Buckwheat

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: Buckwheat! 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 Buckwheat an adorable 12 pound (5.3kg) Shorkie (mix of shih tzu & yorkie). Buckwheat tends more to the Shih tzu side of his parentage both in looks and temperament. He has shorter legs, a long body and a beautiful black glossy coat of medium length. In one sentence Buckwheat can be summed up as a laid back, happy little snuggler. Buckwheat 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 cautious but curious. We put our garden ornaments out the other day and Buckwheat noticed something new outside. He slowly approached, stayed far enough back and stretched out so he could sniff the new object. He will need patience and slow introductions to new people and sights to become comfortable but I don’t see this as a long term issue. Buckwheat would do fine in almost any home. He would do especially well in a home with a mature person/couple looking for companionship. Buckwheat has a calm laid back vibe and is very good-natured. He can get a bit vocal at times if he hears strange noises or something startles him. He settles down quickly but would not be ideal for apartment or other attached living. Buckwheat has been out on a few walks so far and is learning leash skills. This is something his forever family will need to continue working on. Buckwheat enjoys his free run time out in our fenced yard. He likes to walk around and explore. He will run after the other dogs but then finds a spot and settles down to watch. Buckwheat is a very sweet little dog and loves being around his people and the other dogs in the home. Right now Buckwheat 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 Buckwheat are moderate. A good brushing a couple times a week will keep his coat tangle free and shiny. Since both Yorkies and Shih Tzus tend to have long coats, professional grooming will be needed if there is a desire to keep the coat a bit shorter. As of right now Buckwheat’s coat is of medium length. Buckwheat 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. One quirk we have noticed is that Buckwheat does not like to eat out of a bowl. He will try to spill the contents and if he can’t he will leave the food. However if you put it on the floor he will happily eat it up. We are trying to put it on a plate and that has had some success but he still prefers the floor. Buckwheat’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, but generally goes outside. 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. Buckwheat 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 Buckwheat lives with 4 other dogs, a couple cats and a couple parrots. Buckwheat has shown little interest in the parrots. He gets along well with the other dogs. He likes to wrestle with his doggy companion occasionally but is just as happy to snooze in his doggy bed and chew on his toys. A doggy companion in his forever home of similar size and temperament, that could help him build confidence would be nice but not mandatory. A short 15 to 20 minute walk a couple times a day would be good as long as he gets his 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 Buckwheat will sniff them and sometimes chase but quickly loses interest if they don’t run. So Buckwheat would be fine in a home with a dog savvy cat. Buckwheat has had no exposure to children and due to his somewhat nervous disposition I don’t think it would be ideal for him to live in a home with children unless they were teens or older and the home was quiet with limited comings and goings of other people. Currently Buckwheat has not been taught any formal commands but he will acknowledge his name and generally comes running when called. It will be important for his forever family to take him to obedience classes beyond the basic classes to reinforce the family bond and continue his learning. Buckwheat 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 good-natured, expressive and snuggly companion, Buckwheat may be your guy. Buckwheat is equally happy snoozing quietly next to you, as he is exploring the yard and checking everything out. You will be able to enjoy many years of love and companionship with this wonderful little guy. #rescuedismyfavoritebreed #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #pounddogs #pdr13years #pounddogrescue13yearsstrong Name: Buckwheat ID # PDR1378 Age: 6mths Gender: male Neutered: yes UTD vaccines: yes Breed: Yorkie/ShihTzu Colours: black/white Coat length: med House trained: in progress Special needs:no OK with kids: teens OK with cats: yes 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 Buckwheat, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.