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Please read our dog bios carefully to be sure that the dog you are applying for suits your family and lifestyle. At Pound Dog Rescue, we believe in the benefits of post-adoption training for our dogs and their families. This allows for continued socialization, and learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. Post-adoption training is a requirement in our adoption process.
I am delighted to introduce Caleb a 9 month old Lab/Hound mix. Caleb came to our rescue from a local pound with a leg injury that has since healed. Caleb is a very handsome pup with very soft beige markings that don’t show up in his photos. He is currently 24 kilograms or 53 pounds and about full grown. He is an energetic and playful boy who requires a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. We go on multiple walks each day with a total of at least 6 km daily. Several times a week we go to local conservation areas for a 5 km hike and on those days we may reach 9 or 10 km in total. I believe Caleb would be a good candidate for agility training in the future once his basic obedience classes are finished. Best advice I was given is that a well behaved puppy is a tired puppy.
Caleb no longer follows me as my shadow and is happy to relax on his own in another room while I’m busy elsewhere. He spends much of his time in the living room where he has taken over the couch as his favourite go to place. Caleb quickly learned the sit command and automatically sits to have his lead put on for our walks and also when we return home. We have an after walk routine which he loves. Once his leash is off he goes to the couch and wiggles himself silly until I come to give him tummy rubs which he loves. He can get excited and try to mouth me so I always have a toy for him to chew on instead. The sit command calms him down. Caleb enjoys snuggling in beside me on the couch. He thrives on affection and praise. When I go on my yoga mat for my practice Caleb thinks I’m fair game for play and will snuggle into my butt while I do leg lifts or drive me crazy with his squeaky toy trying to distract me and play with him.
I have had several different people over to visit. Once Caleb greets them gently he curls up on the nearby couch or will lie under the card table with his head on one person’s feet and his butt on someone else. Most people are amazed to learn he’s still a puppy because he is so calm and gentle. He loves people and welcomes visitors.
In the house Caleb is pretty good on the recall command . I have taken him on a 50 foot long line to a green space nearby so he can get in some running. His recall can be comical as he comes running full speed and doesn’t always stop in time. I have to do a quick side step so he doesn’t run into me. It’s a work in progress. Caleb loves being outdoors and he spends time on a 30 foot long line in my backyard since I don’t have a fenced in yard. He is content to observe, chew his toys and explore while I work in the garden nearby.
In the morning when I open his crate Caleb does a big stretch and then waits for an all over body rub before heading to the kitchen for a treat puzzle and waits for me to get my shoes on to go for our first walk of the day. He is very patient and once he sees I’m ready he comes over to get his lead put on.
At the writing of this bio Caleb has been with me for a few months and has made amazing progress. He is a very intelligent puppy who is quick to learn. I have trained Caleb on the gentle leader because of his size and strength, but he rarely pulls when walking unless he catches a scent he really wants to follow . I was expecting him to pull when he encountered bunnies, squirrels and chipmunks but he just stops and watches them until they disappear and then he continues on his walk. Caleb spotted a baby toad on the road one night and was fascinated. He gently nudged it with his nose and it did a little hop forward. Caleb continued this gentle play for several minutes before we resumed our walk.
Caleb is a very social puppy who loves to meet both people and other dogs.. He is very gentle with these encounters and is a bit sad when I won’t let him meet everyone on our walks. He automatically sits patiently when others approach hoping I’ll let him meet. This is something he learned to do all by himself. Because he’s a big puppy he can seem a bit intimidating to little dogs so we usually meet at a 3 foot distance. Caleb recently met my neighbours 2 cats in a friendly manner. He has no problem with cars passing by but large trucks and the back up noise made by the garbage truck startled him. Caleb is being fostered in a small rural community with nearby green spaces for his walks.
Caleb settles well in my suv on a tether. If there’s a passenger in the back seat he’ll snuggle into them looking for a treat. When I put the rear window wiper on it startled him and he barked at it. Caleb is highly food motivated. Unless he’s being rewarded for obedience training sessions he has to work for his treats. He was quick to solve a level 1 and 2 treat puzzle and I have had to go to a higher level to stimulate his brain. Caleb can be a counter surfer so all food needs to be kept out of his reach. He is a bottomless pit with a healthy appetite just like any growing puppy. During the day when it’s getting near meal time Caleb will sometimes sit and look longingly at the kitchen counter where his treat and kibble containers are kept hoping I’ll give in. Caleb drinks a lot and should have access to the outdoors for a bathroom break every 4 hours or so. He does hold for 8 hours overnight.
Caleb likes his human to be home more than away. He rarely barks or whines unless I leave the house. He is crated when I leave the house and he will whine for a few minutes when I first leave and then remains quiet until my return. I have checked with my neighbours to verify this. Caleb may regress when he moves to his forever home but with patience and time it can be overcome. Because of this Caleb would not be suitable for an apartment or condo where he would disturb neighbours. Caleb goes into his crate willingly with a treat and sleeps quietly through the night. He will sometimes wander into his crate during the day to see if he’s left a treat behind.
Caleb is a wonderful pup full of love, energy and a sweet gentle nature. He is looking for a home preferably with a fenced in yard where he can free play and run to work off his high energy. His family needs to be outdoor oriented and willing to spend the time walking and hiking that this puppy needs. He would be fine with older children, over 6yrs of age, who would enjoy teaching Caleb how to play fetch. Caleb shouldn’t be left on his own for a full workday and would benefit from someone who worked from home or a family with alternate schedules so someone is home more often. Caleb is looking for a family who has the time and energy to help this sweet puppy reach his full potential. If you’re that family please consider Caleb. He’s so worth it.