Bella

Meet Bella!! (case #6581)<br/>Bella is a sweet, spunky puppy who’s already lived up to her big name! She arrived at the shelter as a stray after being found wandering the street with a head wound. She spent her first few days getting TLC at the vet and is now on the mend, currently rocking a cone and taking meds for her head wound and roundworm.<br/><br/>Estimated to be around 10 weeks old, Bella is believed to be a Lab x Mastiff mix, which means this tiny, adorable baby is very likely to grow into a large, strong adult dog. Right now, she’s all puppy sweetness, but her future family should be prepared to invest the time, structure, and training needed to help her grow into a confident, well-mannered companion.<br/><br/>Bella is a very affectionate and social puppy who will thrive with:<br/>Consistent structure and boundaries<br/>Proper exposure and positive socialization<br/>Daily exercise and mental enrichment as she grows<br/>Puppy training classes, strongly recommended<br/><br/>Because of her suspected Mastiff/XL-type mix, prior bully or XL breed experience is highly beneficial. Large-breed puppies need guidance early, and Bella will do best with adopters who understand how important consistency and leadership are from day one.<br/><br/>At this young age, care staff have noted that Bella can be grabby with food and did show a brief growl during feeding. While true guarding behavior is unlikely in such a young puppy, this does indicate the importance of early, proactive training. Her care plan should include:<br/>Regular hand-feeding meals<br/>Working for food (meals as training opportunities!)<br/>Trading games with food and items<br/>Positive handling paired with rewards<br/>Using food for crate games and enrichment<br/><br/>This approach will help build trust, confidence, and positive associations while setting her up for long-term success.<br/><br/>Bella is tiny and irresistibly cute right now, but it’s crucial not to let that cuteness override rules and structure. The expectations you want when she’s 6 months or a year old should start now — consistency is key!<br/><br/>Important Notes:<br/>Bella was not introduced to other animals at the shelter due to her age and vaccine status<br/>Please use caution with other dogs and rough play until her head wound is fully healed<br/><br/>Overall, Bella will be an amazing companion for the right family — one that’s ready for the commitment of raising a young puppy and excited to put in the work to help her thrive. With the right guidance, Bella is sure to grow into a loyal, loving, and impressive big girl. Please complete an adoption application:<br/><br/>https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/animals-pets/adopt-or-foster-pet/adoptions<br/><br/>Bella is too young for certain procedures. Her adopters must be willing to return her for a spay, which is included in the adoption fee. Her adopters are responsible for a rabies vaccine at 16 weeks as well as any follow-up boosters.<br/><br/>Animal adoptions and viewing are by appointment only. This allows our Adoption Staff to spend quality time with each potential home to ensure the most successful matches are made between the animals and their new families.<br/><br/>*Please note: we only adopt within Ontario

Meet Bella!! (case #6581)
Bella is a sweet, spunky puppy who’s already lived up to her big name! She arrived at the shelter as a stray after being found wandering the street with a head wound. She spent her first few days getting TLC at the vet and is now on the mend, currently rocking a cone and taking meds for her head wound and roundworm.

Estimated to be around 10 weeks old, Bella is believed to be a Lab x Mastiff mix, which means this tiny, adorable baby is very likely to grow into a large, strong adult dog. Right now, she’s all puppy sweetness, but her future family should be prepared to invest the time, structure, and training needed to help her grow into a confident, well-mannered companion.

Bella is a very affectionate and social puppy who will thrive with:
Consistent structure and boundaries
Proper exposure and positive socialization
Daily exercise and mental enrichment as she grows
Puppy training classes, strongly recommended

Because of her suspected Mastiff/XL-type mi

Meet Bella!! (case #6581)
Bella is a sweet, spunky puppy who’s already lived up to her big name! She arrived at the shelter as a stray after being found wandering the street with a head wound. She spent her first few days getting TLC at the vet and is now on the mend, currently rocking a cone and taking meds for her head wound and roundworm.

Estimated to be around 10 weeks old, Bella is believed to be a Lab x Mastiff mix, which means this tiny, adorable baby is very likely to grow into a large, strong adult dog. Right now, she’s all puppy sweetness, but her future family should be prepared to invest the time, structure, and training needed to help her grow into a confident, well-mannered companion.

Bella is a very affectionate and social puppy who will thrive with:
Consistent structure and boundaries
Proper exposure and positive socialization
Daily exercise and mental enrichment as she grows
Puppy training classes, strongly recommended

Because of her suspected Mastiff/XL-type mix, prior bully or XL breed experience is highly beneficial. Large-breed puppies need guidance early, and Bella will do best with adopters who understand how important consistency and leadership are from day one.

At this young age, care staff have noted that Bella can be grabby with food and did show a brief growl during feeding. While true guarding behavior is unlikely in such a young pup