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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.
Lentil is a senior male neutered Pug mix. He has a dark brindle coat with a dusting of white in his older years, is just under 30lbs, and the perfect size for some golden year snuggles and adventures.
Lentil found his way into rescue as an unclaimed stray at a local animal control. For an older dog, that is a big change, as he probably lived with the same owner for his whole life. The shelter recognized him as a dog who needed another chance and a warm home to retire in, and he came into Pound Dog Rescue’s care.
At 12yrs old Lentil truly puts into perspective the “age is just a number” adage as this dog has a lot of spring in his step! While at home Lentil enjoys following you from room to room and will make a comfy bed out of anything available including a dog bed, piece of paper, couch, a bag or laundry and have a good snooze. He loves to drill his face into pillows, blankets and couches. He is not destructive indoors and is calm and happy to rest nearby. He doesn’t expect or demand physical affection, but is happy to have some gentle pats and scratches. As long as he has company, he is relatively quiet indoors. He is not bothered by typical household noises like the vacuum, coffee grinder, blender, etc. He jumps up on couches and has no issues with stairs or different types of flooring.
Outdoors, he enjoys going on long walks and appreciates a brisk pace. At the beginning of the walk sometimes he pulls a bit to get going, but settles into a well-mannered walk at your side. He is currently walked on a martingale collar to prevent collar-slipping, but he has not been the type to startle at outdoor noises. He enjoys sniffing, but also enjoys having a destination in mind and does not linger on the same spot for very long. He is not reactive to other dogs or wildlife on walks, and is not bothered by heavier foot or vehicle traffic. On walks in the city he is distracted by open doors into shops, and would probably enjoy visiting dog-friendly stores with his forever family, as he always seems in the shopping mood. He does also like to say hello to strangers that are passing by if they seem interested in him. He does not have any significant mobility issues, but we give him a glucosamine supplement proactively in his older age to help keep him comfortable and spry. He can be a little stiff after a walk and a long nap, but warms out of it with a bit of movement. He had a thorough exam by his veterinarian and it was determined he has some stiffness in his elbows which isn’t uncommon for a dog of his age, and his joint mobility can be supported long-term by providing additional supplements like omega-3 fatty acids and collagen and discussing any additional medications with your veterinarian. He currently walks about once a day for about 30-50 mins without issue, and would probably walk longer with you or enjoy split walks just as much. Although his facial features are not as severe as a purebred pug, he is still considered brachycephalic (short-faced) and his new home should be mindful of the amount of exercise he has in hot weather, due to issues of thermoregulation and overheating with short-faced breeds.
In regards to housetraining, Lentil has been doing fairly well. He does not urinate in the house, and has never lifted his leg to mark, but may have an accident in a
new location. He has had some bowel movements indoors as his system was quite stressed from being in the shelter and changing diets while we were learning his habits, but has been much better since. It will be best to give him either a short walk up and down the street or a bit of yard time in the morning to give him time to fully empty his system as he tends to use a few spots before he is ready to come back indoors. He will likely need a little time to adjust to his forever home but understands to eliminate outdoors in general and will use the bathroom immediately once he is outside. He is learning the cue “duties” and will look to you for his food reward after a successful trip.
Kennel and independence training is a work in progress for Lentil. We have tried a few strategies for Lentil, such as an exercise pen, baby gates, different sizes and varieties of kennels with mixed success. Lentil does not enjoy being alone, and will bark for some time once he is left alone. Sometimes he settles easily on his own, but he generally will bark if there is any barrier or sense of restriction between you and him. He was likely a constant companion in his previous life, and the upheaval of losing that person has been confusing for him. As a result, we recommend a home where there are family members at home more often than not, such as a family with a retired person, a larger family with varied out of home hours or a work-from-home setup. Lentil does not seem to bond too strongly to a single person, and would be happy with a rotation of friends to keep him company. He will bark when left alone, and will not do well in an apartment or condo setting for that reason. We have continued kennel training him while he is learning house training and in general there will be situations in his life where he will need to be confined in some sense (for example, at the vet) but learning this skill has been a slow process for him. Any future kennel training must be paired with positive associations such as a nice treat in his kennel to help him cope with being alone. He is not destructive in his kennel and has never had a urine or bowel movement in his kennel. He will sleep once he has barked for some time, and is always happy to come out of his kennel. While he goes in when positioned in front of the kennel and is asked to do so, it is unlikely he will ever genuinely enjoy time in his kennel or choose to sleep there on his own. In the future once he is more settled and used to your routine, he will enjoy sleeping in the bed with you at night (and has done so without any issues), and will most certainly hang out on the couch with you. He will not be happy in a home where he will be left alone for a regular standard workweek without some alternative support (daytime human companionship of some kind) in place.
