, though, I can handle you putting on a leash, taking me for a walk, but don’t be stroking my gorgeous coat (it’s beautiful, am I right?) when I say ‘no thanks’. I am also super quirky and love cuddling with your feet. I know it’s weird, but feet never hurt me, feet are good. I love snuggling up to them, pulling them in close to me with a paw and showering them with kisses if you let me. You know what else I am? So smart! I come when called, I have learned to sit, lie down and sit pretty. I really do want to be loved and be part of a family, I want to be a good guy. I live with a few other small dogs and I do well and am getting better all the time. I like them, but I have awkward social skills at times. My cues are all mixed up and I can leave dogs so confused about what I really mean or want from them. I am worse than a pre-teen at a grade 8 school dance…trying, but woefully socially unskilled! I am getting better and wouldn’t mind a canine companion, but if I am going to be around other dogs they have to be so patient with a guy like me and not react to every dumb move I make…because I make a lot. I never really left my home for all my years with my other people and I don’t know how to ‘dog’; for 9 years I basically lived without other positive doggy or people friends. Thankfully my foster siblings here are really kind and gentle and they take me in stride. But, they also give me fair corrections when I cross their line and you know what? I respect that…I’m not a fighter no matter what my blustering might tell you. I have grown to love car rides, sometimes I like walks and sometimes I don’t. But you know what I do love? My backyard kingdom. I feel good there, I feel safe and I like to explore all the little hiding spots. So, this is really a must for me as it is one of my big sources of joy. My kingdom needs to be fully secure so I can’t wander out of it because if I do, let me tell you, I’m likely not coming back. This boy is an independent man and he will go where he wants to, no amount of bribing is going to get me back. When it comes to meeting people, ‘no thank you’ to people I don’t know wanting to touch me. I want my space. If I come up to sniff them, it’s because I want to and not on anyone else’s agenda. I will take food from them sometimes, sometimes I won’t. Let’s be honest here, I don’t let my walks down easily and it’s going to take time and understanding for me to feel safe and open up. Random Joe Schmoes are going to have to appreciate me from afar until I am ready. Affection from me must be earned through patience and a history of kindness from you. Maybe I will change my mind about that one day, I have already made so much progress. Please don’t think this is going to be a quick process for me to learn to trust you or anyone else, because it won’t be…but I promise, I can get there. In fact, my foster Mon said I have become such a loving guy that it surprises even her. Apparently I am supposed to tell you other good things. As you know, I can now be quite cuddly when I trust you and feel so inclined. I love to lay down on the couch near you to watch Netflix at night, I am comical and do excited little hops when I am happy. I have started playing social distancing tag with my foster Mike, I play hide and seek, I love Puppacinos and my local Starbucks thinks I am awesome and should have my own social media team. But please, don’t be someone that wants to exploit my sassy mess for internet videos because that is actually pretty stressing for me…not cool. I know I’m quirky, I try every day to do better and I take steps forward all the time. I don’t know if I can ever let all of my walls down, but I try harder every day. And please, don’t apply for me if you think you are saving me. My foster Mom is awesome and she thinks I am super endearing in the weirdest ways, and I don’t need to leave here for someone who thinks they are doing me a favour. I am only going to leave here if someone truly wants to bring me home and love me just as I am. I have had enough of humans letting me down, I need the real deal, unconditional kind of love. I need you to love me knowing I am trying really hard and I do want to be better every day. It’s not an easy road, but I wouldn’t mind a chauffeur to take me down it and show me the good life. If you think you can do that, swipe right…or email Pound Dog…whatever it is the kids do these days. Name: Pesci ID # PDR918 Age: 10.5yrs Gender: male Neutered: yes UTD vaccines: yes Breed: Long Hair Chihuahua Colours: blonde Coat length: long House trained: yes Special needs: yes- read bio OK with kids: no OK with cats: yes Ok with dogs: yes (small, mature dogs) Status: adoptable Microchip: yes Size: X Small Location: Kitchener Adoption fee: $600

**IF THIS LISTING IS STILL POSTED THIS DOG IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. NO NEED TO EMAIL ASKING IF THE DOG IS AVAILABLE. PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS BIO THOROUGHLY AS INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY IS CONTAINED IN THIS LISTING** For Adoption: Henley! Please read our dog bios carefully to be sure that the dog you are applying for suits your family and lifestyle. We at PDR believe in the benefits of post-adoption training for our dogs and their families. This allows for continued socialization, learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. Post-adoption training is a requirement in our adoption process. To apply for adoption and for more information on our process and requirements, visit our website at https://pounddog.ca/adoption-info/. Before I get into her bio details, I need to impress upon everyone that we will be looking for a very specific home for Henley. Please read her bio in detail to make sure you are interested and have a proper home for her. Henley is a beautiful 11mth old Standard Poodle currently weighing 40bs with some filling out to do still. Henley’s forever home will need a female presence and experience with timid dogs. She requires her people to have patience and the right environment for a dog that might take a lot of time to fully come out of her shell. Henley is a beautiful and sweet girl, and you may look at her picture and want adopt her, but please be honest if she is the right dog for you. If you cannot imagine owning a dog who initially flinches when touched, runs and hides from you when approached, and does not want to spend cuddle time with you, then Henley is not the right girl for you. She has made great strides in her foster home and will continue