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Puppies and dogs in Fergus, Ontario

Looking for a puppy or dog in Fergus, Ontario? Adopt a Pet can help you find a new best friend near you.

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Adopt a dog in Fergus, Ontario

These adorable dogs are available for adoption in Fergus, Ontario. To learn more about each adoptable dog, click on the "i" icon for fast facts, or their photo or name for full details.
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Photo of Poppet

Poppet

Shih Tzu Terrier (Unknown Type, Small)

Female, 5 mos
St Jacobs, ON
Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Not good with kids, Good with dogs, Spayed or Neutered, Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Poppet-Maltese Terrier/Shih Tzu Mix puppy's Story Meet Poppet! This sweet, high-energy pup has been showing off her incredible personality, and she is ready to find a forever home to share all her love, energy, and face kisses with! Quick Facts DOB April 12, 2026 -Poppet is a Maltese/Shih Tzu mix female puppy who was surrendered when her family was not able to provide her with the time and care she deserves. Energy Level: Medium–High (loves zoomies and backyard playtime!).Sweet, loving, playful, and affectionate! Loves cuddling on the bed, army crawling for kisses, and staying close to her humans. House Training: Work in progress-Mostly house trained (learning quickly, with minimal accidents). Crate Training: Crate trained! Sleeps quietly through the night next to her humans. Leash & Travel: Great in her car carrier/crate! Working on leash pulling and outdoor excitement. Poppet did not benefit from training in her original home and is still learning many new things. Food Motivation: High! Quickly learned to sit nicely before mealtime. Handling: Unbothered by touch anywhere—happy to have her paws, ears, and tail handled. Loves all dogs and people that she has met. If you have another dog in your home, be mindful that puppies do not respect boundaries, and your own dog's comfort and acceptance of a high energy puppy is a priority. CATS-unknown. Poppet would very likely chase and try to engage with any cat in the home. Highlights & Strengths Mastered the Stairs: Important to note that due to her young age/small breed size, preventing her from jumping off furniture or going down stairs is very hard on her immature joints and should be avoided until her growth plates have fully developed. Affectionate Cuddler: Loves to be touching you while napping. She can get too mouthy during play as with any puppy learning, but redirects well to acceptable alternatives to hands. Loves to snuggle for naps after playing or running zoomies. Noise Tolerance: Adapted very quickly to household noises. Working On (Typical Puppy Stuff!) Leash Skills & Barking: Working on walking without pulling and reducing alert barking at night or when guests arrive. Poppet is a terrier breed and has discovered her voice. While training is crucial, adoptive families should research terrier breeds to understand natural breed tendencies. Alone Time: Learning that her humans always return when left alone in her crate. Basic Commands: Responding well to action-based cues like "touch", come and sitting for food; continuing consistent training will help her thrive! Ideal Home Poppet requires a home with a family who has someone home often, and who is prepared for committing to her training needs, mental stimulation and appropriate exercise for her age/size. Children must be over 8yrs of age and have previous experience/understanding of appropriate handling of dogs, especially tiny puppies who are very fragile and fast. Interested in welcoming this sweet, zoomie-loving girl into your family? Please read below for more information. At Hobo Haven Rescue, we are committed to finding the ideal fit for our dogs and families. That means loving, prepared, and dedicated adopters who truly understand the time, care, and commitment it takes to raise a young puppy into a happy, well-adjusted adult dog. Daytime Availability is Essential Puppies need regular bathroom breaks, supervision, and social interaction throughout the day. We will only consider homes where: An adult is home during the day or only works outside of the home for 3-4 hours per day max. Even if you work from home, pups need 100% of your attention when out of the crate. A plan for supervision and crate use is absolutely required NOTES: Inground pools MUST be fully/securely fenced Older dog savvy children due to his size and energy Doggy doors are not acceptable Mandatory training registration with an approved positive method training school will be required to set everyone up for success. Crate training is a must. It offers a safe and comforting space for your puppy and helps build a healthy routine. Exercise pens are also great tools to support success! Lifelong Commitment These pups have been lovingly raised in foster care. We're looking for homes that are ready not just for the puppy stage, but for the lifelong journey ahead. NOTE: *Based on their life expectancy of 15-20 yrs, puppies are not a suitable match for older seniors (60+). Our goal for every dog is to be able to live a full active life in their forever home without ever having to be rehomed or having their needs neglected. Our priority is long-term stability and well-being for each dog in one forever home. Interested in applying? Poppet is adorable — but it takes much more than just love to raise a puppy right. Every puppy is unique — we ask that families read their profile thoroughly to ensure a great match, both for the dog and for your family. An adoption application must be completed and approved, followed by quality of care screening through your vet clinic, & home inspection, prior to meeting available dogs. All dogs are placed in loving foster homes during their time with us, we do not have a shelter to visit. We do not allow applicants to visit until pre-approved for adoptions. Our dogs are in private foster family homes, not in a shelter. Hobo Haven is located in St Jacobs Ontario. For approved families, we require in person meetings in St Jacobs ON If you are not willing to drive to this location to meet our dogs after you are approved, please do not apply. We do not meet elsewhere nor deliver dogs. Adoptions within Ontario only We require all serious applicants to watched "Petfooled" which is a free documentary at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XC1rUWWnxI , or on Amazon prime Our motto is "know better/do better" and we ask all adoptive families to be as committed to providing our dogs with quality nutrition as they are to providing love. Adoption fee: $850 includes: Spay, microchip, vaccinations, deworming, flea/tick/heartworm prevention, and all vet care, high quality food and supplies during their time with us to set our dogs up for a healthy future. Apply to adopt Poppet https://hobohavenrescue.ca/dog-adoption-application
Photo of Zinnia

