Perla

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: Perla! 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/. Perla is a joyful 6-year-old Cocker Spaniel with a beautiful rust-coloured coat and unique heterochromia - one blue eye and one brown eye - making her truly stunning. She weighs around 20 pounds but has big dog energy packed into her small frame. With her large, floppy feathered ears and wispy hair that dances in the wind, Perla turns heads everywhere she goes and receives compliments wherever she ventures. Perla’s story began in a puppy mill, where life was far from kind. She was used for breeding and arrived in our care with severe matting that required immediate attention. As with many dogs of this breed, she thrives on human companionship and can experience separation anxiety, which she has shown. She does not enjoy being crated for long periods, so patience and gentle reassurance will be key as she continues building confidence. While she has already come a long way and gained confidence, she truly loves being around her people as much as possible. Perla would do best in a home where someone is around most of the time, work-from-home or hybrid families would be ideal. She is incredibly sweet and settled in quickly with us, happily joining her foster brothers on walks right away. She would thrive with older children, over 8yrs, who can help provide a calm, structured environment and continue her training. On walks, she has met children and absolutely adores them, but truthfully, Perla loves everyone she meets. She has adjusted well to city life and, although loud noises can occasionally startle her, she recovers quickly. Perla truly is the whole package - funny, sweet, cuddly, energetic, and very intelligent. Neighbours often stop to admire her cheerful tail wags, and on walks, she keeps her nose to the ground, always curious about her surroundings. Given her breed’s history, it’s no surprise that she loves investigating trees, backyards, and anything that might be hiding nearby. Recently, she has started having adorable morning zoomies and when it’s time to get up, she spins in circles and leaps around the backyard with so much joy. Watching her happiness blossom has been incredibly heartwarming. Crate training is still a work in progress. Perla is comfortable in her crate for short periods when someone is nearby, but she can become vocal when left alone. Despite her small size, she can be quite loud, though she improves a little more each week. She prefers cozy dog beds where she can curl up and nap while her humans work. Her future family should be prepared to continue crate training with patience and positivity. But when it comes to car rides, she travels wonderfully in her crate and remains completely quiet. House training is going very well, she picked it up quickly and reliably signals when she needs to go out by circling or gently nudging you. Perla currently lives with two older dogs and a cat. She loves nothing more than snuggling up with her foster brothers, though she is still figuring out how to play with them. She is very curious about the cat and would do best either with a dog-savvy cat or in a cat-free home, as she doesn’t quite understand yet that chasing and barking aren’t appreciated. On walks, she is interested in wildlife (especially squirrels) and benefits from some redirection. Interestingly, she shows little interest in other dogs when out and about. Perla is learning “sit” and has already made great progress with recall. She is respectful in the home and has shown no interest in chewing slippers, shoes, or other household items. Continued positive training will strengthen her bond with her family and help her grow into the incredible companion she is meant to be. She is eager to please and thrives with routine, making training a rewarding experience. Perla is fully vetted, spayed, and in overall good health. She does have a low grade heart murmur noted by the vet, but she is currently doing well. This has no effect on her at this time. She is calm and affectionate during vet visits, soaking up all the attention. When she arrived, her coat was severely matted, and she had dermatitis along with yeast and bacterial ear infections, all of which have been successfully treated. Going forward, regular grooming, brushing, and ear care will be important to keep her comfortable and looking her best. She has had a full dental in our care as well. She had 8 extractions and there is one tooth that did not require extraction at this time but our vet advised that in a few years it may need to be removed, so potential adopters need to be ok with a possible future dental…but this is to be expected of a dog in their senior years regardless. Perla is now ready to find her forever family - one who will cherish her as deeply as she will cherish them. She is a dog who forms strong, loving bonds and simply wants to be near her people, sharing in everyday moments and offering unwavering companionship. Whether you’re working from home, cooking dinner, enjoying a quiet evening, or out in the yard, Perla will be right by your side - your loyal little shadow, always happy just to be included. In return, she will fill your home with laughter, comfort, and unconditional love. With a patient, understanding family, Perla will continue to blossom into the devoted, joyful companion she was always meant to be. Name: Perla ID # PDR1507 Age: 6yrs Gender: female Spayed: yes UTD vaccines: yes Breed: Cocker Spaniel Colours: red Coat length: med House trained: yes Special needs: no OK with kids: older OK with cats: only very dog savvy cats Ok with dogs: yes Status: adoptable Microchip: yes Size: med Location: Kitchener Adoption fee: $700

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