to blossom and gain confidence, but we just need to ensure that anyone interested in her has the patience and kindness to work with a timid dog . We took in Henley as part of a large rescue mission from a northern puppy mill. She was living in filthy conditions with minimal nutrition, and she was under weight. Henley had limited human interaction and what she did have must have been a negative experience. She came to us as a very shut down, terrified and somewhat broken girl. Henley is a very sensitive girl and her time being kept in a kennel with no socialization, positive human contact, exercise, or affection has really impacted her young life. Henley has been with us in foster care for just over 3 months now. She has been making some significant breakthroughs in the last couple weeks so it’s time to start the search for Henley’s forever home. Henley determined early on that females are somewhat safe and has accepted her foster mom into her space. For Henley to be comfortable in her environment she must have a female presence in her home. Males are still a bit scary, and she always has one eye on any males in the household. Henley has gradually made some progress with men in her space. She will now take treats, has offered gentle kisses and maybe a touch or two on her terms. Each has been celebrated as a small victory and definite steps forward from her beginning. It is really hard not to feel frustration when a dog you so want to help flees in fear when you walk into a room. But this is the reality of a dog who has never learned that people are kind. Henley is a dog that needs her people to be super patient, and who know that she is a dog that will be a long-term project, but she will make strides forward and let me tell you, they are SO rewarding! We can now walk Henley safely with a single martingale collar (previously it was double leash/collar). She absolutely loves the outdoors and enjoys her daily walks, twice per day. She walks in the front now with her foster dog sisters and is such a good quiet walker. She doesn’t bother with any of the other barking dogs in the area and will walk nicely by my side, especially if I have treats in my pocket. Henley loves treats, so the way to her heart is definitely through her stomach. This acceptance of food from our hands is a result from months of tossing treats to her from across the room. Patience is key! She will now come and sit in the living room with us and sometimes even hop up onto the couch. This is a result of starting out with Henley leashed to one of us in the home at all times, and then moving to dragging a house line around so we could collect her if we needed to get her outside. Now she moves about freely, inside the house and outside in the yard, no longer needing to be on leash as she will come when called. Henley’s most favourite spot to be is outside. Rain or shine this girl loves to run, play, and even nap outside in the yard. She feels completely free outdoors and turns into a goofy and playful pup. She loves to play chase and wrestle with her foster dog sisters. She is being fostered with 2 young standard poodles and is always the first to start play time and the last to stop playing. She is a very energetic and lively pup. When the dogs are finished playing, she will run around and throw her own toys and chase them down. She has just started to bring her toys to me to be thrown and will happily jump and pounce in the yard to retrieve them. We’ve had several summer BBQs at our place and Henley easily accepts new people when she is outside. On her own terms, she has walked over to each person and quietly sniffed them. She will back away if someone reaches out to touch her, but if left alone she will walk amongst your guests without issue. My advice to any of my quests was just to leave her alone and to pretend like she wasn’t there. She is truly herself in the outdoors, so Henley’s forever family will need to love the outside as much as she does and have a large, fully fenced yard for her to play in. Henley was a bit different from other mill dogs as she did not love her crate. Her safe spot was always outside, and she still only tolerates her crate for 3-4 hours at most. She doesn’t love it but will go inside as she knows she gets a treat. At night she sleeps on a dog bed next to her foster dog sisters in my bedroom. She likes to be close to her humans and pack. She is house trained and will go a full 8 hours at night without any issue. In the morning, this seems to be the one time that she lets her guard down. She will hop onto my bed with the other dogs and will allows scratches, belly rubs and maybe even a kiss or two. But after that, she is ready to move! She is so excited to start each new day. Sometimes her exuberance is a bit much before a cup of coffee 😊 She is so excited that she will bark/yip all the way to the back door. We are working on this; however, it is definitely a work in progress. She loves outside so much that she has a hard time containing her excitement. Henley is still learning how to be a dog and gains most of her knowledge and confidence from her pack. She has learned how to interact with people and other dogs and her confidence continues to grow from this. Henley needs to live with a young, energetic, and confident dog. She needs a playmate that can keep up with her energy levels and show her how to navigate through our scary world. Henley is a Standard Poodle and has a beautiful cream and red coat. She is considered hypoallergenic as she is a hair breed dog. With this comes regular brushing, bathing, ear cleaning and grooming. Henley has handled all of her baths and grooming well. I have done quick grooms on her and kept it to under an hour and she went through this process without issue. I have kept her coat short so that she does not have to go through regular full brushes. We are still getting her used to being touched so a long brushing does not work for her. Keep her coat short and tidy and you should be able to keep any matting from occurring. Henley’s ideal home will be one with direct access to a safe fenced, large yard in a quiet rural setting or very quiet neighbourhood. She can get overwhelmed by a lot of traffic noises and will not enjoy busy areas where a lot of people are around her. Henley is only crated for 3-4 hours at a time so she would need someone home more than away. Henley requires an adult only home or a home with older teenage children. Henley has been fantastic with every dog in our home and bonds quickly with her pack. She