Barney

My story

Have you ever met a dog that has magic? This 110lb+ LARGE breed boy, has magic! Despite having a troubled past where there was some hurt/abuse/negative behaviours done to this boy. Against all odds, he only has room in his heart for love and people. While he is afraid of other dogs and becomes reactive due to his past (being attacked by the other dog in his home), he has come such a long way since arriving at the shelter. He has a lot of friends who work hard with him to not only overcome triggers, but he is also super smart and loves to be challenged so all of his friends work on different things with him like: using his nose to find treats in the grass, playing fetch, walking along the fence line of the dog park to work on desensitization, going on car rides and learning appropriate car behaviour, sitting/staying/running on a leash, retirement home visits and appropriate behaviour when greeting seniors/new people etc. At 2 years old this boy lives for one thing only and that’s love. Typically people are apprehensive or at least cautious of large dogs, but somehow that doesn’t apply to Barney. He touches people and disarms them in a way we’ve never experienced especially when you consider his size, which can be a natural deterrent sometimes. He is very sensitive and his eyes tell a story. He needs to know he’s a good boy. He needs to feel confident in his person or he gets discouraged/confused with himself. His future family needs to be aware that he is driven to connect, so being strong enough to control him and his urges is imperative. He will put all of his weight into pulling towards someone new that walks in to the room, or walking down the street. He LOVES LOVES LOVES people and in order to settle he needs to say hello, get a butt scratch and “hello” and then he can lay down and chill. He is a very happy boy. And while he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body (even when he’s reactive it’s because it’s out of fear), he does have a high prey drive. And it will kick in, very happily, with a huge smile on his face as he bounces away after squirrels/pheasants, bunnies etc. He won’t run fast, he will literally bounce like a deer (something to be aware of for recall and training). This boy would thrive in any home that wants a bond with their pup. If you are seeking a companion, a friend, a partner in crime, an adventure buddy, this will be your guy. He is good with kids-LOVES kids. Probably over the age of 6-7 would be best

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