Being a social fellow, Lentil has never met a stranger. He is happy to approach new people of all kinds for a quick hello, and returns to his person after. He is polite and gentle when greeting other people for a quick sniff and a pat, but is not the type of dog to show obvious outward enthusiasm for new people. He is not the type to jump up to meet you, but will be quietly by your side with a gentle tail wag. He will sit with guests and hang out with them immediately but is not demanding of their attention, and likes to gently lick hands in greeting. He is just a nice presence to have around, and won’t mind guests who visit frequently or visiting new places and people. He has been non-reactive to new people in his home or yard during his time in foster care. While he has not met any children directly, we expect Lentil to do well with children who would like a snuggle buddy.
He is also very social, polite and friendly with other dogs. While he probably won’t make a good companion for a younger dog that wants him to play, he will make an excellent snuggle buddy or confidence booster for a less-confident dog friend. He has shown some mild interest in playing with our dogs if a human is throwing a ball, but he is otherwise indifferent to other dogs playing around him. He is very courteous and introduces himself to other dogs in a slow, gentle way, and is not intrusive or bothersome. He shares his space without issue and is happy to lie down with other dogs on the same bed or couch (or sometimes partially on top of them) with no signs of discomfort or resource guarding. He also has no issues with resource guarding food or toys that we have witnessed, both with people and other animals. Lentil is currently fostered with two female dogs who are slightly larger than him, and has met both a giant breed dog and smaller male dog in his time with us, and is always curious but polite.
Lentil is also cat friendly. He is fostered with two dog-savvy cats, and has always been very respectful of them. He gives cats a gentle sniff and then leaves them alone. He doesn’t mind cats playing near him or any of the quick playful movements our cats make. Coupled with his lack of prey drive outdoors, we don’t expect any issues housing Lentil with cats. He will also share his bed and couch space with them happily and isn’t frightened of them.
Lentil is very food motivated! He takes treats very gently and is not picky about what he eats. We did have to curb some table-side begging when he first came to his foster home, as he essentially pulled up a chair for dinner the first night in our home. We started crating him with a treat to enjoy during our meals to help him understand, and rewarding him with dog treats for providing distance from the table, and he rarely begs at the table now, although you may hear him make a soft pout in the distance. We believe Lentil was fed table scraps in the past and it is certainly not beyond him to lick unminded plates or dropped food should he be given the chance. For his health and best behaviour habits, we don’t recommend feeding table scraps as they can cause digestive upset and nutritional imbalances. Lentil has no problems eating his kibble and he loves his meal times. We usually feed him with the dish slightly in his kennel to create positive associations with the kennel, and we only don’t fully close the door because he tends to spill the dish if he is in there with it with the door closed.
Being food-motivated, Lentil is easily trainable. He has learned how to sit, has excellent threshold manners (i.e. does not burst through the door), to enter his kennel and is learning recall. He seems to understand pointing and other gestures, even though he seems to lack a foundation of formal training. He is willing to learn, and a training class will only strengthen his bond with his person. Training is very good to keep older minds active as well, and will only be an additional health benefit for Lentil. He has the cutest head tilt when he is trying to figure out what you are saying, and is motivated to please people.
Lentil is generally very easy to handle. He does not have any body-handling concerns that we have noted, and has no issues with nail trims, baths, or general handling. He may flinch on occasion before a touch so we are not sure if he has mild sensory issues or had rough handling in the past, but we usually talk to him before touching and have noticed less flinching over time. He is very patient and still, and we reinforce good feelings with a cookie or two. While he is a pug mix, he lacks most of the face wrinkles that require regular maintenance and we haven’t found his short, bristly, single-layer coat to require any daily brushing. He does not seem to shed very much, but this may change in the spring during the typical “shedding season” as his breed mix does typically shed. He tolerates sweaters and jackets well, and will require one in the cold weather to help keep him warm, being a smaller, short-coated, older dog. Lentil also doesn’t mind being picked up and carried, and will hop up to help you lift him once he senses you are going to pick him up.
Lentil seems experienced with car rides, and is always excited to hop in the car, but can be a little aimless once the vehicle is in motion. He tends to march back
and forth and jump up on the windows in the backseat and has a tough time settling at first. Eventually he does lay down and rest. He is not nauseous in the car. He may benefit from a car crate as we expect he would tangle himself in a leash restraint or harness system.
Lentil is ready for his forever home. As long as someone is around most of the time, he will suit many living situations. You can find some of his foster adventures @twiceluckyfosters on Instagram. Thank you for considering a rescue dog!