needs another dog in the home as she loves to play and follow them around the house. However, what Henley needs most is a person or people who are kind, and patient and experienced in working with fearful dogs. She has made huge strides in her foster home and is ready to move on to the next stage of her life in a loving forever home. Henley is such a sweet and kindhearted girl. She will grow to trust her forever family, she will just move at a different and slower pace than other dogs. Her people need to understand that Henley is a work in progress, and she will be a marathon, not a sprint. But when she stays and looks for you to give her a couple of chin scratches it will be an amazing moment to share with her. Is Henley the dog for you? Name: Henley ID # PDR1085 Age: 11mths Gender: female Spayed: yes UTD vaccines: yes Breed: Standard Poodle Colours: cream Coat length: med House trained: yes Special needs: no OK with kids: no OK with cats: yes Ok with dogs: yes Status: adoptable Microchip: yes Size: large Location: Drumbo Adoption fee: $700

**IF THIS LISTING IS STILL POSTED THIS DOG IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. NO NEED TO EMAIL ASKING IF THE DOG IS AVAILABLE. PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS BIO THOROUGHLY AS INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY IS CONTAINED IN THIS LISTING** For Adoption: Nelson! Please read our dog bios carefully to be sure that the dog you are applying for suits your family and lifestyle. We at PDR believe in the benefits of post-adoption training for our dogs and their families. This allows for continued socialization, learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. Post-adoption training is a requirement in our adoption process. To apply for adoption and for more information on our process and requirements, visit our website at https://pounddog.ca/adoption-info/. We are delighted to introduce you to the littlest dynamo we have ever fostered, Nelson the Chihuahua, weighing in at a whopping 8 pounds! Nelson is a sweet and spunky boy who was picked up as a stray earlier this year. We believe he is about 2 years old. Nelson is absolutely adorable, with white fur on his paws that look like boots and some very expressive ears that point straight up or straight back depending on his mood. Nelson has a lot of personality for such a little dog, whether it is his scuttling around the house, his LEAPS up onto the couch to cuddle, his enthusiasm for fetching any toy, his running back and forth to get pets, or his keen observation of whatever it is you are doing. We know he will be a fantastic companion animal for the right family. We have been able to do a lot of different things with Nelson, from visiting mini farmers markets, going for trail walks, going to the cottage, playing with other dogs, and staying in. Nelson has managed to take all of these experiences in stride and win over our friends and family. If you’re looking for a loyal, playful, and cute as heck companion, Nelson may be the right dog for you! We picked Nelson up from a rural pound. Pound Dog Rescue was asked to help with Nelson’s care because the rural pound staff noticed that his front-right leg was rotating in a funny way, causing him to have a bit of a strange walk. PDR’s vet examined Nelson’s front legs and found that there was no obvious pain or abnormalities felt on his shoulders and front limbs, he may be "double jointed" in the shoulders, but this is likely a development/congenital issue. Nelson’s forever family will need to monitor his front limbs as he ages as he will likely be at higher risk for arthritis or degenerative joint disease. In the meantime however, Nelson has a clean bill of health, with no other issues found during his vet appointment and can move around just as well as any other little dog. The vet also noted that Nelson’s front end muscles were very well developed, and his back-end muscles are quite small. Nelson’s forever family can help him ‘build up’ his back end by ensuring he goes for walks regularly, especially walking uphill. We typically walk Nelson each morning for about 30 minutes and then feed him breakfast in his crate. This keeps him more or less calm during the day while his foster mom works from home. During the day, he snoozes on his dog bed in the office, ready to be picked up and shown off on video calls, much to the delight of all involved. At lunchtime we take Nelson out for a short restroom break and either some fetch in the yard, or a nap in the sun. During the afternoon, Nelson will either keep snoozing, play with a toy we give him in his dog bed, or do some quiet exploration around the house. One cute behaviour Nelson has learned is standing on his back legs and putting his front paws on the side of his foster mom’s chair to request pets while she is working. After work, Nelson will enthusiastically greet his foster dad with barks and zoomies, then go for another walk and get his supper in his crate. In the evenings, we will play fetch with Nelson, let him play with one of his many favourite toys, or just sit on the couch cuddling before heading to bed. Other than a few instances of whining his first week here, Nelson has had no issues sleeping through the night in his crate from 9:30 pm until 7:00 the next morning before he asks to be let out to use the restroom. Nelson does not like being left alone, so would likely prefer to sleep in the same room as at least one of his humans. Nelson has a loud “alert bark” and will let you know if anyone is approaching or has entered the house. This could be guests, or even his foster dad coming home from work. We are working on limiting "alert barking" by having Nelson do an obedience command (i.e. "touch" or “sit”) as the guests are coming in, and rewarding him with a treat for calm behaviour. We believe that since Nelson is such a small dog, new people in the house can be quite big and scary for him, causing this barking. Luckily Nelson will take his cues from his people. Once he sees from our body language that the new person is not a threat but instead a welcome guest, he will calm down and visit with this new person. However, this requires patience and appropriate body language from his family and their guests, and will be an ongoing process, especially when Nelson first settles in. Because of his tendency to bark, we recommend a quieter home that doesn’t have frequent guests coming and going to help keep Nelson more relaxed. Nelson is also still getting used to being home alone. When we