Dachi

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: Dachi! 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/. This handsome, lovable gentleman is Dachi. In Japanese Dachi means stance and this boy certainly has an impressive stance! Dachi is an 8 year old English Bulldog. He weighs in at just over 40 lbs and has brindled brown and white colouring with chocolate chip spots on his white legs. Read on to get to know more about this handsome gent! Dachi came into foster care with his breeding companion from a breed for profit puppy mill operation. They were not producing puppies so they were discarded as they served no financial purpose. When in the house Dachi has such a calm, loving, gentle nature with people and kids that it makes it hard to believe that anyone would not want him just because he wasn’t producing puppies. Initially when Dachi first came into foster care he was overexcited and barked for the first two nights. Dachi is now a fairly quiet house guest. The only time he barks in the house is when he hears dogs barking outside or on the TV. He also tried to mark his surroundings immediately when let out of his crate the first few days. However, he adjusted so quickly to his new home that within a few days he stopped marking and now indicates that he wants to go outside to relieve himself. His potential adoptive family should know that in a new environment he may initially want to mark his new territory as many male dogs do during transition to a new home, but with close supervision and redirection, he catches on quickly and curbs that behaviour. He has not had any accidents since his first few days here. If he wants to go out he will stand by the door, but if he really needs to go, he will get your attention and whine and whimper until you let him out. Dachi can be nervous around other dogs and he is not comfortable with strange dogs approaching him. He does have some permanent scarring on his back, suggesting he may have had challenging experiences in the past. We are still working on this and it will take more time, but his focus training has really paid off. We can now pass some dogs with just a “Lets Go” or “Leave it “ command with other more intense dogs he can be placed in a sit and will look up to you for treats until the other dog passes. So far, he is now okay with dogs at a distance and we are now working towards decreasing the amount of distance he is comfortable with. Dachi will benefit from ongoing, positive reinforcement training with a confident and consistent handler who can help him continue to build trust, confidence, and a sense of safety in the outside world around him. We are working on redirecting his behavior on walks and he is making good progress. He does respond to voice, praise, and treats but he will need continued and consistent education. Dachi likes his treats and is also motivated by praise with “ happy voice” , as rewards for good behaviours. Inside the home, Dachi is an absolute gentleman…calm, polite, and welcoming, showing no jumping or barking when guests arrive. Outside he used to get overstimulated or fearful at times took some time getting used to the wide world around him and all the goings on. We always need to keep in mind that for the prior 8years of his life he was confined in a barn, having no socialization to the world around him. So it is completely understandable that he finds it overwhelming at times. Using consistent focus training, and giving Dachi the time and space to acclimatize to the outdoor he has made wonderful progress. Dachi now walks with a much more relaxed body posture and is enjoying the sights and sounds of the world around him. We have been able to successful walk by men working with loud machinery, delivery and mail people and neighbours engaged in yardwork. He is no longer fearful of the normal day to day activity in the neighbourhood. He loves to meet new people on his walk, and if he is allowed to greet them he is all tails wags and wiggles. Dachi has learned to sit and look up at his handler when people approach. If they stop to talk and want to pet him, he no longer jumps and barks. Dachi loves to be talked to and this has a calming effect on him. Dachi will stand quietly while his handler chats outside with friends and neighbours. When Dachi first came into foster care, he would chase anything that moved on his walks. He has now lost all interest in chasing birds and is now only mildly interested in the squirrels and rabbits on our walks. A simple “lets go” command usually gets him moving forward. However, in his own yard he considers squirrels and rabbits to be trespassers and he will give them a good barking at. As he does not like to share his living space with other animals, he would prefer a home with no other pets. Dachi can now be asked to sit and look up when bikes, scooters or joggers are passing by quickly. While he is no longer startled or fearful by this, he does think it is fun to give chase. He loves to play fetch in the house and will run full tilt then slam on the brakes to grab the toy that has been thrown for him. He will bring it back to you and play with it, but if you ask him if he wants to play again, he will drop the toy and wag his tail so that you will throw it again. He is very civilized about playing with you and he will never grab the toy out of your hand. Dachi would be best suited to a home in a rural area, small town or quiet subdivision where the stimulus would be less than a busy suburb or city. He is not suited for high rise apartment living or urban living, it is simply too much overstimulation for him at this time. Dachi enjoys meeting new people and views everyone as a potential friend, vigorously wagging his stubby tail, hoping to be petted and loved. In the house he is not bothered by noise or by kids running around, using remote control cars, playing with toys, etc. In fact, he seems to enjoy all the commotion and watches all with great interest. He is very gentle when being petted even by smaller children. And he does have a playful side. Because we are focusing on his training and comfort in the outside we would want there to be no children in his forever home so that he can be the focus. Teens would be fine, and visiting children like he gets to enjoy in his foster home, would be great fun for him. Even at his age he loves a good game of fetch at least once a day. He will run after his squeaky toy and run back to you so you can throw it again. He even sometimes gets the zoomies if you have been out for a while and he is just so happy that you are home. Most of the day indoors he is quite content to lie around on his pillow or in his basket but when you get him all excited with happy talk, he will do his bull dog dance and may even do little leap hops around the kitchen. When he is not resting, he likes to patrol the house, checking the windows for activity outside. When he wants some attention he will come over to you and sit, and in slow motion raise his paw in the air sometimes so high he almost falls backwards. Then if you stop petting him, he will repeat the process again in slow motion. It is quite endearing. Dachi has been a very easy dog to take care of. He is not a demanding dog, he just goes with the flow. He waits patiently to be let out of his crate in the morning, he will then follow you to the back door to go outside. He handles very well when being groomed. Anyone adopting a bulldog should know that part of the grooming requirements include cleaning the wrinkle folds on their face so they don’t get infections. While he is not keen on baths, he is good about being bathed as well as having nails trimmed. He stands quietly when putting coats and sweaters on and off and will wait patiently by the door while you get yourself dressed for the cold outdoors. While in care, Dachi has learned “sit”, “look at me” , “wait” , “let’s go” , “outside”, “in your crate” and “walk nice”, and “slow”. He is not 100% percent with some of the commands as he has quite the stubborn streak at times but he is capable of learning new things. Dachi is in good health, has been fully vaccinated and tested negative for both heart worm and Lyme disease. He handles well when at the vet clinic. Potential adopters should know that bulldogs being a brachycephalic breed (short nosed) have difficulty breathing and prone to overheating, therefore overexertion and exercise in extreme heat and humidity should be avoided. Dachi does love his walks and can walk up to 3 or 4km a day split into 2 or 3 walks on cooler days. Once Dachi feels comfortable, his sweet personality truly shines. With people he trusts, he happily wags his tail, approaches gently, and looks up with his big brown eyes, hoping for a kind word or a scratch behind the ears. With patience, understanding, and positive guidance, Dachi has all the makings of a loyal and loving companion who continues to grow more confident every day. Name: Dachi ID # PDR1462 Age: 8yrs Gender: male Neutered: yes UTD vaccines: yes Breed: Bulldog Colours: brindle and white Coat length: short House trained: yes Special needs: no OK with kids: teens OK with cats: no Ok with dogs: no Status: adoptable Microchip: yes Size: med Location: Guelph Adoption fee: $700

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