HELIOS
Name: HELIOS
Age: 4 years old
Breed: Medium size mixed breed
Is your dog good with other dogs: Selective
Is your dog good with cats: Yes
Is your dog good with kids: No young kids (12+ only)
Is your dog house trained: Yes
Is your dog crate trained: Yes
Does your dog have any special needs: Requires experienced owner with at least one woman in the home. Needs to live with another playful and confident dog.
Does your dog have any or display any aggression (toys, food, people): May display fear aggression towards people, can be protective of his family members.
Is your dog playful: Yes
Does your dog like to snuggle: Occasionally, loves to give kisses
Does your dog know basic commands: Yes
Does your dog know any special tricks: No
Does your dog like to go on walks: Yes
Does your dog have any fears: New people, more fearful of men
Does your dog have any unique traits you have noticed whether in personality or physically: Polka dots on his tongue
What are the 3 first words that come to mind when you think of your dog: Resilient, Timid, Playful
In a short paragraph Please provide any other details or a brief overview of your foster dog: Helios came to us from Texas where he didn’t have the best start in life. He has attached himself to foster mom and with her he is the most loving, affectionate and sweet dog. He gives her kisses galore and his tail wags so much that she thinks one day it might propel him into space! With foster dad, Helios remains timid but has improved over several months. He will now allow foster dad to pet him but only briefly. You can tell that he wants love from foster dad but he’s still learning to trust him. Because of Helios’s past, he will act out of fear towards people he doesn’t know or doesn’t trust. This means that he will bark and lunge at people if his owners do not manage his fears. He NEEDS a home with an assertive and experienced family that will understand this behaviour and help him to develop his confidence. Helios NEEDS to be in a home with another dog who is able to show him that people are good and will not harm him. Helios has been through a lot and is deserving of all the love in the world which he will reciprocate with the people he trusts.
BONZO
Age?3.5
Breed?Greek hound mix
Is your dog good with other dogs? selective
Is your dog good with cats? yes
Is your dog good with kids? yes
Is your dog house trained? yes
Is your dog crate trained? yes
Does your dog have any special needs? anxiety
Does your dog have any or display any aggression? (Toys, food or people?) he is reactive on walks for people and dogs that are close or too close. He barks at visitors until comfortable.
Is your dog playful? Yes he likes to fetch balls or toys
Does your dog like to snuggle? yes
Does your dog know basic commands? (Sit, stay...) sit, high five
Does your dog know any special tricks? no
Does your dog like to go on walks? Yes
Does your dog have any fears? He is anxious all the time so he is fearful of anything that he perceives as dangerous; cars, people, dogs that are too close.
Does your dog have any unique traits that you have noticed whether in personality or physically? He likes to smell (hound) a good jumper and runner
What are the three first words that come to mind when you think of your dog? Anxious, cuddly, playful
In a short paragraph, please provide any other details or a brief overview of your foster dog. Bonzo came into care almost three years ago from Greece. He was the only puppy from the litter to be adopted. As per the foster in Greece he was bullied by the others. This explains why he is so timid and fearful of people. He may need a few days to get used to some men but when he is comfortable, he is a wonderful family dog. Although Bonzo increased his fears after training class and now he is reactive to dogs and people on walks. He will bark aggressively and needs his person to increase the distance between the dog and himself to feel safe. Bonzo loves to sleep with whoever will let him. Bonzo would love to have someone to run with and play fetch. Unfortunately, dog parks are probably not good for his anxiety. He loves to run and he is really fast so he used to run at the dog park so finding another place for him to run would be great.
PABLO
Age? About 5 years old
Breed? Large GSD x
Is your dog good with other dogs? He is good with the dog he is living with, 40 lbs female husky x gsd. Barks at unknown dogs. Not tested with any face to face.
Is your dog good with cats? Not tested, but not recommended
Is your dog good with kids? 15 years +
Is your dog house trained? Yes
Is your dog crate trained? Yes, sleeps in crate at night
Does your dog have any special needs? Pablo needs an experienced owner who can devote the time to help him become more confident and less anxious around new situations. Would suggest at least one woman in the home.
Does your dog have any or display any aggression? (Toys, food or people?) No aggression just anxious.
Is your dog playful? Yes very playful with the medium female dog he lives with.
Does your dog like to snuggle? Yes
Does your dog know basic commands? (Sit, stay...) He knows his name, come, sit, paw and partially knows down.
Does your dog know any special tricks? No
Does your dog like to go on walks? Yes, not recommended off leash
Does your dog have any fears? Yes he is working on his fear reactivity of other dogs/animals, people, pickup trucks.
Does your dog have any unique traits that you have noticed whether in personality or physically? He loves belly rubs and makes lots of grunts when he rolls over for you.
