FETCH

Male | 7 months old | Medium energy | Hasn’t met kids or cats | Limited exposure to dogs | From Ontario | Fostered in Toronto | Quick learner | Playful & affectionate

This is FETCH. He’s just a scruff who loves nothing more than being by his human’s side all day long! Inside the home is where FETCH is his most confident self. It’s also where he gets the zoomies! It makes sense, then, that inside is where he shows off his playful and even his more affectionate side. That’s certainly something to look forward to.

Highly affectionate, FETCH is getting the hang of this thing called boundaries. He’d much rather be all up in your face, giving you puppy kisses! Not to worry, though. He is just fine when crated, meaning you can rest easy when it’s time to put him to bed at night. Throughout the day, FETCH has his time nicely balanced between crating (his safe space!) and free roaming. Of course, he also goes for a few shorter walks throughout the day. As he gets more comfortable and gains confidence in new surroundings, he may enjoy going on longer neighbourhood tours.

Let’s get into his training. FETCH knows basic commands, is house-trained, and walks well on leash. He’s also food-motivated and is a huge wiggle bum when treats or food of any kind are on the line! Yes, he knows how to listen, but his excitement sure can kick in! A quiet environment where his people help him develop trust at his own pace, with a gentle approach and consistent routine, is what he’s in search of.

FETCH has yet to meet kids and is likely to do best with older, dog-savvy kids for now. Keep in mind that while he has a curious nature and his independence is starting to grow, he is still timid. He’s curious about other dogs, though again, he prefers interacting with those that are calm. He might benefit from living with another dog to help build his confidence.

Think you may have just found your new BFF? Apply to adopt! He’ll be waiting for belly rubs in the meantime.

LUPITA

Female | 5 years old | 15 pounds | Medium energy | Enjoys meeting other dogs | Coexists with a cat | Hasn’t met kids | From Mexico | Fostered in Toronto | Quirky & loving

Meet LUPITA! She’s a friendly, easy-going gal who has really grown into her quirky self since being in foster care. We’re impressed at just how quickly she became comfortable in a new environment, and love to hear from her foster family that LUPITA is eagerly showing off her best independent self.

This scruff takes her human’s lead. She enjoys going for a few walks a day, and we could see her having fun on a hike if you’re into that kinda’ thing. She’s also got a playful side, and it’s in those moments that she likes to play independently with her toys. Having a lazy Sunday afternoon? She’d be into that too, as she happens to love a good cuddle/nap sesh. Honestly, she’s really just happy to be here and included in your activities.

Like we said earlier, LUPITA is an easy-going gal. Keep in mind, though, that it’s still necessary to set and maintain boundaries as she might test you a bit once she gets comfortable! Since we’re already talking about training, you should know that she’s highly food-motivated. She’s housebroken, crate-trained, and is currently working on the commands down and place.

What else? LUPITA is tolerant of her foster family’s cat (and vice versa!), though this scruff is still learning boundaries and can get a bit too in the cat’s space when excited. She quickly gets the hint that their cat isn’t into it and will carry on. When it comes to dogs, she easily meets and greets them, and for the most part, will typically do her own thing after a brief interaction. And kids? She’d likely enjoy meeting kids as she wags her tail when they pass by, though she’s still working on not jumping when excited!

Ready to adopt this sweet, silly, quirky gal? Apply today!

RIGATONI

Male | 1 year old | 73 pounds | High energy | Best as a solo dog | Hasn’t met kids or cats | From Ontario | Fostered in Toronto | Sociable & happy-go-lucky | Quick learner

Meet RIGATONI, your future best friend and outdoors sidekick! This handsome, high-energy pup is full of life (and beans) and absolutely thrives on human connection and active days. He has so much love and enthusiasm to give that he’s looking for an active household with the time, patience, and energy to keep up with him.

This scruff is a quick learner, food-motivated and generally listens well. He is starting to understand what’s expected of him, including boundaries. He’s already house-trained, and absolutely loves his crate. He’s currently partway through Obedience Level 1 at K9 Academy, where he has learned heel and place, and is continuing to build his recall!

For RIGATONI, the “tired dog, happy dog” mantra really holds true—when he gets enough exercise (2-3 hours per day), he’s at his absolute best. If his needs aren’t fully met, he can become restless and have trouble settling, often seeking extra attention or stimulation until he has had a proper outlet for his energy. He’s had experience with canicross before (he loved it!) and, if you’re a runner, he’d love to join you. His foster family has also found it beneficial to incorporate additional playtime throughout the day, along with enrichment activities. We’re talking snuffle mats, games of fetch or tug, flirt pole sessions, and tasty frozen Kongs.

RIGATONI typically spends workdays at home with one of his humans who works remotely and enjoys three daily walks. On days when both humans are away at the office all day, he would benefit from a dog walker to help break up his day to keep him happy and exercised.

Let’s chat about his size. RIGATONI is big and physically strong. He jumps when over-stimulated and, due to his size and strength, we’re searching for a home for him that does not have kids. He would also likely thrive in a home where he’s the only pet! While he’s absolutely learning how to coexist with his foster scruff sister, he’s still developing social skills and how to take cues from other dogs, especially when they might not want to play. It’s a process, and he’s getting there!

MILEY

Female | 1 year old | 80 pounds | Medium energy | Has met kids | Friendly with dogs and cats | From Ontario | Fostered in Erin | Affectionate, smart & goofy

Meet MILEY. At one year old, MILEY is a young and playful scruff looking for a forever home that’s just as loving as they are coachable! MILEY is likely to grow into a large guardian breed dog and, as such, needs a confident human looking to grow and learn alongside her with continued training.

Some of MILEY’s favourite things include playing outside, going for long walks (and hikes if you’re up for it!), and exploring nature to her heart’s content. She’s got a mild interest in small animals, but only ever gives them a half-hearted chase. After a day of play and outdoor time, you’ll find that MILEY does well with decompressing in her crate and is just as content practicing the place command. She’s well-trained, this scruff, and it’s that kind of structured day where she has time to practice skills that will have her progressing even more in a new home.

Before coming into SOS care, MILEY was living in a shelter environment, with few opportunities to work on her socialization skills and interactions with people. This led to a bite incident where this scruff acted defensively. Routine, patience, and structure, combined with gentle socialization and handling, will set her up for continued success going forward (just like it already has done!).

While MILEY doesn’t necessarily want strangers going up and petting her, she’s become more trusting and is affectionate and loving with those she trusts. Her interactions with people have progressed, and she’s recently started befriending kids during monitored interactions! While this scruff has yet to experience city living, we expect that with a little time and patience, she’d do just fine.

If you’re someone who’s looking forward to continuing this scruff’s training, then you might be the one for her! Apply to adopt!