Alfalfa

My story

**IF THIS LISTING IS STILL POSTED THIS DOG IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. NO NEED TO EMAIL ASKING IF THE DOG IS AVAILABLE. PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS BIO THOROUGHLY AS INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY IS CONTAINED IN THIS LISTING** For Adoption: Alfalfa! Please read our dog bios carefully to be sure that the dog you are applying for suits your family and lifestyle. We at PDR believe in the benefits of post-adoption training for our dogs and their families. This allows for continued socialization, learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. Post-adoption training is a requirement in our adoption process. To apply for adoption and for more information on our process and requirements, visit our website at https://pounddog.ca/adoption-info/ Meet Alfalfa a nine pound (4kg) Shorkie (mix of shih tzu & yorkie). Alfalfa is just six months old and as cute as anything. He takes after his yorkie parentage in both looks and temperament. He is a slim little guy with the longest legs that he loves to use for running and playing. In one sentence he can be summed up as spunky, happy-go-lucky and always ready for his next adventure. Alfalfa was born in a puppy mill and since he had little human contact he missed out on crucial socialization. This has made him a bit skittish around unusual noises and sudden movements. That is why it is important to always have a secure hold of his leash when not in a safely enclosed area. The good news is that he is young and resilient. In the short time he has been with us, he is already showing great progress in exploring his world. He is very curious with a bit of caution thrown in. He will need slow introductions to new people and sights to become comfortable but I don’t see this as an issue. Alfalfa can be vocal at times. This is not atypical of his breed mix. He will use his voice when he does not like a situation or he wants your attention. He normally settles down quickly when corrected. However due to him barking he would not be an ideal candidate for apartment or other attached living. He will also bark when playing chase with his foster brother in the yard. Alfalfa enjoys being out in the yard exploring and sniffing everything. His outdoor time is one of his favourite times of day. Right now Alfalfa has had a few walks and he is learning to walk on leash. He tends to be a bit of a wanderer and can be a tripping hazard if you are not paying attention. Leash walking is a work in progress and his forever family will need to continue this with Alfalfa. Alfalfa is a very sweet little dog and loves being around his people and the other dogs in the home. Right now Alfalfa spends about 3 hours in his crate in the morning, in my home office. He is quiet and plays with his chew toys or snoozes. We only let him play with stuffed toys when being supervised. He likes to tear his stuffed toys apart if you let him. He will spend another 2 hours in his crate in the afternoon. Because he is still a puppy he cannot be left alone at home all day. So he will need a family where someone can be at home to let him out during the day. He needs to have potty breaks at least every 3 hours or so. He sleeps in his crate over night for about 7.5 to 8 hours right now which is very good for his age. Grooming needs for Alfalfa are minimal. A good brushing a couple times a week will keep his coat tangle free and healthy. Since both Yorkies and Shih Tzus tend to have long coats, professional grooming may be needed if there is a desire to keep the coat a bit shorter. As of right now Alfalfa’s coat is of short length. Alfalfa eats two meals a day in an X-pen we have set up for him. This is mainly to keep the other dogs from eating his food. He could be a bit of a grazer if food is just left out for him. So we make sure he eats his food in a twenty minute span and the remaining is taken away. He is learning to eat his food during the allotted time. Alfalfa’s routine is to be let out after meals, when waking from a nap and after playing. He has had a couple accidents in the home since arriving. His forever family will need to keep up with the washroom routine and reinforce good bathroom habits. He is still a puppy and can forget if he is distracted or overly excited. For the most part he does his business outside, as long as you maintain his schedule. Alfalfa has had a few car rides. We put him in his crate in the car. He settles down and generally sleeps during the car ride. He has no issues with car sickness. Currently Alfalfa lives with 4 other dogs, a couple cats and a couple parrots. Afalfa is curious about the birds and we are teaching him to stay away from the cages. He gets along well with the other dogs and as noted loves to play chase with them in the yard. He also likes to wrestle with his doggy companion. The ideal situation would be for Alfalfa to have a doggy companion in his forever home of similar size and temperament. He could also do well in a home being the only dog as long as he has a little doggie friend or 2 to play with regularly and keep his dog socialization up. A short 15 to 20 minute walk a couple times a day would be good as long as he gets his outdoor play time as well. Currently he gets to spend about 30 – 40 minutes outside at lunch and another 45 min – 1 hour after supper. The two cats in the home are dog savvy and Alfalfa will sniff them and sometimes chase. He does not necessarily back down if he corners the cat. For this reason and his and the cats safety we are looking for a home with no cats. Alfalfa has had no exposure to children. However I believe he would do fine with older (over 10 yrs) respectful children. He is a small dog and if children are rough housing he could easily be hurt. Currently Alfalfa has not been taught any formal commands but he will acknowledge his name and generally comes running when called. He does have a bit of a stubborn streak and if he’s not ready to come in he will pretend he doesn’t hear you. It will be important for his forever family to take him to obedience classes beyond the basic introduction classes to reinforce the family bond and continue his learning. Alfalfa is up to date on all his vaccines and has been neutered. He has also been tested for worms and treated as needed. He is a healthy happy little puppy with no medical issues. If you are looking for a lively, happy-go-lucky and fun companion Alfalfa may be your guy. Alfalfa is equally happy snoozing quietly next to you as he is going on walks and exploring the neighbourhood or running around the yard checking everything out. You will be able to enjoy many years of love and companionship with this wonderful little guy. Name: Alfalfa ID # PDR1379 Age: 6mths Gender: male Neutered: yes UTD vaccines: yes Breed: Yorkie/ShihTzu Colours: black Coat length: med House trained: in progress Special needs:no OK with kids: older only OK with cats: no Ok with dogs: yes Status: adoptable Microchip: yes Size: small Location: Listowel Adoption fee: $900

If you have any questions or would like to adopt Alfalfa, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.