Adopt a Labrador Retriever / Mixed (medium coat)

Upon arrival, this handsome boy lacked confidence and was very unsure of his new environment. Staff quickly recognized his sweet nature and placed him in our training program. While there, Hershey worked on basic manners, coping skills in stressful situations and his fear of people/dogs. He participated in agility class and quickly adapted to being around other dogs. He learned to direct focus on his handler through use of + reinforcement training. Hershey worked on dog social skills and to remain calm in controlled interactions due to his excitability. He loves to play with his toys and is learning to share. He is still nervous with new people when he meets them unexpectedly so he worked on learning that people are not scary and give awesome treats.
Trainer''s feedback: `Hershey has continued to progress with his training. He is such a lovely dog who is very willing to please and very eager to learn. He picks up on training very quickly. Hershey is great at responding to his name when called, regardless of the situation he is in (people, dogs, etc.) We have introduced Hershey to both large and small dogs. He did very well with these interactions. He engaged in play with a 5 pound Yorkie mix, for 15 minutes without incident. We randomly stopped play to reward and calm down both dogs, then reintroduced them back to play again. Hershey has continued to respond well with his food bowl, letting us pick it up, add treats to it and move it around. Hershey has shown continuous improvement with both people and dogs on leash. When working with him, you can keep his attention 99% of the time, regardless of the distraction. He has continued to do well in group classes.`
Hershey would benefit from regular training in both private and class settings. Ideally his owner will give him an outlet such as agility, flyball, obedience, long walks daily, bike rides, etc. He would also benefit from continuous monitored interactions with other dogs in a safe, secure environment. The staff adore Hershey and believe he will make a great addition to his new home.
An awesome report for a great dog who needs a family who understands his special needs and will support his ongoing positive reinforcement training. If you are experienced and looking for an abundance of love contact Toronto Animal Services to learn more about him or meet him this weekend at PetSmart at 835 Eglinton Ave. E.