Lava

My story

New Girl In Town Hey! It’s me, Lava! I thought today was the perfect day for me to introduce myself! I’m Lava, the new girl in town! I am approximately 4.5year old, female malamute mix. I look tough but I am a timid girl looking for a confident leader. I went on a trip to the vet. I am quite shy but I was a good girl and I am vaccinated and microchipped. I weigh about 70lbs. I am a very good girl on car rides. I ride nice and quiet. I might be a bit stubborn about getting into the car but once I am in I have no problems. We have been going in the car a lot these days so I am getting better and better with every trip. When we are in the car, I like to just look out the window and watch the world go by. In the car foster mom secures my leash, by shutting it in the door to ensure that I cannot leap out without her having a hold on my leash. I love to go for walks! The outdoors is where I am the most comfortable. I trot alongside you or even behind. Foster mom thinks I like to stop to smell the roses. You would think as I am big and strong I would pull but it’s just the opposite. I am more likely to stop and be stubborn. But, usually some encouragement and a ‘lets go!’ gets me back on track. I am interested in rabbits or squirrels so I might pull a bit when I see them, but a gentle correction on my leash gets my attention back.. I am getting much better if we see another dog on our walks. Before I would freeze until the other dog was farther away. Now, I mind my own business and keep going, it's way easier if you don't let me stop and have time to worry about the other dog. Right now we are practicing our sits and stays. I catch on pretty easily, foster mom thinks I love to learn. I am on leash at all times except in my crate! I got off leash for a short while when I first came South, so it is important to keep me safe and for us to create a bond before I am off leash. We do this thing called sit on the dog. Indoors I am a bit more anxious ( I might whine or pace) , so we have been practicing outside so I am a bit more comfortable. It has been a work in progress, but it is important that I have mental stimulation as well as physical exercise. I love the outdoors and usually you can find me rolling in the grass and soaking in the sun! I do like to dig though so keep your eye on me! So far I have been pretty shy. I have come out of my shell a wee bit so foster mom is seeing me relax a bit more each day. I do like to unwind with a bone but haven’t shown much interest in other toys. I am a low energy gal so afternoon naps are my favourite! Even though I am shy I am food motivated. I take treats so gently too! I haven’t jumped up on the counters but if you left a snack at my level I would definitely indulge. This is another reason why I should be on leash so I can learn the rules of the house. I am good with other dogs once I have met them. I have a foster-fur brother in the home. He tries his best to engage with me and get me out of my shell more. I have slowly warmed up and even started to play with him. We like to wrestle! Foster mom was so excited to see my tail wagging because when I came down I was very, very shy and didn’t want anyone to even look at me let alone play with me. Now that they have given me the time to settle in on my own I am coming around! We have cats in my foster home, we spend a lot of time together and we get along just fine! We usually just hang out and take naps! So I don’t usually pay them any attention. Please remember that my reaction towards a cat will also depend on their attitude to me! We have kids (3&6) in our foster home and foster mom thinks I am more comfortable with them than the adults. I have never jumped up on anyone. They like to give me pets sometimes. I accept them but never go looking for them. The kids in my home are dog savvy. They know to give me some time to adjust to things and give me some space. It would be a good idea in my new home to remind any children to be calm and for them to give me some space and time to adapt. Foster mom makes sure to advocate for us both. Let’s talk about the crate. I have a very hard time with my crate. I was quite hesitant to get into it. Foster mom leads me into my crate with the leash and I am starting to go into it on my own. I am in an impact crate (which is a heavy duty) crate because when I get worked up, I can chew on the crate, I could injure myself if it was a regular crate and also, if I learn to break-out the desire to do so will be much stronger in the future. We had a few weeks where I was barking, howling, whining and I can get worked up enough to start biting and scratching at the crate. This is slowly getting better, but it is definitely a work in progress! It still happens from time to time, so foster mom is trying the use of some different tools such as a thunder shirt to help me adapt to my crate. They seem to help so stay posted for updates! Foster mom is making sure to crate me often during the day when they are home and away. This is so she can monitor my behaviour. It’s best for me to know that it is not just a sign of them leaving the house and I should be comfortable in my crate in any situation. I am fed in my crate to help create some routine and so I know it is my safe place. Other than that, there is nothing in my crate. I have started to sleep quietly through the night in the crate with the help of some herbal supplements. We are making some good progress! Once I hear you up and about I want to join in and can be noisy again and start whining or howling. Only once I am calm and relaxed am I allowed out. I have never had any washroom accidents in my home. For me to succeed in my forever home, a condition of my adoption is Mandatory training...this is the awkward bit…. as it's for you - not me!! I need a confident coach who can continue to help build my confidence with a balanced trainer recommended by Finding Them Homes. Please don't get me wrong, foster mom says I am one of the sweetest dogs and very gentle and kind with the little humans, but to be the best, happiest dog I can be I need to be brought out of my shell with lots of patience and commitment from my forever family. Working with a professional trainer from the get go will help ensure our joint success. This all seems like a lot. However, when I do relax and come out of my shell it will be so rewarding for both of us. It will be super important to follow the no-talk, no-touch rule with me for at least a month - smothering me with love will not help me become the strong independent girl I would like to be...but I know I have it in me! If you think I would be a good fit for your family please head to www.findingthemhomes.com to fill out an application! Remember my name is LAVA! Please note that it is ALWAYS recommended for all new adopted dogs to stay on leash in their new homes for a minimum of 30 days. As most of our dogs are outdoor dogs and strays, this will help prevent dogs from running away as they are adjusting to their new homes. At the same time, it will help start building the bond between you and the dog.

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