Zinnia

Cocker Spaniel

Female, 6 yrs 1 mo
St Jacobs, ON
Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Not good with kids, Good with dogs, Good with cats, House-trained, Spayed or Neutered, Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Zinnia-American Cocker Spaniel female's Story Meet Zinnia: Your Future Shadow, Cuddle Bug, and Best Friend. If you are looking for a gentle soul who will fill your home with quiet devotion, look no further than Zinnia (lovingly called Zinni). This 6-years-young American Cocker Spaniel has the most soulful eyes that will absolutely melt your heart! Zinni was recently rescued from a commercial breeding facility, where she spent her life as a commercial breeding dog and is now celebrating her "rebirthday" as a beloved indoor dog enjoying all of the comforts of beds and gentle TLC Zinni is learning what it means to be a cherished family pet, and she is embracing her new life with incredible resilience and grace. View Zinnia's full album of photos and videos here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.927363186580975&type=3 Fully Vetted & Ready for Her Forever Home Zinni is completely healthy and ready to go! She has completed all of her vetting, including: Up-to-date vaccinations Bloodwork excellent and heartworm/tick disease tested Negative Heartworm/flea/tick preventatives Microchip implant Spay surgery Full dental surgery Gaining Confidence Every Day Because of her past, Zinni is very shy and timid around new people. However, in just a few short weeks in her foster home, she has been steadily gaining confidence, thanks to having another dog in her foster home who is teaching her how wonderful life can be. She has officially discovered that love, safety, and pampering are wonderful things! Here is a glimpse into her sweet personality: Morning Rituals: When the morning alarm goes off, she happily wags her tail and waits patiently for her morning neck massage. She has even recently trusted her fosters enough to roll over for belly rubs! The Ultimate Cuddle Bug: It took some time, but Zinni is now comfortable jumping up on the sofa to enjoy evening cuddle time while her foster family watches TV. Cozy Bedtime Partner: While she loves the security of her crate and will happily go in and out of it throughout the day for naps, night-time is a different story. She has discovered that jumping up into bed with her foster is the best thing ever, sleeping contently all night. Quiet as a mouse: Zinni has not yet made a single peep! She does not bark or whine, making her a truly peaceful presence. This may change of course as her confidence grows. House-Training Superstar: She was quickly house-trained! She only has occasional accidents inside if she is feeling particularly nervous or stressed. Things We Are Working On: Zinni is trying her best and learning new things every day! Her perfect adopter will need to help her continue working on: Hand-Feeding Confidence: She loves tasty treats, but she is still too timid to take them directly from your hand. For now, she will happily enjoy them if you gently toss them in her direction. Leash Training: Zinni has not yet learned to go for walks on a leash as she is still too timid. It will take her some time to get familiar with the hustle and bustle of the outside world and unfamiliar street noises. She thrives in a fully fenced yard for exploring. Her Ideal Forever Home: Because the big wide world can still be intimidating to her, Zinni is looking for a patient, quiet environment where she can continue to blossom at her own pace. Her ideal home: People Home Often: Because she loves her humans and is still learning to settle into domestic life, she would thrive in a home where people are home often to continue working on her socialization and training. A suitable canine companion: She requires a home with a gentle companion dog. Having a canine sibling for companionship and confidence, to watch and mimic, will continue to help her build confidence and learn how to navigate the world. No Young Children: Due to her timid nature, a home without young children is necessary to keep her environment safe, peaceful and stress-free. Zinni is a nervous flight risk and children coming and going through doors pose a serious escape risk as well Cats: Zinnia is very respectful of cats. Understanding Transitions: Her new family should be prepared to give her grace during her first week or two in a new environment, as stress can cause temporary potty accidents. Watching a resilient dog like Zinni discover the joy of a soft bed, a belly rub, and the gentle touch of a loving hand is the most rewarding experience in the world. She is so ready for her true happily-ever-after. Does Zinni sound like your new best friend? To apply to adopt this sweet girl, please submit an adoption application at this link https://hobohavenrescue.ca/dog-adoption-application Adoption fee $850 To help guide you through our application process, we have outlined our standard adoption criteria and procedures below. Reviewing the Profile Before submitting an application, we kindly ask that you thoroughly review the dog's entire profile. Each of our rescues has unique needs, and we prioritize matching them with families that meet the specific criteria outlined for their "ideal forever home." Adoption Requirements: Inground pools must be fully fenced (no exceptions) No dog doors- we believe in fully supervised outdoor time for all dogs Commitment to approved, positive reinforcement training classes The Application Process To maintain the highest standard of care for our dogs, we follow a structured screening process. 1. Vet Quality of Care Check 2. Zoom Home Inspection & Interview 3. In-Person Meeting in St. Jacobs Please note that an approved adoption application is required prior to scheduling any meetings. 4. Training Commitment 5. Educational Requirement: "Petfooled" As part of our commitment to "know better/do better," we ask all serious applicants to watch the documentary "Petfooled" (available for free on YouTube or Amazon Prime). We believe quality nutrition is just as important as love. This documentary explores the pet food industry and the importance of species-appropriate nutrition. It is purely educational and helps ensure our adoptive families are equipped to provide the best long-term health for our dogs. Please reach out to us again after your family has viewed the documentary to share your feedback or ask any questions you may have. Meet-and-Greet Policy All of our dogs reside in private, volunteer foster homes. To respect the privacy and schedules of our foster families—and due to the high volume of inquiries we receive—meetings are only scheduled for applicants who have been fully approved through our screening process.
Photo of Mochi