leave the house, we put Nelson in his crate for safety reasons. He will go into his crate willingly, but once his foster parents leave the room, he will fuss and cry quite loudly for up to an hour after he goes into his crate. Because of Nelson’s fussing when left alone, we recommend a detached home for Nelson. We also recommend a home where someone is around more often than not, although Nelson’s forever family should continue crating him every day to let him get used to being alone. We also recommend a quieter home with adults only or older kids (teens), given Nelson’s small size and tendency to alert bark when there is activity. Nelson is housebroken, having only one instance of “marking” in our house just after he arrived, and no issues since. He also came to us knowing some basic commands, including ‘sit’ ‘down’ and ‘touch’ that he is getting pretty good at, especially when there are treats involved! Nelson will need to be enrolled in basic obedience training so he can learn to do all the commands readily, but given his love of food we think he will be a quick study (and be a fan favourite in his training class, being such a cute little guy!) Nelson does not have any issues going up and down stairs in our two story home, and will regularly sprint up the stairs, or ‘hop’ down the stairs to follow his humans around. Nelson loves spending time around his people. He will be his forever family’s little shadow, always sprinting around the house to find his humans and cocking his head to keenly observe what they are up to. Nelson is a playful little guy with a lot of energy who will get bouts of “zoomies” and run back and forth across the room, looking for pets and back scritches (a personal favourite of his). He also loves to leap up on the couch to take a nap next to his humans, and will burrow into your side or even sit up on your belly for a snuggle if you are lying down on the couch. He is a pretty great cuddler! Nelson is fostered with one other dog. He and his foster sister get along pretty well and are usually happy to each do their own thing. When we first brought Nelson home there were a few instances of growling at each other, but now that Nelson and his sister have learned each others’ boundaries and habits, they get along with minimal issues. We have also learned to minimize conflict by feeding the dogs in their crates (which avoids most arguments over food) and allowing the dogs to play with toys under supervision (which avoids most arguments over toys). We believe Nelson would do well as the only dog in a home or in a multiple-dog family who are comfortable de-escalating the occasional ‘guarding’ behaviour. Nelson will calmly greet other dogs out on walks, and has played very nicely with other dogs weighing up to 50 lbs, although the very biggest dogs are sometimes scary for Nelson. Nelson loves spending time outdoors in the yard with his humans. Because our yard is mostly fenced, but with a few chihuahua sized holes in it, we always kept Nelson on a leash when we brought him outside his first few weeks with us. Now we don’t feel the need to leash Nelson, as he likes to stick close to us and has no interest in trying to escape from our yard. We do not feel that a fully fenced yard is needed for Nelson, as he is quite content to stay close to his humans when he is outdoors. Nelson has also become quite adept at playing fetch with his favourite ball when we toss it across the yard (which is a great way to tire him out, and just adorable to watch!) Nelson also did great at the cottage in an unfenced yard, quite content to snooze on a lounge chair while his foster mom read all afternoon. Nelson walks well on a leash. He does have some instances of pulling, but for the most part, Nelson is able to ‘pack walk’ on a loose leash with his foster sister, or stay next to us in the ‘heel’ position on a solo walk. We have gotten several comments on how well Nelson is doing with his leash walking when we’re out and about, including one neighbour who commented on “what a confident walker” Nelson is! Nelson is happy to walk in the neighbourhood or in a park/nature path calmly taking in all his surroundings. Even most traffic noise doesn’t phase him! Nelson is treat motivated on walks. Once he knows you have treats, Nelson is happy to stay in the heel position with his attention on you! Walks and exercise will be important for Nelson in his forever home, and will help him strengthen up his little legs. Although he is small, he is really a very active guy. We walk Nelson for at least 20 minutes each morning and at least 20-30 minutes after work, as we find this helps to tire Nelson out, and when Nelson is tired he engages in less of the ‘alert barking’ behaviour that small dogs are often known for. Nelson is still getting comfortable in the car. We started off transporting Nelson in his crate, however found that this led to anxiety and carsickness. For longer family journeys, we have Nelson sitting on the passenger’s lap, which has significantly helped. Nelson’s forever family should know that becoming confident in the car is an ongoing process, and Nelson may become carsick at times. We recommend holding off on a full meal right before a longer car journey, and having the supplies on-hand to swap out Nelson’s bedding, or the towel he’s transported on in case he gets sick. With the right supplies and preparation, we have learned how to manage Nelson’s car anxiety. Nelson has been a wonderful temporary addition to our house. We never dreamed that we’d have a Chihuahua in our care, but Nelson has really shown us what sweet, loyal, playful and clever dogs they can be. Our family and friends who have met him have also been charmed by this adorable and spunky little guy, even those who didn't think they particularly cared for small dogs or chihuahuas before meeting Nelson. We know that once he finds his forever family, he will never fail to brighten their days too. Name: Nelson ID # PDR1092 Age: 2yrs Gender: male Neutered: yes UTD vaccines: yes Breed: Chihuahua Colours: red and cream Coat length: short House trained: yes Special needs: no OK with kids: teens OK with cats: unknown Ok with dogs: yes Status: adoptable Microchip: yes Size: small Location: Kitchener Adoption fee: $700

**IF THIS LISTING IS STILL POSTED THIS DOG IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. NO NEED TO EMAIL ASKING IF THE DOG IS AVAILABLE. PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS BIO THOROUGHLY AS INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY IS CONTAINED IN THIS LISTING** For Adoption: Reesie! Please read our dog bios carefully to be sure that the dog you are applying for suits your family and lifestyle. We at PDR believe in the benefits of post-adoption training for our dogs and their families. This allows for continued socialization, learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. Post-adoption training is a requirement in our adoption process. To apply for adoption and for more information on our process and requirements, visit our website at https://pounddog.ca/adoption-info/. Meet one of the most adorable puppies EVER, Reesie. Reesie is a 16 week old Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever/ Poodle mix) puppy who is about 25lbs, and growing quickly. She will be a big girl (50lb + full grown) and the way her fur grows she will have a beautiful shag to her. She has the softest wavy golden/tan coat, a fluff ball. Reesie came into the care due to being discarded from a local puppy mill. The family/persons that eventually adopts her will be so lucky to have this girl that beams with confidence and has quite the sweet, spunky personality. She will be up for anything and everything with her new family/persons. Reesie is very active, happy, and a loveable puppy. She will bring much love into the household. Reesie’s absolute favourite things in life is loving humans, being loved, and food and not necessarily in that order. Reesie is exactly what you would expect from a Goldendoodle puppy, she is adorably goofy, friendly, super playful, and so sweet. She’s a little goofball who wants to be the center of attention. She loves to be involved and often if I’m in the middle of something a little fluffy head will poke in just to check to see if I need any help and if you’re sitting on the couch or chair she will situate herself right on you. Reesie has three modes: asleep, awake but cute and cuddly, and pure playful puppy! Doodles are mixed breed dogs and therefore exhibit a spectrum of behaviours that are present in the breeds of their parents, however there are some behavioural characteristics that are very common that people should make note of. First, Doodles have a tendency to be very social dogs that do much better with their people around and engaged with them more than not. A Doodle that is left alone for long periods of time regularly can develop depression, anxiety, become obsessive about certain activities and these can result in other destructive behaviours. Doodles also have a tendency to be high energy dogs that need an abundance of mental and physical exercise, especially as they are growing into adulthood. These are not couch potato dogs that are content with a few short walks a day. If you have a more laid back lifestyle and are a homebody, a Doodle will NOT likely be a great match for you. They are very intelligent dogs who like to work, so taking them beyond basic training is highly recommended to help them live their best life. They like to push boundaries and challenge you and many Doodle owners have claimed their dogs are always two to three steps ahead of them! I would like to make very clear here that Reesie is NOT hypoallergenic. She is a “Goldendoodle” which means she is part Golden Retriever, a shedding dog. Her fur is so soft and fluffy and it’s impossible to not bury your face into her to give kisses. If you are allergic to dogs and expecting to do this without sneezing you are out of luck! She will not be a suitable dog for allergy sufferers, sorry! Reesie also requires regular brushing as his fur will easily mat up if not kept up. Regular trips to the groomer to keep her nicely trimmed will also be required. There is quite a bit of upkeep with this coat type and it can become a huge mess quickly so the time and energy to keep up this type of coat will have to be taken into consideration as well. This is quite the undertaking and not something everyone wants to take on or has the time or desire to do. If you have the time and will to take on a big commitment, then Reesie just might be the right girl for you. Reesie is a very smart dog and a quick learner, she is doing a fantastic job with house training, sleeping in her crate at night and has the basic commands under her. Though she is very young she has caught on to going to the door when she needs to go potty. She loves knowing she will get a treat after. Her new humans will need to stay on top of her housetraining so she can continue with her progress. She is not very happy with her crate time during the daytime, we work on this daily and are finding that a routine is the way to go with her. Her picking up on training is going very well, she knows the commands, come, sit, down, paw. Consistent work is need on commands, so her new humans will need to dedicate time for this many times throughout the day. Reesie’s perfect home will be one with humans who are not away for long periods of the day. She can be left alone for short periods, as she does have separation anxiety. We are working with her on this daily so that when she is ready to leave to go to her forever home she will be better. Even though she does not like her crate during the day she has no problem sleeping in it a night/bedtime. She does have, and likes her night routine, getting some quite cuddle time before hand. She can sleep 6 hours through the night, as long as she does her duty right before bed. You will need to be patience with her not wanting to be in a crate especially during the day. She just wants to be with her people so much and with her energy level for her to have to hold that in for long is just not fair to her. With the energy Reesie has and the amounts she runs around now as a pup, a large yard would be important. I can see playing fetch will be a big part of her life and she would love to be able to do this in her own yard. As well will be a great helper with any yard work, or just lazing around with a toy or bone. If she does not get outside enough she will be like a toddler in the house and grab anything just to keep busy, will definitely keep you on your toes. If you try to be stern with her she looks at you with those big loving eyes that melt your heart, so you will need to be a strong leader. You will realize very quickly why the proper exercise will be a must. Reesie will require her people to be very active and athletic as she is going to need a good amount of fast paced exercise as she matures into an adult dog. She is not a dog that will be content with simple walks, this is a dog that requires