CJAH

Male | 4 months old | 11 pounds (and growing!) | Puppy energy | Has met kids & dogs | Has not met cats | Fostered in Burlington | Curious, Rambunctious and a Quick Learner

Meet CJAH! This playful pup is looking for new “paw-rents” to guide his development and introduce him to the big, wide (and exciting) world out there!  Being a young pup, CJAH would thrive in a family that provides him structure, boundaries, and ongoing training. 

CJAH is a quick learner and very adaptable to new experiences. After a few days of positive associations with his crate, he now happily retreats to his den for naps throughout the day and overnight. He is also learning all about this new “potty” business, and while having an accident or two, is showing improvements every day. Leash training is also going well, and CJAH loves exploring at his own pace, and chasing the blowing leaves.

Now, did we mention that CJAH is a real foodie!? He’s quickly learning that being calm and sitting gets him waaaay more tasty treats than when he jumps up for attention. After an hour or two of play, he loves to settle down with a lick mat or chew. CJAH’s motto is, “work hard and play harder”, so his adopters will need to balance that puppy energy with downtime and rest, so he doesn’t get overtired and act out. 

He would do best in a family with older children, as he still exhibits puppy behaviour such as nipping, and can get mouthy when excited. CJAH has lived with dogs at his prior foster home and would likely do well in a household with other doggie friends. 

Overall, this little guy is brave and is happiest learning the ropes with trusted people by his side. Are you excited to steer this young scruff to being the bestest doggo he can be?

Apply to adopt!

RITZ

Female | 5 months | 16 pounds (and growing) | Typical puppy energy | Curious and friendly with dogs | Hasn’t met kids or cats | Fostered in Mississauga | A sweet, playful pup

Meet RITZ! Nominated for the best listener award (have you seen those ears?), RITZ is one sweet little cracker. Hailing all the way from the Caribbean, RITZ is coming out of her shell and quickly learning the ropes of Canada. This sweet girl prefers to be close to her paw-rents but is becoming more independent and warms up quickly to visitors and other dogs. New environments, car rides, and walking around stores have proven not to be a problem for this girl.

One thing to note about RITZ is that she shows some anxiety on outdoor walks and some fear around loud noises, particularly cars and trucks. Can you blame her for wanting a little peace and quiet with those ears? Her foster family is working very hard to help her become more comfortable with walking on the street, but she is looking for a home in a calmer neighbourhood to continue to help build her confidence on the leash.  

RITZ is friendly with new dogs, so we are sure she would love to have a sidekick to play or hangout with. She hasn’t met any kids but her foster family thinks she will do well with proper introductions. RITZ has taken to her crate training easily for a puppy and she will even let her humans know when she needs to go to the bathroom. Speaking of potty training, she is also catching on very quickly but needs a watchful eye outside, as sometimes puppy curiosity gets the best of her! 

When RITZ is comfortable, she enjoys hanging out with her humans, playing fetch and keeping herself occupied with her toys. She is very eager to please and is picking up basic commands very quickly… like we said, she’s a great listener! 

If you have a little patience and a lot of love to give, RITZ might just be the perfect addition to your life. Apply to adopt and give this affectionate girl the furever home she deserves!

ARMIN

Male | 1.5 years old | 50 pounds | Medium energy | Lives with a dog | Hasn’t met kids or cats | From Mexico | Fostered in Waterloo | Shy & building confidence

Meet ARMIN! Building up his confidence each and every day, we’d like to formally introduce you to scruff ARMIN. You know how some gals are a girls’ girl? Well ARMIN here is a dogs’ dog. While it’s important he still has one on one time with his people (obvi!), he would benefit from living in a home with another confident dog. He looks to other scruffs for guidance, and feels reassured by them in unfamiliar situations, which we kind of love for him.

Here’s the thing. You can 100% expect ARMIN to need some time to warm up to you. Is he secretly a marshmallow under any of those initial nerves of his though? Yep. It’s pretty cool to witness how easily he now exits his crate, which is his safe space. That’s all thanks to time and patience. And, with you by his side, well this scruff will be able to conquer even more!

One of ARMIN’s favourite activities is resting in a quiet corner of the house, the garden…or basically wherever you are to keep an eye on all the goings-on. He lives in a chill home in the suburbs, which is pretty lovely if you ask us, and we can best picture him in an equally calm environment going forward. And about that calm environment, it would be best if he were to live with dog-savvy kiddos, if any. Don’t forget that ARMIN, while practically perfect, can still be skittish.