Mochi

Australian Shepherd

Male, 6 yrs 1 mo
Guelph, ON
Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
-
Story
Hello! My name is Mochi.I`m a timid little guy but working on my confidence in my loving foster home! I do well with dog friends but get overwhelmed if they are too exuberant. Having a friendly, human-social dog in the home will be helpful so I can continue to learn from their positive interactions with people. Once I warm up, I am quite snuggly and very much a lap dog. I`m still learning how to use stairs, full flights of stairs are a bit intimidating. I am very smart and enjoy training or tossing and shaking toys around. I do pretty well in car rides and enjoy walks where I can explore and sniff!MY IDEAL HOME INVOLVES…CHILDREN: Teenagers may be ok if the home is on the quieter side, but no young children or rambunctious homes given my timid nature.OTHER DOGS: Yes, I enjoy the company of respectful dogs who aren’t too exuberant.CATS: Potentially, with a cat comfortable around dogs.FIRST-TIME DOG OWNERS: I would do best with someone who has previous dog experience.FENCED-IN YARD: Preferred since I can be overwhelmed in new or busy environments, so having a safe space to wander and sniff outside will be helpful.HOUSING ENVIRONMENT: No apartment buildings or busy environments where I might get easily overwhelmed.SOMEONE HOME MOST OF THE DAY: Not necessarily.SOME OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ME…ACTIVITY LEVEL: Medium.HOUSE-TRAINED: Yes.If you think I could be a good match for your home, click the “Adopt Me” button to apply!
Photo of Magpie

Magpie

German Shepherd Dog Australian Cattle Dog

Female, 3 yrs 2 mos
Guelph, ON
Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
-
Story
Hi, my name’s Magpie!I`m known for my sweet nature and how affectionate I am once we get to know each other, though I do typically avoid strangers at first and can remain a bit on edge with new people in my home. Once I love my people, I really love my people, and that means I may bark when you try to approach them. With positive training, I`ve already shown nice progress in this area. My favourite activity is sniffing around and following my nose—there`s so much to explore! I`m looking for a forever home where I can share all the love I have; I would love to join a calm and relaxed family that will patiently build their bond with me.MY IDEAL HOME INVOLVES…CHILDREN: Teenagers should be fine, no young children as I do have a timid side.OTHER DOGS: No, I don`t enjoy sharing with other dogs and that makes it difficult for me to live with them, however I don`t mind having some calm dog friends for walks or short, managed visits.CATS: No, I would like to be the only pet and get all the attention.FIRST-TIME DOG OWNERS: I would do best with someone who has previous dog experience.FENCED-IN YARD: Not necessarily.HOUSING ENVIRONMENT: Any.SOMEONE HOME MOST OF THE DAY: Not necessarily.SOME OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ME…ACTIVITY LEVEL: Medium.HOUSE-TRAINED: Yes.SPECIAL DIET: Yes, I’m on a hypoallergenic diet.MEDICATIONS: Yes, I take a daily oral medication to help with my itching.If you think I would make a good match for your home, please click the `Adopt Me` button to apply!FOSTER ME! I’m excited to be selected as part of the Paisley Project and I’m looking for a foster home! If your home environment matches what I’m looking for based on the information above, please consider applying to foster me by copying and pasting the following link to fill out the questionnaire: https://guelphhumane.ca/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=frm_forms_preview&form=7y88o.The Paisley Project aims to match selected, long-stay animals at GHS with fosters that can provide a home that gradually introduces them to the everyday experiences of life as a pet. Fosters will offer the routine, structure and stability needed to help get animals ready for their new family. Learn more at https://guelphhumane.ca/the-paisley-project/.
Photo of Akna

