GENERAL Mastiff & Shar-Pei Mix GUELPH, ON

Mastiff x Shar Pei | 90 lbs | Male | 3yrs old | Okay with dogs | No cats | Kids 16+ | Medium-High Energy | Crate trained | House trained | Fostered in Guelph, ON


Vetting: Allergic to chicken

Adoption Fee: $600

Easiest way to describe General in just a few words? Loyal, adventurous, misunderstood.

2 years ago, General came to us through a local shelter. He found his way after living the first 11 months of his life protecting his human where they found themselves homeless and struggling, to say the least. Since coming to Tango’s, we have focused on creating a good life for General, ensuring that what he’s experienced previously, doesn’t have to be something that he worries about going forward.

General might be 3 years old but he still has a fair amount of energy. He is more than willing to go on any and all adventures, but he is also happy to have a day at home, especially when there are snacks included. General loves to work through toys and games to mentally stimulate him and is looking for a home that will continue this with him. General is a super quick learner and has many commands under his belt but would love to learn even more! He is super food motivated which has helped immensely with his training.

General is crate trained and does well in his crate when his foster parents are away from home or when they are sleeping. General is also fantastic on leash - he has come a long way with his leash manners. Previously, he had shown reactivity on leash when another, unknown dog would engage, but now he can walk in tandem with almost any dog with no issues! General loves to play fetch and tug-of-war; two of his favourite games!

General was initially transferred to us from another shelter in February 2021, and we were told he had resource guarding and mild stranger danger. After months in foster care, not seeing any signs of this, he was adopted out to a family for just under a year. Unfortunately his adopters bit off more than they could chew, and General started showing some of these behaviors, which ultimately wasn't something they could manage. We're happy to report that with proper introductions General has shown none of these behaviors since being back with us! While General is able to be trusted in the home, he is also content in the crate. He may whine for the first little bit but will settle quickly. We cannot express enough that General is looking for a home where he has boundaries and rules in place. Without it, he could easily find himself in the same situation down the line.
Here’s what General’s foster parents wanted you to know about him:

General is such a lovely boy. He is very loyal to all three of the humans in our home but has clearly expressed that he does have a favourite (no hard feelings of course)! He has settled into our home very well over the last 4 months and we keep learning more and more about him with each new adventure we go on.

General is an amazing, cuddly, big boy who is so deserving of his perfect forever family, and while we are happy to be his people while they find their way to him, we do hope that he finds his way to them soon. He absolutely loves attention and is always happy to play with his favourite toys!
With the proper training and a home with structure and boundaries, he has become such a happy boy! We advocate for him on a daily basis, both in and out of the home, with dogs and people. It has done wonders for his confidence and is something that will definitely need to continue in his future endeavours.

It is important to know that General has previously shown resource guarding tendencies. While he now knows a very solid “out” command, this is something that could arise if proper rules and boundaries are not set from the get go when he heads home. Similarly, when new people enter General’s life, he may feel the need to protect himself. To help curve this behaviour, General does not get to meet people when they first enter his home. General only gets to meet people that are going to be frequent guests in our home and only after they have come over multiple times to visit us. It is important to know that General will very likely never be a dog to go to large family/friend gatherings or public events. If he does, he is muzzle trained and will need his handler to have control of his leash at all times to ensure not only his safety but others as well. We have seen General lunge at people who have surprised him or who have not respected his personal space and want to ensure that this behaviour does not escalate from here when it can be prevented.

As a foster home and with the help of Tango’s Lead, we will forever be available for the people who give General the chance. He has his issues, but with people who give him time, who are willing to learn what he does and doesn’t like, and who show him the respect and loyalty that he shows, he will flourish.