running, hiking, dog sports etc in order to be sated. She needs this daily outlet of physical activity in order to be a happy, well-adjusted dog. If you aren’t already a very active, outdoorsy, and all weather type of person Reesie won’t be the right pup for you. Reesie could happily go to a home with children age 8 or older. Reesie still hasn’t totally learned how not to nip and chew and though her nibbles to us as adults are quite soft, for young children it could be painful. That being said Reesie would make a fantastic companion for a family with older children as she is lots of fun and has a wonderful playful energy. Reesie is in a home with two foster siblings, that she is smitten with. She would do well in a home that has another playful dog that is male. She is a very confident female pup and will not enjoy sharing her home space with another female dog; there can only be one queen in the palace!! She is still learning her boundaries and is growing fast so a dog that will be a larger dog like her when she is fully grown is best, one that can handle a spunky pup bothering them. Her forever family will need to be confident with a large adult goofball of a dog. It’s hard to say how she would behave around a cat but likely she would be her playful self and not know how to read the cats signals. She would need to be taught appropriate behaviour around a cat Reesie has done fantastic with her training so far, but as we all know she is just a puppy and will give your patience a workout when she gets into a lovable goofy mood and inevitably breaks rules that she knows she’s not supposed to break. Reesie’s future family/people must be calm and diligent with correcting her behaviour and giving her lots of praise when she does the right thing. Reesie LOVES making her humans happy and loves being praised, will sit in front of you with a hug smile. She has conquered the come, sit, lay down commands. While working on her commands daily, we will also introduce a new command every second day, she is now working on shake and pretty sit. Her favourite command is ‘come’. Out of all the puppies we have fostered I have not seen one react so fast and be so proud as Reesie when she is called. She will make her new family/people so proud to have her by their side. Even though she learns fast we want to remind potential adopters that she is very new to the world and so she needs guidance and support. She is a good puppy, but a puppy none the less and puppies are tiring and need constant support while they grow and navigate the world. Having previous puppy experience, or experience with a high energy dog would be a great asset for a potential adopter. Reesie likes going on walks with her foster siblings by her side and alone, but she is not fond of the leash attached to any of them. Periodically she will jump up and try to pull it. Her zig zagging is still going strong. We love taking out our puppy fosters on big adventures, so they are introduced to many things in the environment, like noises and objects. The adventures teach them to problem solve by having to navigate over/under/around obstacles like, logs, water, branches etc.… It helps to build their confidence and build a trusting bond with their humans, which always make for a well round behaved dog. Once Reesie is older she will need a few long walks a day. One of these walks could be substituted with a jog/bike/or hiking or a big play in the backyard with her humans interacting. She is fantastic on fetch, brings it right back to you for her next throw. If she gets the needed amount of exercise physical and mental she will be an outstanding girl. In between her physical exercise she does love her mental stimulation play time, which is her training as well sniffing/finding games. If she plays hard she will crash hard, which will be one of your favourite times with her as she loves to snuggle and cuddle. She will lay right on your lap, belly up and rubs will put her right to sleep. Overall Reesie is the epitome of what you would expect of a “Goldendoodle” puppy. She is loving, goofy, and super sweet. She is clingy and curious and a companion animal through and through. Reesie is going to make a family/people VERY happy and will be a great addition to anyone with an active lifestyle who has a lot of time and love to give. We cannot wait to see Reesie in her forever home so that she can continue to give her whole heart to her people. Name: Reesie ID # PDR1124 Age: 4mths Gender: female UTD vaccines: yes Breed: Golden Retriever/ Poodle Colours: blonde Coat length: med House trained: yes Special needs: no OK with kids: older (over 8yrs) OK with cats: yes Ok with dogs: yes Status: adoptable Microchip: yes Size: large Location: Waterloo Adoption fee: $800

**IF THIS LISTING IS STILL POSTED THIS DOG IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. NO NEED TO EMAIL ASKING IF THE DOG IS AVAILABLE. PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS BIO THOROUGHLY AS INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY IS CONTAINED IN THIS LISTING** For Adoption: Fido! Please read our dog bios carefully to be sure that the dog you are applying for suits your family and lifestyle. We at PDR believe in the benefits of post-adoption training for our dogs and their families. This allows for continued socialization, learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. Post-adoption training is a requirement in our adoption process. To apply for adoption and for more information on our process and requirements, visit our website at https://pounddog.ca/adoption-info/. Hello, my name is Fido. I am a 4 month old Black Lab mix and I am unique in that I only have 3 legs . But don’t let that discourage you from considering me for adoption. I can run, jump, pounce and play just like any other puppy, except I do it all on 3 legs. I was born with a deformed front limb that hindered my ability to move around so it was felt that my life would be easier if my leg was removed. It was a tough go at first, but I have recovered beautifully and now can run full tilt and even pounce and jump on my larger dog playmates in the park. I am a very lucky puppy because me and my litter mates were puppy mill discards and I was able to find a rescue that would take me on even though I was going to require surgery for my limb. My foster mom tells me that I am gorgeous and have the most stunning eyes and glossy black coat. I am very friendly and love to be petted and cuddled by almost everyone I meet. She also tells everyone that I