**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: Oz!
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/.
This gorgeous boy is Oz!
Oz is a 5-1/2-year-old miniature poodle weighing around 12lbs. He has a soft cream coat and the most beautiful brown eyes. He has a fluffy, full tail that is just starting to wag as he begins to settle in this big new world.
Now I know some of you are already filling out your application for Oz but please read this bio first as we are looking for a very special family. Our sweet boy was discarded from a large-scale breeding organization after over five years, and he has been slow to adapt to the world outside that facility. Five years without love or socialization have put some hurdles up for Oz but good luck found Oz when Pound Dog Rescue decided to pull him into their care and give him a chance. Now he needs one more dose of good luck to help him find the family who can support him through the rest of his life. If you cannot handle a dog that is afraid of you to start and does not want to be touched, then Oz will not be a good match for you. I know when we find his family that they will get to see him transform over the next few years but please be honest about what you can handle and what you are looking for. Oz is safe and adored in his foster home and we will take as long as we need to find the right forever home for him.
Oz has taken many huge steps during his time in foster care, but he still has a journey ahead of him. He is looking for a family with experience dealing with timid dogs, shut down dogs and/or dogs retired from large scale breeding operations. He needs a home that is quiet and patient where he can be given the time and space he needs to get comfortable. Oz’s family needs to have experience balancing this space with encouragement forward. We don’t want him to become stagnant, so he needs to be shown the way forward on a daily basis. It is easy to want to coddle and protect him, but this will not help him adapt or evolve.
Outside of these needs, Oz is a sweet and easy dog to have around. In the home he is crate trained and he feels safe there. He is crated whenever I am not home or if I am unable to pay attention to him. He eats in his crate and sleeps overnight without a peep. When I’m home and it’s time to relax around the house, he runs right to the couch. He snuggles up to his foster siblings and even allows for a tiny bit of affection from me. He lives with several other dogs right now and gets along with everyone, finding a bit of comfort in their presence. We would love to place him with a family who has a well-balanced dog of similar size and energy so he has a positive role model, but this is not mandatory. I also think he would be fine with cats as he has shown little to no prey drive, although he is untested here.
Oz has learned the routine of our home and he seems to find comfort in the schedule. He will come to the kitchen with the other dogs to see about dinner, and he will gather with the other dogs when it’s time to receive some treats, although he has not yet found the courage to take a treat from my hand.
Oz's favourite thing is his walks and he is a wonderful walking companion. He trots along beside me, looking up for approval. His confidence is more pronounced out on a walk and he will even venture out front at times, tail held high. He’s happy to walk wherever I lead, for as long as I lead and pays little attention to anything else. He is not bothered by other dogs passing or loud streets although he would prefer to NOT have a stranger get too close or pass behind him. At the best of times Oz remains a flight risk so he wears a martingale collar at all times and his new family must be ready to adhere to this same rule.
One of my favourite things about Oz are his little grumbles that he lets out when he is happy or excited. He knows the routine of the house so well that he knows I will take him for his walk first. When he sees me coming, he starts grumbling and doesn’t stop until I have his leash on him. His tail has even started wagging! Other than those grumbles he has been a quiet dog, only barking a few times when trying to back up his foster brother! Oz can also do the full flight of stairs up and down now (with encouragement) so he would be fine in almost any home. A yard is not mandatory as long as there is an appropriate place for him to do his business. Oz is completely house trained at this point although he does not know how to signal he has to go out. He has the benefit of living with a senior foster dog who dictates the bathroom schedule around here so there are always ample opportunities to relieve himself outside. In his new home he will need to be given ample opportunity to go outside to reinforce this house training.
He tolerates a bit of affection from me in the home but Oz is not a dog who seeks out affection at this point. If I touch him without him seeing me coming he will flinch and even run. When it comes to other things in life, Oz handles them as we would expect from a terrified dog. He is cooperative at the vet and the groomer because he is scared and shuts down so he needs a family who will understand this and advocate for him in these areas. He has a coat that requires regular grooming so his new family must be ready to commit to an appropriate grooming schedule. He is starting to get used to the car but still finds it scary so he needs to be secured in either a seat with a leash or a crate for everyone’s safety.
Oz has a healthy dose of ‘stranger danger’ so care must be taken when unknown people are around to give him a chance to adapt. Again, we don’t want to keep him away from everything new, but we do want to be respectful of his fear so he can learn to handle new experiences with confidence. And that’s really what it comes down to – confidence. Oz needs a family committed to helping him find his. He will do best in an adult only home as the action and noise of children will be too much for this sensitive boy. A home with teenage children would be considered.
Oz came into rescue with a hematoma on his ear and lots of yeasty buildup. Both were treated and his ears have been thoroughly cleaned multiple times. He was neutered without incident and also received a dental cleaning to remove some tartar buildup. He is microchipped, tested negative for heartworm and is up to date on his required vaccinations.
The growth I have seen in Oz in the time he has been with me makes me incredibly proud and I can’t wait to see how far he goes. The right family for Oz has experience dealing with frightened dogs and understands the need to support him while encouraging him through the scary things. They have a quiet, adult only home that is full of love and patience for this sweet boy. His family needs to be committed to investing in his future even if it takes time to see the results. At the same time his new family needs to love and accept him for the dog that he is today. He is a sweet, sensitive boy who deserves this next chapter of his life to be full of patience, love and support. If you think you could give our beautiful boy what he needs to be successful and confident then please fill out an application and I’d love to talk to you about him. Please make sure you detail your experience with timid dogs and let us know how you would support this special boy.
Name: Oz
ID # PDR1557
Age: 5yrs
Gender: male
Neutered: yes
UTD vaccines: yes
Breed: Min Poodle
Colours: white
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: small
Location: Kitchener, Ont
Adoption fee: $700
AVERY
Shih Tzu
🇨🇦
Drumbo, Ontario
female, small, adult
Shih Tzu
Drumbo, Ontario