As we speak, this scruff is busy learning a new routine with his foster family and continues to work on house training. Of course, he’ll continue to learn and need to adapt once he moves into his furever home as well. If bringing ARMIN into your life and home is something that excites you, let us know and apply to adopt!

JAGGER

Male | 7 months old | 45 pounds & growing! | Medium energy | Hasn’t met kids | Lives with a dog and cat | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Fun, affectionate & a quick learner

Meet JAGGER. A fun pup who’s more or less down for anything, it’s safe to say this is a scruff that quickly came out of his shell in a new environment. The environment in question? A foster home in Toronto, complete with a cat, a resident dog, and an outdoor space.

From being found sick on the side of a road as a puppy to living in a shelter until recently, JAGGER has shown himself to be remarkably adaptable, settling in with ease. He peacefully coexists with the cat, giving her space, and quickly bonded with his foster dog sibling, who he looks to for guidance. We said he’s pretty much down for anything and thus far that includes, trail hikes, car rides, to the park for a round of fetch… the list goes on! Basically, what we’re saying is that JAGGER here would be a great adventure buddy.

JAGGER is still figuring out boundaries, so he’d be a great family dog in time, with any interactions with kids supervised as he can get rowdy. He is initially cautious of new people but with guidance has shown to warm up well.

Additionally, his curious side is starting to show, and he’s eager to pull toward interesting smells on walks. Leash training is a work in progress. Having a confident human by his side to help him navigate new surroundings will set him up for success. It’s his first month outside of the shelter and so all things are new!

Being clear about what you’re asking of him helps JAGGER show off his best self, and he responds well to praise, affection and treats. Oh and he loves belly rubs!

Apply to adopt!

BUDDY - ADOPTION IN PROGRESS

Male | 5 months old | 25lbs | Puppy energy | Has met kids of all ages | Playful with dogs | Coexists with a cat | From Costa Rica | Fostered in Hamilton | Playful, easygoing & sweet | Loves to learn

Looking for a new pup to join your family? Meet BUDDY! All the way from Costa Rica, BUDDY is a 5-month-old puppy, whose fosters describe as gentle, friendly and inquisitive.

While only 5 months old, BUDDY’s personality is already shining through! He is a real people pleaser and responds well to commands. He has already learned “drop it” and is easily redirected with a toy when his puppy mischief wins out. He has taken well to his crate and readily goes in with minimal fuss before settling down. His potty training is coming along nicely with only minimal mishaps. And to top it off, his foster pawrents rate his leash skills at an amazing 4 out of 5! What a rockstar you are, BUDDY!

While he can be timid when meeting new people, dogs or cats, he quickly warms up to them, and his playful nature emerges. He has been successfully introduced to kids, dogs and cats, and slow introductions are best to build his confidence. He takes the lead from his foster doggie brother and would do well in a family with a furry sibling to show him the ropes.

BUDDY’s ideal family would be an active household that can provide him with the adventures, companionship, and structure that a puppy needs to grow and thrive. BUDDY’s dream day consists of a short walk, followed by a nap in his crate, a game of fetch, and ending the day snuggling up with his humans. He has been successfully left in his crate for up to 4 hours and has done wonderfully. Know that BUDDY is a true snuggle bug at heart, so his ideal family would be home more often than not.

If you are looking for a loyal, devoted companion to join your family, and you can’t resist those puppy dog eyes, apply to adopt BUDDY! Apply today!

ZAPOTE - ADOPTION IN PROGRESS

Male | 1 year old | 33 pounds | Medium energy | Dog-friendly | Has met kids | Hasn’t met cats | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Happy-go-lucky cuddlebug

The fruit version might be compared to chocolate pudding or pumpkin pie, but we guarantee he’s even sweeter — it’s ZAPOTE!

Settling into his first real home in foster care, this loving scruff is proving to be a quick learner. ZAPOTE has already mastered the elevator, is gaining confidence around loud noises and his routine, and is ripening into a wonderful walking buddy (even if he occasionally stops to taste-test the vegetation along the way).

Like many scruffs adjusting to a brand-new life, ZAPOTE is still learning to feel comfortable on his own, but he’s making great progress and is even practicing his ‘place’ cue. At night he only needs a few hugs and pets before bed and he’ll sleep like an angel. Currently, ZAPOTE spends a couple of workdays home alone each week, so he’ll need continued support as he works toward a full 9-5 routine.