What are the three first words that come to mind when you think of your dog? Loving, smart, gentle but anxious
In a short paragraph, please provide any other details or a brief overview of your foster dog.
Pablo is a very sweet and loving dog learning to relax and to be less anxious. He would happily sleep at your feet when you work, love to go on long walks every day or run around in the yard. He is great with the dog he is living with currently, medium female dog and has not shown any form of dominance. The dogs love to play and run in the backyard together. He would do great in a single detached home with a large fenced-in yard. Pablo came to us as a stray who had not had much socialization. Due to his lack of socialization Pablo can be quite anxious on walks, occasionally reacting to dogs, small animals, and unknown people. He is learning to trust people and gain confidence in himself. In the short amount of time that we have fostered him, he is already gained a lot of confidence and is able to relax. Pablo finds comfort in his crate which is left open all day for him to enter at his own will whenever he feels the need. He is such a sweet boy who just needs some guidance and reassurance that he is loved and safe. Pablo needs a dedicated owner that is ready to continue working with him and showing him all the great things that come with being a family member.
FRANKIE
BSL applies, need to be adopted outside Ontario
Age? 1.5
Breed? Potcake
Is your dog good with other dogs? Yes, but please give me space and time to adjust.
Is your dog good with cats? Not tested while fostered
Is your dog good with kids? Not tested while fostered
Is your dog house trained? Yes, I will ask for the door. But my foster parents do let me outside often. I have not had any accidents.
Is your dog crate trained? Yes, but no thanks. Do not put me in a crate. I am non-destructive and fine left loose in the home while my owners leave.
Does your dog have any special needs? no
Does your dog have any or display any aggression? (Toys, food or people?) no, but please give me space while I eat.
Is your dog playful? Very!!
Does your dog like to snuggle? Yes, but sometimes I do need my own space
Does your dog know basic commands? (Sit, stay...) we are just starting to work on basic commands
Does your dog know any special tricks? no
Does your dog like to go on walks? Yes please!! I love lots of walks, they make me very happy
Does your dog have any fears? Yes, because I was a stray dog, new environments and noise, quick movements, doorways and stairs scare me but my foster parents are working with me to overcome these fears.
Does your dog have any unique traits that you have noticed whether in personality or physically? VERY happy with car rides and get super excited when the leash or harness comes out.
What are the three first words that come to mind when you think of your dog? Lovable, timid, joyful little girl
In a short paragraph, please provide any other details or a brief overview of your foster dog.
Hi, my name is Frankie and I come from Barbados, I am adjusting to my new life here in Canada and to my new environment. My foster parents are helping me conquer my fears, especially stairs and doorways! I love going on walks and do so with my foster parents 3x per day. They also take me to a private dog park where I can be left off leash and do zoomies. As I adjust to my new life, my personality has come out slowly. I love giving hugs to my owners and absolutely love belly rubs. But please don’t move to quickly, as I need time to adjust and trust. Currently, as I am unsure about kibbles, my foster parents make me home cook meals and incorporate kibbles. I have also tried pig ears! I am looking for an active family with older children that will play with me and keep me active. I love to run, do zoomies, suntan on a porch, and have nap throughout the day. I am an early riser but can wait patiently to my owners to wake up and take me for my walk. I am slowly working on my basic commands with my foster parents, but I can ask for the door when ready to go out. I haven’t had any accidents in the house, I like to do my business in a rocky or sandy area.
NIKKI
Age? About 18 months
Breed? Husky mix
Is your dog good with other dogs? She is learning to interact with other dogs, she is starting to greet and play with other dogs on our walks.
Is your dog good with cats? NO. She has a high prey drive, loves to try to go after cats, squirrels, birds and bunnies on our walks.
Is your dog good with kids? She is good with our teen boys. She is good with smaller children, when she meets them.
Is your dog house trained? yes
Is your dog crate trained? yes
Does your dog have any special needs? She will need careful introductions to dogs, she is still learning. We see she is a highly athletic dog, she needs (and enjoys) lots of exercise.
Does your dog have any or display any aggression? (Toys, food or people?) None noted
Is your dog playful? Getting to be, she is really funny when she plays with a ball or toy. She will toss it around and then pounce on it.
Does your dog like to snuggle? She loves ear scratches and short snuggles on the couch. But she will always take ear scratches or belly rubs.
Does your dog know basic commands? (Sit, stay...) She is learning SIT, DOWN, COME, OFF (for jumping up on a person) and STAY and PAW. She will ring the bell (on a rope) at the door when she wants to go outside or for a treat.
Does your dog know any special tricks? no
Does your dog like to go on walks? She loves walks. She loves to look for squirrels and birds on walks.