have been a very easy dog to foster because I learn very quickly and although I am only 4 months old, I will be graduating soon from Level One obedience classes at Elite Dog training. I only have one more class to go and so far I am doing great. I understand the commands sit, look at me, down, wait, stay, come, leave it, drop it, close (heel) and settle. I will also go into my crate on command and here is the best part of all, not only am I housebroken, but I ring a dog bell to go outside. I am also learning a couple of rally obedience moves like get in, and get around. My new family will need to take me to training to reinforce what I have learned and more so that I will grow up to be the best behaved dog ever. My favourite things to do are hunt and eat bugs, play with balls, chew on my toys, play with other dogs, meet people and go for rides in my puppy wagon. My foster mom got me a wagon to ride in because I couldn’t walk very far before I had my l had my surgery and I needed time to recover after my surgery. She wanted me to be able to meet people, socialize and enjoy other stimuli other than playing indoors. I was too heavy for her to carry around. I took to my wagon the first day and even though I can now get around on my own, I still want to climb in my wagon if we go for long walks as I need to build up my muscles. Walking with only 3 legs can be tiring for a young pup. Also, as I am still growing so it is best not to put too much stress on my joints. My playtime with other dogs is also limited to shorter durations. I was afraid of rabbits when I first went into foster care (I encountered 3 scary ones, two domestic and one wild bunny) and would run from them and tuck tail between my legs, but I have a lot more confidence now so maybe I won’t be afraid anymore. I have not had any experience with cats, so I don’t know if I would like them or not. I do love to play with other dogs, but as I am very enthusiastic and can be a bit rough, I can only play with bigger dogs that are not bothered by my rough and tough play. My long tail that wags like crazy is also a dangerous weapon as it can sweep objects off a low table and send and send them flying. You probably want to know a bit about my personality. Well, I am a pretty chill little dude that can be taken anywhere. I ride well in the car and I am not stressed by new situations. In fact I thrive when there is a lot of activity. I love to go to Canadian Tire and ride around in the cart where everyone comes to pet me. I crate very well and can be put in my crate in places where I should not be running around and I do not complain. (Except if I need to go to the bathroom, then I will whimper to be let out.) And did I say I am very affectionate and love hugs and cuddles? Yup thats me. All round happy go lucky kind of guy. I sound kind of perfect, however I should let you know, that even though I am doing well with my training, I am still a puppy after all and I can get into trouble if unsupervised. I like to steal things off the coffee table and sometimes will try and chew on things other than my toys. I know I am only supposed to play with my toys but sometimes I get bored of them. Then I might start to bark and growl at you to try and entice you to play with me. I can get nippy in this mode but I am learning that this is not acceptable behaviour. My new family should continue to remind me to settle when I get a bit overzealous because while this may seem cute now, I am going to grow into a big dog. I am also still learning bite inhibition and love to take a nip at legs and hands. Therefore I would not be suitable in a home with small children since they are just funny looking puppies to me. I could do well in a home with children over 8yrs of age who are dog experienced and the adults are very aware of the need for constant supervision around dogs and kids. Unlike some labs, while I have a good appetite, I won’t overeat and I am picky about my training treats. Those healthy artisan dog biscuits are not really my thing. I prefer smelly treats, like cheese, dried liver bites, crispy fish skin, and meaty treats like Rollover. You can give me leftover chicken and fish because those are super good too! Yum! If I could have the perfect forever home, It would not be one where I was adopted because it would be a novelty to have a 3 legged dog or you feel sorry for me. There is nothing to feel sorry for, I am doing great!! I want to be appreciated for all I have to offer. Smart, laid back, super cute, inquisitive, go anywhere kind of dog. I would love to be with a family because I like lots of people around. And although I can’t run marathons, I do need regular exercise and mental stimulation. My new potential family should familiarize themselves with the challenges of having a 3 legged dog, so they can be prepared especially when I get older. I am going to be a big boy so as I age I may need help getting into cars and up and down stairs, that sort of thing. It is also important that I not be allowed to become overweight as this would put a lot of extra strain on my front leg. If you have considered all of this and would like an easy going, easy to train, most lovable pup, then I am looking forward to meeting you and licking your face. A note to potential adopters. Fido is too young to be neutered at this time. He will need to come back to our vet in Cambridge to have this done at a later date. Therefore we need a commitment from his forever family to return him to our vet to be neutered when the time comes. Fido’s adoption will be conditional on this commitment. Our vet is in Cambridge and therefore we will only consider a home for his that is within a reasonable distance (within an hour of Cambridge) that can accommodate a drop off and pick up there to have his surgery done Name: Fido ID # PDR1115 Age: 4mths Gender: male Neutered: will be done UTD vaccines: yes Breed: Labrador Retriever mix Colours: black Coat length: short House trained: yes Special needs: 3 legged OK with kids: older (over 8yrs) OK with cats: yes Ok with dogs: yes Status: adoptable Microchip: yes Size: large Location: Guelph Adoption fee: $800

**IF THIS LISTING IS STILL POSTED THIS DOG IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. NO NEED TO EMAIL ASKING IF THE DOG IS AVAILABLE. PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS BIO THOROUGHLY AS INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY IS CONTAINED IN THIS LISTING** For Adoption: Mitzy! Please read our dog bios carefully to be sure that the dog you are