Lillian

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.                                   

Meet Lillian! This little gal is certainly one of a kind. Lillian is a Cocker Spaniel /Poodle cross with a silky soft coat of apricot coloured fur and the cutest little button nose. She very much resembles a little teddy bear. Lillian is currently quite small in stature weighing in at a whopping 5lbs, while the size of full grown cockapoos may vary depending on their parentage they can range from 15-25lbs. Lillian’s other unique trait is a missing front left paw. It is suspected that she was born this way and while it may seem sad, don’t let this colour your opinion of this tenacious little lady! She is quite active and runs around like any other pup.

Lillian has come to PDR at quite a young age after being discarded by a large-scale breeding operation because of her missing foot. Although she was a bit shy for her first few days in foster care, her personality has quickly blossomed. And what a personality she has! Lillian (also nicknamed “Silly-ian”) loves to play with toys, wrestle with her foster brother (who happens to also be a tripod puppy) and explore around the yard. She loves to “talk” and grumble at her foster siblings while she plays which is incredibly sweet and charming to watch. She has not quite started her teething phase, but future families should remember that puppies need constant supervision as they like to chew and explore everything with their little shark teeth. Lillian is no exception, as she loves to chew on toys and all of the sticks she can find outside. So far Lillian is showing herself to be a very smart cookie, picking up on the routine of day to day life quite quickly. She has not yet learned any formal commands, but has started learning to walk on a leash. She has been learning about crate training, and spends her evenings and times when her foster family is out of the house in her crate. She can be a bit dramatic when she first goes into her crate but settles quickly and curls up for naps. Crate training is an excellent tool to keep puppies safe when they are unattended and to help them develop a sense of independence while not with their “pack”.

Lillian has had a visit with the vet, has been given her first puppy vaccinations, and has been treated for fleas/ticks/intestinal parasites. She is not yet old enough for her rabies vaccine which will need to be administered later on. She is also too young to have been spayed. During her initial check up our veterinary team found that she has a small reducible hernia that will be fixed at her spay. It is not causing her any pain or limitations at this time. Anyone interested in Lillian needs to live within 1hr of Paris,, Ont as she must be returned to our vet later on to be spayed. At this time we will also be having her leg amputated. It currently throws off her balance as she tries to put it down but missing a foot, it causes her issues. Our vet has recommended amputation for her well being and for her to have better stability. Dogs do very well on 3 legs and her current foster brother is a great example of how well little dogs do on 3 legs and how much more agile they are. She will be adopted out on a contract that stipulates this and it is mandatory. This is covered in the adoption fee

Lillian has been working on her potty training, which like most puppies is a work in progress that requires consistency from her humans and lots of patience. If she is in sight of the door she will often run towards it when she has to do her business and has even trained herself on how to use the “potty bells” to let us know she needs out. However if she is distracted by playing or further from the door she is less motivated to let us know she has to go!! Lillian’s forever family should know that puppies need to be taken outside for bathroom breaks very regularly when they are small and will not be able to hold it for an 8hr work day. She can only hold off during the day for a max of 3 to 4 hrs at this age so her forever family will need to be able to accommodate a puppy schedule. She is also still waking up 1-2 times in the night for a potty break.

We are looking for families that are fully aware of the time commitment of a puppy and the work involved. Puppies are a total joy and bring so much love and happiness into a home, but you cannot underestimate the work and time involved in raising a puppy properly. It is also extremely important that Lillian’s adopters do not baby her because of her tripod status. She is a very capable puppy with tenacity and spunk. To limit her or treat her differently because of her leg would be doing her a disservice. With her high intelligence and energy she will need a family that is committed to good training, and introducing her to new challenges and adventures. This will help her to continue building confidence, and growing into a well rounded adult.

While Lillian has appreciated having a yard of her own to explore she could do well in an apartment or condo setting so long as she has quick safe access to places to do her business, and is given lots of opportunities to get out into the world and explore. She has mastered going upstairs but due to her small size has not quite figured out going down. Should she be in a home with multiple steps, her family will need to be patient as she learns this skill.

Lillian has been very well behaved with the other dogs that she has met, and so far has not shown any interest in small animals outside. She has not been tested with cats. We think she would do well with an older dog sibling to show her the ropes, but also would do great as a solo dog in a home.She could also learn to adapt to sharing her home with a cat with slow controlled introductions. Because of her age and small size she needs a family with children 8 years of age or older who can handle puppy antics, be careful to close doors, and understand that sometimes hands look like toys when playing and can be nipped.

Lillian has been such a treat to foster. Her spunky demeanor, and sweet snuggles have quickly made her one of our favorite fosters to date. She is looking for a person or family who fully understand that having a disability right now in no way means she should be felt sorry for. Lillian is 100% puppy energy and antics and needs to be treated as such. We are looking for her family to embrace puppy training and dog school and be up for the energy level of a young Cockapoo. Her family needs to understand that this breed needs regular grooming appointments and brushing and tidying up at home in between. She is not hypoallergenic but is a lower shedding breed mix suitable for many with mild allergies. She is a real treasure and will be an amazing addition to her future family.