Does your dog have any fears? The vacuum!
Does your dog have any unique traits that you have noticed whether in personality or physically? She has a beautiful heart shaped markings on her face. She always looks like she is smiling. Nikki loves to meet people and lean in for some loves.
What are the three first words that come to mind when you think of your dog? Sweet, loving, squirrel-hunter.
In a short paragraph, please provide any other details or a brief overview of your foster dog.
Nikki came to us from Northern Manitoba as a brand new mama of seven puppies!! She was a very good, attentive mama (all the puppies are adopted out). She is such a sweet girl. Nikki loves her walks, she could go all day, but her owner will need to be aware of the heat, she is a husky and can get overheated easily in the summer sun. She has a very sweet disposition, loves to meet people. She will need lots of exercise and mental stimulation; she will look for things to do (like chew) if she is board. She has been in a crate a few times, when we all had to go out. With time she maybe able to be loose in the house, but right now I think she may chew things that she shouldn’t. She sleeps on her dog bed in our room at night. She sleeps through the night but is an early riser, for a bathroom break. She also likes her morning walks and will keep going to the door to say “lets go!”.
LUCKY
Age: 1.5 years old
Breed: Shepherd x husky
Is your dog good with other dogs: yes; recommended another same size or bigger dog that is confident and balanced – guide him to be more friendly around new things and sharing toys
Is your dog good with cats: UNTESTED and would not recommend it base on his behaviors when seeing small critters outside
Is your dog good with kids: Was told that he previously lived with kids, given that he like his own space, foster family recommends no younger than 16+ and respectful of him when he needs his space
Is your dog house trained: Yes – impeccable housing training manner and will cry and remind you to let him out, very quick to adapt to the new house hold schedule
Is your dog crate trained: Yes, will whine a bit when first settling in/ he guards his crate space, he is not destructive when left alone without a crate and can avoid crates all together.
Does your dog have any special needs:
Experienced and confident handlers that have worked with resource guarding and hesitant dogs and are very explicit about setting up healthy boundaries and reward system; willing to respect his space and time for him to get to know new people and things (i.e. quiet home settings); Foster family may request multiple meets and home visit until Lucky is comfortable and would like to see applicants in the Ottawa region . Adoptive home must respect his training to keep on working on trading up for high value food and toy and building trust.
Does your dog have any or display any aggression (toys, food, people): Lucky resources guard some high value treats, toys, crate space and sometimes just his general space near him from people and dogs. He will give very explicit warning to the human and dogs that he is uncomfortable but if he was pushed too hard or quickly, he would nip to gain some distance from the things that cause him stress. He is less provoked with dogs as his foster fur sisters all give him space when he signals he is uncomfortable and slowly down grade his need to nip to gain distance. With human, he and foster mom have been working building trust and he is incredibly smart and receptive to the hot dogs/heated up chicken. Foster mom travels everywhere with him to get him used to new human friends, which he has been super receptive to everyone. Adoptive family is required to keep working with him on trading up high value food/toy, getting used to his space as he may reset when he gets rehomed
Is your dog playful: Yes – high energy when he opens up more; he would initiate play with his foster sister with ear flick, paw on her or body slams.
Does your dog like to snuggle: Occasionally – he can get so hot sometimes that he will just nap on the floor or over the AC air vent; he cuddles to his people on his terms and not rushed, again sensitive about his space.
Does your dog know basic commands: Yes
Does your dog know any special tricks: Knows paws
Does your dog like to go on walks: Yes
Does your dog have any fears: sudden intrusion of his space by people and especially hands and stick like objects
Does your dog have any unique traits you have noticed whether in personality or physically: his fur is puppy like soft, like he has been using conditioner; gorgeous honey coloured eyes with a hint of mischief , smirk
What are the 3 first words that come to mind when you think of your dog: Receptive, sensitive, sweet
In a short paragraph Please provide any other details or a brief overview of your foster dog: Lucky, or Lucky boy as his foster mom so fondly calls him, is one of the smartest and most receptive dogs she has cared for. Lucky is a young soul at 1.5 years old with lots of puppy energy and he has the softest hair/fur like he has been conditioning it all his life. He did went through some unfortunate life experiences that caused him to be a little hesitant with some strangers and stick like objects so he will signal his uneasiness with growl and would hide behind his foster mom. He has been pushed too hard before and it has resulted him to nip to gain distances and space. He has made great strides now to look to his foster mom if he is scared and foster mom would remove him from the situation that cause him stress and give him the confidence that he doesn’t have to protect his own space. For that, Lucky is looking for a confident family that is experienced in working with hesitant dogs/ resource guarding dogs like him. Lucky is incredibly smart and receptive to treats (HOT DOGS are his absolute favorite so far) and he looks for a handler that set healthy boundaries with a good reward system; adoptive family is required to continue Lucky’s trade up training for resource guarding as he gets rehome, he may reset on what is his and what is not. Lucky is looking for a home that is quiet with not a lot of coming and going and mostly adults that will respect his space when he is ready to come cuddle them.
