This is August. She’s a very sweet, affectionate girl who weighs in at 22 kg (45 pounds) at 7 months old. 

Since getting out of the shelter, she’s discovered that Walks are one of her favourite things. She walks nicely too, not pulling or lagging… though she does zig-zag as she investigates everything along the path. She really likes to meet dogs and people and has no fear of either. She has some prey drive, particularly for bunnies and squirrels but she’s getting used to magpies. She’s a pretty confident little girl.

In the yard, she does her business with no issues if you let her out regularly. She will sometimes get sidetracked by birds or helicopters but will pee if you remind her why she’s outside. Her recall is pretty good for a puppy but still needs some work. She also loves to play with her larger foster brother who weighs more than twice as much as she does. She will bark if something unfamiliar gets too close (like a garbage truck) or she hears something upsetting, like sirens or coyotes howling. Initially August was a bit leery of car rides but now she jumps right in as soon as you open the car door.

In the house, she likes to sit beside you with her paws and head resting on your leg. Sometimes she’ll worm her way up to your face and give you little puppy kisses on the neck (then she’ll bite your ear). She’s at that stage where the world must be explored with her mouth, so puppy-proofing the house is a good idea. We keep a large assortment of stuffed toys around to distract her when she tries to chew on an inappropriate object. She likes squeaky toys the best. At night she sleeps in a dog bed at the foot of our bed but she’s also crate-trained. She sleeps through the night and always greets you in the morning with such a happy face.

She does like treats, so training shouldn’t be too difficult. She knows Sit, Wait and Come (and Stay Out Of The Kitchen) at the moment and she’s pretty smart, so other commands should come easily. It helps to have an older dog to set an example of course. She is bell-trained and will ring the bell on the back door when she wants to go outside.

She should fit in with any household. Another active dog would be great as she’s very social but visits to a dog park or daycare would really make her happy. She’s good with children but hasn’t been tested with small children – just medium sized ones. She’s not bothered by loud noises or sudden movements, so regular household activity isn’t a problem. All in all, August is a really good puppy who will grow into a really good dog.

If you’re thinking about getting a dog, August might be the one you need.