Sweet as pie ZAPOTE also loves pretty much any dog he meets, and a confident canine companion would likely become his build-in best friend. He shows very little prey-drive, if any, so with slow introductions, we think ZAPOTE could also happily share his home with a feline friend.

ZAPOTE has also met a few kids, and while he can get a bit excited and forget to keep his paws on the floor, he seems genuinely happy to meet everyone he encounters. Dog-savvy kiddos who understand he’s still young would be his best match.

He’s a surprisingly athletic guy, too! If someone were to introduce ZAPOTE to dock-diving one day, his foster dad thinks he’d be a pro.

It might not be a coincidence that Black Dog Appreciation Month falls in the same season as pumpkin pie 🥧 Sweet ZAPOTE is ready to be picked by his forever family. Could that be you? 🖤 Submit the questionnaire below!

WREN - ADOPTION IN PROGRESS

Female | 1 year old | 35 pounds | Low-Medium energy | Limited interactions with dogs | Hasn’t met kids or cats | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | A shy, affectionate girl

Sporting a polka-dot-dipped tail & sweet speckled socks, she might be your sole-mate — meet WREN!

Since arriving in Toronto from Mexico, this shy girl has been slowly coming out of her shell to show just how sweet she is. Once she’s completely comfortable (and she settled into home life quickly) you can often find WREN snoozing on her back with her paws up in the air. Showing off her independent side already as well, she might roll over or pop her head up if you leave the room, but she’s perfectly content to wait for your return before greeting you with the happiest tail wags and kisses.

Smartie-pants WREN mastered the elevator and timing her potty breaks within a day or two, and she’s learning other scruffs are fun to see out in the wild. Living in a high-dog-traffic area, she can sometimes freeze or be timid when spotting bigger dogs outside, but with confidence from her handler, and treats when she quickly disengages, WREN has been becoming much more comfortable sharing their space.

With humans, she would prefer if you let her come to you. Pretend she’s not there, maybe have a little cheese nearby, and soon enough WREN will be ready to be your best friend. She’ll be asking for scritches on her ears and fancy tuxedo chest and happily falling asleep near the action. Everyone who meets her says, “she is the cutest and sweetest girl” 💖

Fun fact: the magic ingredient with this girl is cheese 🧀✨ (try peanut butter and you could be frenemies, at best).

Ready to give WREN the love, patience and comfort she needs to keep growing her confidence? The reward is a lifetime of snuggles. Apply to adopt WREN!

BRUNO

Male | 10 years old | 66 pounds | Medium energy | Best as a solo dog for now and with dog-savvy kids | Hasn’t met cats | From Hamilton | Fostered in Toronto | Affectionate & chill

Giving the loveliest chill senior scruff vibes, we’re pleased to introduce you to BRUNO. At ten years old, BRUNO is in his senior years with the cool, calm, and collected nature to show for it.

Right off the bat, we (and BRUNO!) would like his potential adopter(s) to know that BRUNO is busy enjoying life, even with early stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). This means his kidneys aren’t working as efficiently. This was diagnosed early, and with proper nutrition, vet checkups and monitoring, this lifelong condition can continue to be well-managed.

This scruff’s ideal day involves spending a good chunk of time with his humans. It might just be his favourite thing! Bonus points if they are eager to give him a nice head scratch. Of course, he’s learning boundaries and is working on his independence when his people are busy with work or other such activities.

A day in his life involves a few medium-sized walks throughout the day, about 30 minutes each. We love how confident a walker he is, though this confidence does result in some pulling here and there! He’s working on it. BRUNO and his foster family also work through short daily training sessions. Both recall and crate training are a work in progress.

In a future home, BRUNO is the kind of scruff who would likely be his most comfortable self as the only dog, at least for now. He’s shown some reactivity towards both small and large dogs when outside, which typically presents as whining and pacing. Having a confident leader by his side to help guide him in these scenarios will ensure he continues to progress in this area.

Friendly with adults, it’s likely BRUNO will walk right up to you for a sniff and some affection! When it comes to kids, he’s mostly indifferent, though he’s fine to have them approach him. 

Think he’s the one for you? Think you’re the one(s) for him? Apply to adopt!

BRUNO is currently in Toronto and available for informal meet & greets with his foster to see if it's a good fit. Email adoption@saveourscruff.org to set this up!

Please note: Adoption fees for senior scruffs vary depending on age, breed, and health! BRUNO’s adoption fees are $550.