NECTAR - APP IN PROCESS

Female | 3 months old | 11 pounds | Puppy energy | Hasn’t met kids, dogs or cats | Fostered in Toronto | Affectionate & loves a cuddle | Busy learning lots

As the legend goes, NECTAR was the drink of the Greek and Roman gods. With its magical powers, we thought we should introduce you to an equally divine and joyful pup of the same name. Meet NECTAR. 

Life with a puppy can bring a welcome kind of chaos. At any given time there’s infectious energy with the occasional zoomies and cuddles that always deserve an ovation. That more or less sums up life with NECTAR, but of course, there’s always more. More to look forward to and more to work on! 

NECTAR’s house training has been going well, with no accidents in the last few days, and she’s working hard on leash training. You may notice some zig zags! She also continues to get more comfortable using her crate, being somewhat vocal at night, but settling quickly either way. What will set NECTAR up for success is a structured routine with time to train, play, and rest all built in. It takes time, energy, and a good dose of patience to take care of any dog, NECTAR included!

This pup is affectionate in nature and loves a good cuddle. She can also be nervous at first when meeting new people. With that in mind, slow intros work best for her. While she has yet to meet children, she can be nippy and interactions are to be monitored. Some of NECTAR’s preferred activities, other than snuggles, include tug of war and playing with her chew toys. She also enjoys solving puzzles, preferably with a treat on the line.

Apply to adopt today!

BOO - APP IN PROCESS

Female | 4 months old | 17 pounds & growing | Medium-high energy | Enjoys meeting kids of all ages | Good second dog | Hasn’t met cats | From Manitoba | Fostered in Markham | Curious and playful

BOO! We didn’t mean to scare you stiff, but the cat is officially out of the bag. We’ve got another adoptable in SOS care! Halloween might still be 6 months away, but, of course, BOO over here is aiming to secure a forever home much sooner than that.

Now, let’s spill the guts on all things BOO. At four months old, this scruff is a lot of things: curious, a fast learner, and, in her foster’s words, the “best puppy ever.” That’s high praise coming from a fam that, through fostering, knows just how much of a commitment it is to look after a pup :) BOO is the kind of scruff that enjoys being active throughout the day and is happy to chill if and when you’d like to. She can easily entertain herself with her fav toys. Activities like hanging out at the park playing fetch, playing with dog pals, and giving puppy kisses all fill up her day nicely. Would she thrive in an active household? Absolutely. 

BOO spends much of her time working on learning new skills with her foster fam. For instance, she’s learning how to live with another dog in the home and lately, their relationship has progressed with BOO starting to learn how to read the other dog’s cues. BOO is also working on loose-leash walking and place training. She’s also fairly food-motivated, this one, so keep that trick up your sleeve, since ongoing training is a must!

BOO’s curious nature means she generally enjoys meeting new people… especially when they give her pats and their general attention. It’s the best. Sure, she can be timid at first meeting dogs bigger than her, but she’s no scaredy-cat and quickly opens up. Plus, more friends equates to more opportunities to play, something she’s always down for!

So, has BOO officially cast a spell on you? Sounds like it’s time to adopt. Apply today.

TUBA - APP IN PROCESS

Male | 5 years old | 88 pounds | Low energy | Lives with a dog | Hasn’t met kids or cats | From Hamilton | Fostered in Toronto | Sweet with goofball tendencies | Loves stuffies & snuggles

It’s time to face the music. Meet TUBA. With a name like that, you’d best believe he’s got the personality to match! Fast to make friends, this scruff is perhaps best described as a gentle giant. He might be big (and definitely strong!), but he’s also the first to lean in for pets, roll over for a belly rub (he LOVES a snuggle), and essentially become your BFF and all that jazz.

So, he’s confident, smart, a little playful, and, like we said, strong. TUBA does his best work using training tools on walks. In his foster’s opinion, it’s made a world of difference, and he now walks in a relaxed manner by his human. He’s a smart pooch and is currently working on place. He’s already got sit, down, and wait down pat! Of course, while you might want to play it by ear, we recommend finding a balanced training program to learn right alongside TUBA. A helpful hint in the meantime: TUBA responds well to his humans, especially when food is on the line!

Ideally, TUBA would find a home with experience taking care of larger dogs. A home that’s also a moderately quiet area would also be great as TUBA continues progressing with training. Know that while he’s improving in this area, TUBA can be vocal in his crate when left alone, though. We do love that he’s become more comfortable with relaxing in it when he decides to.

Typically indifferent to other dogs, this scruff can show some interest in them now and then. Case in point: TUBA and his foster’s resident dog have become BFFs. Their similar temperaments, interest in play, and ability to respect each other’s boundaries have all strengthened their friendship. TUBA’s happy-go-lucky personality extends to his interactions with people… and, can we just say, he loves making new friends! With all that in mind, this scruff has also shown some prey drive, in particular when animals dart across his line of vision. So? Interactions with cats will need to be supervised. 

Keen to adopt TUBA? That’s music to our ears! Apply today.

NANTUCKET - APP IN PROCESS

Male | 3 months old | 11 pounds & growing! | Puppy energy | Currently lives with kids and 2 dogs | Hasn’t met cats | Fostered in Burlington | Inquisitive & playful

Introducing NANTUCKET… or, as his foster family likes to call him, Tuck! Arguably the cutest, most confident little scruff, he flew straight in with that cool coastal charm of his just to meet his future fam. He’s a one-of-a-kind pup, this one, though we’re pretty sure you already know it!