applying for suits your family and lifestyle. We at PDR believe in the benefits of post-adoption training for our dogs and their families. This allows for continued socialization, learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. Post-adoption training is a requirement in our adoption process. To apply for adoption and for more information on our process and requirements, visit our website at https://pounddog.ca/adoption-info/. Introducing ‘Marvelous Miss Mitzy’! She is a 5 year old Poodle X, puppy mill Mama, weighing in at 10 lbs. In the short time she has shared our home with us and her foster brother, she has opened up to us and has learned what life as a pet in a home is all about. Mitzy was very scared and withdrawn when she arrived. You can imagine how different a house was compared to a mill barn setting. For the first week she barely moved from her crate, didn’t make a sound, and ate very little food or drank water. Stairs were foreign to her, so we had to hold onto her leash and try to coax her out of the crate so we could teach her how to manage 3 steps to the backyard. In no time at all she learned how to go up and down steps, following the lead of her big foster brother. Stairs inside the house was an accomplishment that would come weeks later. We learned that taking ‘baby steps’ with our Miss Mitzy was the method to gain her trust. There was no reaching out and scooping her up, or walking quickly toward her. She would go stiff and freeze like a statue and stare at you. On occasion we would need to pick her up and she would shake uncontrollably and was stiff as a board as you held her against you. She would never ‘run away from you’ but rather ‘freeze’ and offer those big brown eyes that almost spoke to you, ‘I’m scared, but I am going to trust you’. Talk about melting your heart! We are happy to say she no longer shakes when we have to pick her up, and slowly she has learned to ‘loosen up’ and not be so stiff. It is at that moment, when she sinks into you neck or lap, that you know you have earned her trust. To date, she doesn’t know how to play with a dog toy or how to play with other dogs. However, she shows no fear when dogs are around, she observes but doesn’t interact. She enjoys the company of her humans from a distance, but will sometimes put her two front paws up on your calf and look forward to a chin scratch or pat on the head. She has not yet learned that ‘snuggles’ are allowed and are the best experience ever. We can’t expect 5 years in a mill to be unlearned in a few months. Her forever home would need to have people with patience and a gentle and slow approach to new experiences. You can see in her eyes that she wants to be with you and will follow you around and settle in whatever room you are in. She has adapted to an environment of ‘work from home’ foster family lifestyle and would likely be the best type of ‘forever home’ for her. Having another dog in the home would help Mitzy learn how to be a ‘family pet’ and learn to interact and play, as every dog deserves those experiences. She has not been around cats, but I would imagine her gentle disposition would not be a problem with a calm quiet cat. MItzy is scared of sudden noises or a lot of excitement so we are looking for an adult only home for her or one with quieter natured teens. She needs a peaceful and quiet home to continue building confidence to the world outside. She also wont enjoy a busy city center living or a busting high rise building, but a quieter rural, town or subdivision setting in a house, townhouse or quiet condo would suit her well. There is one obvious and great characteristic about Mitzy, she absolutely loves to walk. Almost from day one, she realized there is a ‘big world’ to explore beyond the confines of her previous life a mill mama. She sees the martingale collar and leash and she begins to literally dance. She spins in circles, puts her two front paws up onto her foster brother’s back, bounces on her back feet and does a few spins, tail wagging from side to side, before she can settle and become a ‘statue’ for you to gently slip the collar onto her. There is no weather condition or length of walk that would stop her from an outdoor adventure. We have come to learn; she spins in circles as a form of release from anxiety. A block or two into the walk and she is into a good rhythm and has reduced her ‘circles’. She is routine with her outdoor potty time. She is working on how to let us know she has to go outside, and therefore, has had a few accidents on carpets. She is great to do her ‘duty’ on her walks and will let you know she has some business, by stopping on the grass and doing many, many circles. We are trying to offer treats as rewards, but she is not treat motivated. The only treat she likes is cheese but we limit the amount she receives. Bedtime is a breeze, we head upstairs, where she sleeps in our room and she immediately walks into her crate, lays down and that’s it! Nite Nite! She has never barked or had a desire to leave her crate, as a result we leave the crate door open, and to date, she had never ventured out during the night. She doesn’t bark in the morning, she waits until we are ready to get up, we say, ‘pee time’ and she comes out of the crate, wagging her tail, circus spins galore and outside we go. Breakfast is served and then the best is when she gets to go for her 30 – 40 minute walk in the morning. Returns home and sleeps on her daytime bed, or on the floor near her foster family. Ask her if she wants to go for a car-ride and she is equally excited. Back seat views and a place to sleep and she is willing to go the distance long or short drives. Mitzy has demonstrated courage to try new things and the ability to trust in her foster family and friends that visit. She really does seem to want to take the ‘next step’ in learning about being a family pet, but needs space, patience and a loving family to help her find her way. Another four-legged buddy in her forever home, would be an asset to lead the way. If you can offer Mitzy a home that is safe, loving, and willing to go the distance to give her the best life every, then you should fill out an application with an opportunity to meet ‘Marvelous Miss Mitzy’. Name: Mitzy ID # PDR1103 Age: 5yrs Gender: female Spayed: yes UTD vaccines: yes Breed: Poodle X Colours: white Coat length: med House trained: yes Special needs: no OK with kids: teens OK with cats: yes Ok with dogs: yes Status: adoptable Microchip: yes Size: small Location: Kitchener Adoption fee: $600