ADOPTED
Looking for a loving male dog with loads of personality and true loyalty?…. then Vinnie is your guy!! This cutie is 
looking for his forever family and he will be such a fun pup for the right person or family. Vinnie is a true favourite of his foster family and will certainly be missed, but he is ready to find his perfect forever home and provide another lucky person or family with his happy, loving, super sweet personality and companionship. Read on to learn more about this great pup.Vinnie is an adorable 4 1/2 month old, 36 lb (and growing) German Shepherd mix puppy who will grow to be the size of a large breed. Vinnie is a high energy working dog who enjoys playing with his foster-dog sibling, walking the trails and relaxing on the deck after a busy day. He will not be a good fit for those with allergies, as he does shed and it can be quite a bit, seasonally. He has short black fur with tan legs, face and belly.
Vinnie was abandoned and unclaimed at the shelter by his owners when he was just 10weeks old. We expect the realities of puppy ownership didn’t meet the romantic visions of puppy ownership and Vinnie was abandoned. This situation is extremely unfortunate but will be for the best. He will find a forever home with a family who loves this sassy dog as much as we do!
Vinnie has many German Shepherd characteristics which will require an adopter who is familiar with a working dog. Someone who has experience with this breed is preferred. Vinnie is wanting to work and so smart, with a working dog energy. He is also a bit of a dramatic dog who likes to sometimes play dead when he doesn’t get his way. He will roll over on his back and stay very still for 30 seconds, then without warning he will roll back over and spring to his feet as if nothing happened.
An active household is required to best suit Vinnie’s needs. He would not be the type of dog to sit around the house or in the backyard without activity. However, he is quite happy to relax on the deck and enjoy some down time after a busy outing. Most of his downtime on the deck includes scouting out the location of the local birds and squirrels. He prefers to have his own lawn chair on the deck as it gives him a much better view! He would be a good choice for an adopter who is interested in dog sports and Agility. He is highly intelligent and learns quickly. He needs a lot of mental and physical stimulation to be happy. His ideal home would have plenty of room with a backyard for a large active dog. A fenced yard
is preferred to allow for outdoor play.
Vinnie is a very busy puppy who likes to spend his day exploring every toy that was ever invented for dogs. He loves to chew on rawhides or any soft chew toy that he can find. Since he is currently teething, any potential adopters will need to help him navigate through this stage. He will need plenty of chew toys and constant supervision to prevent him from eating anything that may harm him. Adopters will need to be patient and firm with him as he learns what he may and may not chew. When unsupervised and overnight, Vinnie stays in his crate to keep him safe. He can be coaxed into his crate fairly easily with a treat. Vinnie is also a friendly and happy puppy who loves his people and getting a lot of cuddles..in between play sessions of course!
Vinnie enjoys his morning and afternoon walks. He loves to see people and other dogs along the way and would love to greet every one of t
hem if he could. He will need plenty of playtime and at least an hour walk every day to keep him happy and healthy. Vinnie is completely housetrained and will go to the door or pace to let you know he needs to go out. Occasionally he will vocalize if it is an emergency.
Vinnie is an amazing traveler for both long and short distance. He will hop up into the car with a little encouragement (usually a treat!) and make himself at home. On the longer car rides, he will lay up against our luggage or curl up on a coat in the back seat. He will usually settle quite quickly and snooze for most of the trip.
Toys are very important to Vinnie. He holds high value in many of his toys which he constantly brings to his bed and will usually toss in the air to show off his latest prize possession! We have traded out toy for toy and more recently toy for treat. He prefers the treat over toys every time. He will give up anything he is holding immediately with a liver bite.
Liver bites are Vinnie’s favourite treat. He is extremely food driven and will give full attention to any hand holding a treat. He is very much like a black hole when it comes to food as he can never eat enough! He is quick to please when there is a treat at stake. He knows the command sit and come very well. Although his love for food is helpful for training, the adopting family will need to make sure he is not over fed.
Vinnie is not a dog that is suited to young children. If there are children in the house, they should be at least 10+. Vinnie loves other dogs. He would be happy on his own or with another dog that enjoys playing and rough housing.
Any adopter must be confident and experienced with dogs. We want Vinnie to be the very best boy he can be and a well-trained and well-mannered dog. Vinnie is very respectful of a confident leader and wants and needs that firm but fair direction. He is not a pup for those unwilli
ng or unable to be the leader but he will be a dream dog for those who are confident, experienced dog handlers and who will have high expectations for their dog. Vinnie will need guidance and positive reinforcement training to live his best life. Those adopting him will need to commit to obedience training post-adoption, to advanced levels. Attention to proper socialization and training will be necessary.
Vinnie is on the lookout for his forever home! If this sweet pup is what you are looking for, please fill out an application.