Lucky is currently living with two other large breed females and he is obsessed with one of his foster sisters that love to play with him when he needs and respects his space and toys when he is not ready to share. Lucky does great outside on leads and usually cares more about his foster mom than the other dogs. Lucky does come out of his shell quicker with another dog play friend around. Lucky has not been cat tested and is not recommended to. Lucky is best in a home with no young kids so that he can slowly come to terms of his space. Lucky is impeccably house trained/ crate trained (don’t need crates – he is usually non destructive when left out of the crate and he does guard his crate space at times)/ and would do great in a home that has a separate entrance from the neighbours. Back yards are nice to have for Lucky but he can tire himself out with lots of walks, mental games, training. Lucky does love to sit outside with foster mom when she is the garage and people watch. If you think you are the right home for Lucky boy, please email adoptions@freedomdogrescue.ca for more information on how to meet him!
SELENE
Age? 1.5 years
Breed? Potcake
Is your dog good with other dogs? Yes
Is your dog good with cats? Not tested
Is your dog good with kids? Yes
Is your dog house trained? Yes
Is your dog crate trained? No
Does your dog have any special needs? No
Does your dog have any or display any aggression? (Toys, food or people?) She guards toys around other dogs. An isolated incident occurred where she lunged at a child but otherwise she has been great with kids and is currently living with young children.
Is your dog playful? Very
Does your dog like to snuggle? Yes
Does your dog know basic commands? (Sit, stay...) sit, leave it for treats
Does your dog know any special tricks? No
Does your dog like to go on walks? Yes
Does your dog have any fears? No
Does your dog have any unique traits that you have noticed whether in personality or physically? Brown patch around her right eye.
What are the three first words that come to mind when you think of your dog? Intelligent, Playful, friendly.
In a short paragraph, please provide any other details or a brief overview of your foster dog.
Selene is an amazing girl that just arrived from Barbados. She's adapted extremely well to living in a home where everything is new to her. Her best quality is that she's trusting. If something scares her, she looks to her humans for reassurance that it's ok and then she's ok. Selene absolutely loves belly rubs and will roll over just about anywhere for one.
Selene is still a young dog and is very playful. Shes still learning doggie manners and can be a little rough when playing. She would benefit from a home with a large yard or frequent trips to the dog park to let her run free.
Selene is fully house trained. She happily goes to her bed at night time where she sleeps in a closed off area and doesn't make a peep until her foster mom wakes her up to go for a walk.
Selene would benefit from an active household where she will get a lot of exercise. Selene doesn't understand how strong she is and for this reason, she would be best suited to a home with older children (12+).
ZIGGIE
Age: 14 months
Breed: Husky X
Is your dog good with other dogs: Yes, but selective. Better with females and submissive males. Dominate alpha males will cause problems since he has dominant tendencies.
Is your dog good with cats: No
Is your dog good with kids: Would suggest +12 since he is still young and may display some puppy tendencies when hyper (ie., playing)
Is your dog house trained: Yes
Is your dog crate trained: Yes
Does your dog have any special needs: No
Does your dog have any or display any aggression (toys, food, people): Yes. He bite another dog (reason for return) due to jealousy over the humans in the previous adopters house. According to the previous adopters he is also food and toy protective towards other dogs.
Is your dog playful: YES!
Does your dog like to snuggle: Yes! He would always love to snuggle when he can!
Does your dog know basic commands: Sit, stay and come.
Does your dog know any special tricks: No
Does your dog like to go on walks: YES! Ziggy loves being outdoors in general and can go for walks / hikes for hours and never tire!
Does your dog have any fears: Not any that are known.
Does your dog have any unique traits you have noticed whether in personality or physically: No
What are the 3 first words that come to mind when you think of your dog: Intelligent, energetic, and loving.
In a short paragraph Please provide any other details or a brief overview of your foster dog:
Ziggy was an owner surrender due to biting their other dog. Their other dog had to get stitches as it was a severe bite. Ziggy seems fine with females, submissive males or balanced dogs when with me but I believe that I was with a more dominate male that Ziggy would be protective of me and get jealous if I was giving the other dog attention. Moreover, he would most likely try to protect his toys and food more. Besides this, Ziggy is very intelligent and has amazing recall! He’s a HGUE cuddle bug and after a long hike he would love nothing more than to curl up beside me and snooze.