Liam

My story

For Adoption: Liam! 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/. I would like to introduce Liam a 7 year old, 22 pound Shihtzu/Terrier cross. His lovely blonde fur looks as if would be coarse but is surprisingly soft to the touch, especially after brushing which he enjoys. He has the tightest curly tail which relaxes its curl during rest times. Liam came into our care from a city shelter after being picked up as a stray. I chose his name for the meaning in Irish of strong willed protector and warrior and he is living up to his name. Liam is very friendly and outgoing with a lot of self-confidence. He obviously lived in a caring home at some point in his life before living on the streets. He easily walked into my home through the front door and after meeting my current foster dog, ignored her and quickly explored his surroundings and settled into his new home quickly. Liam can be a bit stubborn and single minded at times, which is from the terrier in him. He responds to re-direction well. Liam can always be distracted with a treat. He’s highly food motivated. He is also highly play motivated and particularly loves balls. He can get fixated on a toy, especially a squeaky ball and will not give it up willingly so we are working on rewarding his releasing of the ball with a treat which is going well. If he wants you to play with him he’ll drop it at your feet so you can throw it. He will continue to bring it back until he chooses to end the game and start chewing on it. Liam is hilarious to watch as he almost falls into the toy box to choose his favourite for the moment. Liam has met a wide variety of dogs on our walks and with the exception of 2 unfriendly dogs that we avoid, has interacted in a gentle nose to butt meeting. He had a positive visit with my neighbour’s cat. Liam would be happiest tho as the only pet in the home. He can be a pest to other dogs in the home with his toy drive and will be happiest not needing to share the toys. Liam meets most people in a friendly manner. He is a social dog and likes to make new friends. He did great greeting people at a public event he was at and especially if they offered him a treat, he made new best friends quite quickly. He was tho protective of me when we passed a loud group of men I didn’t know and growled and barked at them as they were rowdy. He seemed to sense something wasn’t quite right and went into his terrier protect mode. We are working on this but attention to this trait will need to be ongoing in his new home. Liam has since met these men again with no reaction so it must have been the loudness and their antics he was uncomfortable with. Since that first meeting he has approached them without issue. Liam goes for 4 or 5 walks daily. We take 2 longer walks of 1 ½-2 km and the rest shorter. One of the walks is with my other foster and occasionally in a group of several other neighbour dogs. Liam has a lot of energy for a mature dog. Recently we went to a local conservation area and he walked almost 4 km. His forever family will need to be active and enjoy long walks with this dog! He enjoys car rides and is quiet in his travel crate. He may have short legs but he motors on at a pretty fast pace and only slows down to sniff, pee or meet other people and dogs. He has shown a mild interest in squirrels or bunnies and will pull but is easily distracted to continue our walk. Lately he has taken delight in rolling himself silly on the grass and makes the funniest little grunts of joy. He is a character. When we return home he usually picks up and plays with his ball for a short period. Liam is house trained and crate trained. He needs to be in a plastic crate since he was easily able to escape a wire one in his first days with me. Liam has access to the outdoors every 3 or 4 hours for bathroom breaks. He tends to drink a lot and needs time outside during the day to relieve himself. Liam requires a treat incentive to enter his crate but goes in willingly. He sleeps through the night and the only noise you hear from him is soft snoring some nights. When I leave the house Liam will bark for a short period and then settle down. He will be best in a detached home or a condo/apartment where a bit of barking won’t be an issue with the neighbours. He is generally a quiet dog. Liam has a mischievous side which comes out in teasing my other foster with his squeaky toys which she doesn’t appreciate. Early on he decided to jump up on my bed which I don’t allow and has tried a few times since when I’m not looking . Once when I was reading a book Liam suddenly jumped into my lap wanting my attention. Sometimes I wonder if those little legs have springs in them. He can easily jump up on the couch for cuddles and he climbs stairs easily. Liam takes an active interest in TV when a nature program comes on with animals. He cocks his head and tries to jump up on the TV cabinet to join them. He has barked when he sees another dog on the screen. Liam readily responds to the sit command with a treat reward. The come command is still a work in progress. Whenever I say cuddle time Liam jumps up on the couch and cuddles up, quickly rolling over for his beloved tummy rubs. He’s often fallen asleep in this position for up to an hour. He adores attention and pets. Liam is very independent and would be best as the only dog in the home. He needs an adult only home or one with teens as he views everything as a toy to be played with and kids toys left around would be claimed as his. We are working on him giving up toys for rewards but this is a work in progress and best for him not to have these added enticements of kids toys around the home. He enjoys being with his human and wouldn’t do well being left crated alone for long periods of time. Liam chooses to be within sight of where I am in the house and plops himself down nearby where I’m working but never under foot. He loves to hog the bath mat when I take a shower or bath. Liam had a significant cherry eye when we got him. It was surgically repaired twice and both times popped out again immediately. Because his cherry eye was resistant to repair the vet chose to remove it entirely and this has resolved the issue. Liam currently gets drops for his eye as he recovers but this wont be forever. The vet has advised us that he may never need drops again, but this is a wait and see. Whoever adopts Liam needs to have his eye checked at his yearly visits and if any dryness is being observed he will need to start on lubricating drops. He is fine to get his drops. The vet also advised that he may require a dental in the coming year but it wasn’t something that he needs now, and with plenty of chew toys like Nylabones that work away at tartar this can be delayed, but anyone adopting a middle aged small dog needs to be prepared to have a dental done on their dog at some point. Liam is looking for a family who enjoys outdoors and walking. He can be very affectionate and loves cuddles and play ball. Liam has enormous expressive brown eyes that you can just get lost in. . Liam is a very loving dog but will require someone who understands the terrier personality to fully enjoy and guide him. Preference will be given to those with terrier experience. He has been a delight to foster and has never failed to make me laugh at his antics, especially with toys. If you are active, and love the outdoors and are looking for a fun and funny little dog to be a lovable companion please consider Liam as an addition to your family. #rescuedismyfavoritebreed #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #pounddogs #pdr13years #pounddogrescue13yearsstrong #happytails Name: Liam ID # PDR1390 Age: 7yrs Gender: male Neutered: yes UTD vaccines: yes Breed: ShihTzu/Terrier Colours: tan Coat length: med House trained: yes Special needs: no OK with kids: teens OK with cats: yes Ok with dogs: yes (as friends, not to live with) Status: adoptable Microchip: yes Size: small Location: Freelton Adoption fee: $700

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