NANTUCKET is a smarty pants. At 12 weeks old, he's hard at work mastering potty breaks, learning commands, and settling into his crate for bedtime. He’s also working on his walking skills. It can be tricky with all the noises, aka distractions (think: fire trucks, garbage trucks, people saying hi, etc.). If you’re committed to his ongoing training and building a bond by setting boundaries and advocating for him on walks, you might just be the perfect match. 

Life in his foster family’s home currently involves all the attention and playtime NANTUCKET could want and then some. Living with 2 kiddos aged 7 and 9, and dogs (including a former SOS rescue!) is very fun for him. He would make a great addition to a family with kids or even a home with a second dog, as he looks up to other scruffs. 

NANTUCKET has a nose for adventure and is keeping his first-time foster family busy. He LOVES to play! Encouraging him to settle on his own in his crate by using independent enrichment activities like a snuffle mat or Kong benefits him. Oh, and they also help build his confidence even more :)

If you're ready for lots of puppy kisses and, yes, bum wiggles, then NANTUCKET could be the pup for you. Apply to adopt! Life will be an infinite adventure with him by your side, that’s for sure.

CHESTER - APP IN PROCESS

Male | 2 years old | 50 pounds | Medium-high energy | Currently lives with another dog |  Hasn’t met cats or kids | From Hamilton | Fostered in Toronto | Shy yet brave!

CHESTER, here, is a lot of things, one of which is unique! He’s the first dog that has been in SOS care with this particular name, which we think is really special. The name CHESTER signifies strength, and gosh, is there a lot of that evident in the way the SOS community shows up to help scruffs find homes that will help them shine as their best selves <3

Naturally curious, this is a dog that wants to meet new people. Especially when they have treats! He’s cautious and maybe even a little nervous at first though, so you’ll have to give him a bit of time to warm up. He’s brave, though, and is, in fact, here to make friends, so you can count on him becoming your best bud if you give it time. Something you can look forward to is the way this scruff bonds with his main caregivers. He’s been busy coming out of his shell, and every day he’s becoming more sociable. 

CHESTER not only shows strength in his bravery, but he’s also such a friendly pooch who is doing his best to make friends with the dog he lives with. They play wrestle here and there, and we’re fairly certain he’d do well with another scruff going forward that can show him the ropes and keep him company. What should you keep an eye out for? His zigs and his zags, and generally speaking, his zoomies! Just like any dog, CHESTER gets the occasional spurt of energy. He can startle, which is why he’ll do best with a more experienced dog owner over a first-time owner. This is also why he might do best with no kids or simply just older kids for now as he learns to settle and become more comfortable in new environments. When it comes down to it, he’s really a gentle giant with a bit of puppy energy!

CHESTER is also progressing with his training. Advocating for him on walks will set him up for success. Note that he is strong and can pull while out in the neighbourhood though he’s also a good listener. Communicating that you’re the leader is key here! So. Think you might be a good fit for this scruff? Apply to adopt.

KORI - APP IN PROCESS

Female | 2 years old | 45 Pounds | Medium Energy | Good Exposure with other dogs | Dog savvy cats or no cats, please! | No kids | From Mexico | Living in Sharon, Ontario | Hypoallergenic Diet (suspected food allergy) | Affectionate, playful and smart

Kori is a spunky, intelligent, and fun natured gal looking for her family. Since arriving in October, Kori has blossomed into a playful, affectionate companion. She’s eager to please, making her an excellent fit for an adopter who can continue her growth. She's a mixed breed, is 2 years old & weighs 45lbs. 

Personality: Kori is independent and smart, with a fun-loving spirit. She loves her daily walks, playtime with tug toys, and bonding with her humans. While she was initially shy, she’s become more confident with bonded people, and her affectionate nature shines through. She’s an eager learner and loves challenges. Kori can be both cautious and bousterious with new people but is learning to engage in a calm, respectful manner.

Ideal Day: Kori thrives on a structured routine. A walk in the morning, followed by play + skill learning exercises, makes her a happy girl ready for some relaxation. She’s perfectly content to chill in her crate or relax while you’re busy but loves to be involved with you when you’re free. A few play sessions and enrichment activities keep her mentally engaged and content for fun rewards.

Other Pets: Kori enjoys the company of other dogs, especially playful and confident ones. She loves to play chase and wrestle, but she respects boundaries well. Kori has a strong prey drive and will chase small animals, so her ideal home would have a dog-savvy cat or no cats at all. She’s also very responsive on walks, redirecting well when needed.

Skills: With guidance Kori is good with housetraining & crate-training, and walks well on leash. She knows basic commands and is learning more each day. She’s still a bit nervous around strangers but improves with positive interactions & instructions that will be handed down by her handler. Kori would thrive with continued  learning and structure in her forever home.

Ideal Home: Kori would do best in a quieter, adult-only home with an experienced adopter. A family with another playful dog would be ideal. If you’re ready for a fun, intelligent companion, Kori could be the one! 

Fun Fact: Kori is always game for a good tug-of-war session or a fun game of chase!

She is currently in Sharon, ON and is available for informal meet & greets with her handler to see if it's a good fit. Email adoption@saveourscruff.org to set that up, but tell us a little about yourself and why she's a match for you. 

Or put in an application below today!

This dog is sponsored by PetSmart! This means their adoption process includes a visit to PetSmart’s Mississauga Lakeshore location to finalize the adoption. Adopters will receive an exclusive PetSmart adoption kit with $300 worth of coupons and special offers! Plus, adopting through PetSmart Charities helps support rewards and grants that benefit pets in need.