Akna

Xoloitzcuintle/Mexican Hairless

Female, Adult
Guelph, ON
Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
Not good with kids, Not good with dogs, Not good with cats, Needs experienced adopter, House-trained, Spayed or Neutered, Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Akna is a five-year-old Mexican Hairless (Xoloitzcuintli), born in Mexico and brought to Canada as a puppy. She is smart, elegant, obedient, house-trained, has excellent recall, and loves to learn. Akna is naturally cautious and slow to trust, but once bonded, she becomes deeply loyal and devoted. She has separation anxiety and struggles when left alone. She will bark when someone approaches. She thrives with consistency, structure, and daily exercise. A daily walk helps her anxiety. As a hairless breed with sensitive skin, she requires weekly baths and skincare. We are rehoming Akna because our family dynamics have changed and we can no longer provide the time and attention she needs. She needs a calm, stable home with someone home most of the time, a fenced yard, and an experienced owner. She would do best with a single person or couple without children or no plans for children in future. She must be the only pet. In the right home, Akna will be a loving and devoted companion.
Photo of Moto Moto

Moto Moto

Mastiff

Male, 4 yrs
Guelph, ON
Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
-
Story
Hey there, I’m Moto Moto! WHAT YOU’LL LOVE ABOUT ME…- I’m a gentle giant- I LOVE being in the car!- I’m affectionate with my humans- I walk well on leash (unless there’s something really exciting I want to get to!) MY NEW FAMILY SHOULD…- Expect me to be a bit cautious when I first meet new people, and require strangers to give me space if needed.- Be comfortable walking a large, strong dog.- Use a positive training approach.- Avoid using harsh communication to train me.- Understand that I might not want to meet every dog in the neighbourhood, but may be okay with a few well-mannered dog friends.MY IDEAL HOME INVOLVES…- CHILDREN: Teenagers should be fine, but no young children.- OTHER DOGS: Potentially, with a calm and respectful dog.- CATS: Potentially, with a cat who is comfortable around large dogs.- FIRST-TIME DOG OWNERS: Someone with large dog breed experience.- FENCED-IN YARD: Not necessary.- HOUSING ENVIRONMENT: No apartment buildings.- SOMEONE HOME MOST OF THE DAY: Not necessarily.SOME OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ME…- ACTIVITY LEVEL: Low-medium.- HOUSE-TRAINED: Yes.If you think I would make a good match for your home, please click the `Adopt Me` button to apply!

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Dog shelters and rescues in Fergus, Ontario

There are animal shelters and rescues that focus specifically on finding great homes for dogs in Fergus, Ontario. Browse these rescues and shelters below.

Here are a few organizations closest to you:

Rescue

Nickquenum Dog Rescue

Guelph, ON N1E 2G1

Pet Types: dogs

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Rescue

New Hope Animal Rescue

4990 Jones Baseline, Guelph, ON N1H 6H8

Pet Types: cats, dogs

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Barlee's Angels Rescue Network

Guelph, ON N1G 2X6

Pet Types: cats, dogs

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Rescue

Hobo Haven Pet Rescue

St Jacobs, ON N0B 2N0

Pet Types: dogs

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Rescue

Paws Across The Water - Erin

Erin, ON N0B 1T0

Pet Types: dogs

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Shelter

Upper Credit Humane Society

5383 Trafalgar Rd N, Erin, ON N0B 1T0

Pet Types: cats, birds, dogs, rabbits, small animals

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Shelter

Guelph Humane Society

190 Hanlon Creek Blvd, Guelph, ON N1C 0A1

Pet Types: cats, birds, dogs, farm animals, rabbits, reptiles, small animals

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Shelter

Kitchener Waterloo Humane Society

250 Riverbend Drive, Kitchener, ON N2B 2E9

Pet Types: cats, birds, dogs, rabbits, reptiles, small animals

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