Amy Labrador Retriever Mix Oshawa, ON

Are you easily seduced by gorgeous, russet eyes? Does a paw on your arm make you laugh and dole out more petting? Then Amy isn’t the dog for you. Dominant and assertive, Amy needs boundaries, routine, tummy rubs and regular doses of affection.

We think she’s a dog who’s got her way for too long, yet she respects people who establish rules with love and consistency. If you can whistle, even better.

Picked up as a stray near Sudbury, six-year old Amy had little chance there of being adopted. She’s housetrained, a nightmare to walk with a collar yet walks great with a gentle leader. We suspect she’s a purebred lab. After a week, she’s still showing a bit too much interest in our cats but they’re young and dog savvy, and are helping re-direct Amy’s herding behaviors into play overtures and gruff affection. Currently, she lives with another female lab. She’d do great as the only pet in your home, but if she has to share, make sure the attention, affection and treats are doled out equally. That said, she’s not food aggressive, just a treat hog. She’s learned hovering around the table at mealtime is futile so she’s given it up. Good thing because she could stand to lose ten or so pounds.

Terrific at the off-leash park, Amy plays well with other dogs and (with few exceptions) doesn’t show her dominant side during casual encounters. She adores walks in the local ravines and creeks, powering up and down banks steep enough to make us cringe. Two minutes is about all she’ll let you out of her sight before she re-emerges from the brush. A bit of a bull in a china shop, you can always keep track of where she is by listening.

Amy has no interest in toys, doesn’t chew, and is fine being left alone for a normal workday. Highly food motivated, she’s easily trainable and will blossom with the eight weeks of free training classes that come with every TAGS adoption. She loves car rides, meeting people and is incredibly confident and friendly in new situations.