Looking for a new canine pal? Johnny’d be good!

In fact, it’s hard to describe adoptable Johnny as anything BUT good! 

Johnny has yet to meet a stranger. He is affectionate with everyone. Though there are no children in his foster home, he was gentle with a visiting four-year-old and appears totally comfortable around kids. He doesn’t share his foster home with any other pets but has been eager to greet other dogs on walks. Due to covid and social distancing, his interactions with other canines have been brief, but all have been friendly. Based on his amiable reaction to people and dogs, we’re pretty sure he’d be just fine with a dog-savvy feline friend too.

Johnny is young, a year or two at most, and is a Boston terrier/Boxer mix – obvious by his pictures but also confirmed by a DNA test (compliments of @DNA My Dog). He has been fully vetted, including a dental, and is in good health. If he had to choose, he’d pick cuddling and snoozing over, say, a game of fetch, but when coaxed, his playful side comes out!

Johnny is also one smart cookie. Well-mannered, he is eager to please and quick to learn, having picked up several new commands since coming into foster care. He is also fully housetrained and walks wonderfully on leash. 

Johnny is not crate-trained. This is because Johnny has separation anxiety, and the crate causes him even more distress. Johnny is not acting out or being “bad” – this is genuine panic that has caused him to be destructive when left alone. It’s easy to underestimate the challenges of separation anxiety, especially now with many people home the majority of the time. But separation anxiety is not a problem that will simply go away on its own.

Johnny’s dedicated fosters have been working on desensitization to routine activities that often signal a departure (such as grabbing their keys, putting on shoes, opening the door, pretending to leave, etc.). They are also encouraging “independent time” – having him sleep in his own bed and spend time alone in another room with doors open. Still, at this point, he cannot be safely left alone.

Johnny is already showing improvement, and we are optimistic that with the right training, and patience for the process, he can learn to feel safe when left alone. Successful behaviour modification is a team effort and a bonding experience, with both the human and their dog learning new skills. It would be best for Johnny to get settled in his forever home where he and his adopter can begin working right away with a certified trainer.

JOHNNY • NEUTERED MALE • FULLY VETTED • APPROX. 2 YEARS OF AGE • 30 LBS • FOSTERED IN OTTAWA, ON

Note: From the time applications are opened, through the selection and screening process, adoptions can take approximately three weeks to finalize. We thank everyone who takes the time to apply, but only those who best fit each dog’s requirements in a forever home will be contacted.

UPDATE Jan 30, 2021

Although he hasn’t pitched in with the household chores much so far, Johnny’s foster home reports he is all the other things that a great houseguest should be – well-behaved, friendly and respectful of the house rules. He doesn’t seem to have a great interest in toys; he is much more interested in cuddles!

Johnny’s separation anxiety means he is very attached to his humans, following them like a little shadow. Although he doesn’t seem to have much in the way of formal training, his foster caregivers see a lot of potential in this handsome fellow, who listens well and wants to please. His good intentions and positive attitude also make his fosters optimistic that Johnny will do well with training geared specifically to help him overcome separation anxiety.

Just a couple of days after his arrival, Johnny developed a cough, so it was off to the vet. X-rays were taken to make sure his lungs were clear, and for now, he is being treated for ‘infectious tracheobronchitis’, the fancy term for kennel cough. There has already been improvement so we’re hopeful that Johnny is on his way to a complete recovery.We know that Johnny is a mix, but he certainly shares the Boston trait of much preferring a warm cuddly blanket to a cold winter walk. Our good friends at DNA My Dog have generously donated a DNA test for Johnny, so we’ll soon know what breeds make up his 100% of awesome! 

Here’s… Johnny!

We’d like to introduce you to some of the new faces at BTRC. Let’s start with Johnny, who came to BTRC as a shelter transfer.

Found as a stray, Johnny is young, likely no more than a year or two at most. He’s long and lanky, just under 30 lbs, with big paws and puppy-like antics and energy. As his handsome profile reveals, it’s obvious that he is a mix – perhaps with Boxer?

As a new arrival, we haven’t had a chance to get to know Johnny yet. We’ve been told he is friendly with people of all ages, good with other dogs, and healthy. He’s still in his “decompression” period, but his foster parents confirm he’s been super affectionate so far!

We also know that Johnny suffers from separation anxiety. His level of distress when left on his own can be extreme. Johnny will require a dedicated desensitization and counterconditioning program using positive-reinforcement techniques, perhaps with some added medical support. It will take time for Johnny to “unlearn” his panic response to being left alone, but we are dedicated to helping him become the best boy he can be!

NOTE: Johnny is being fostered in Eastern Ontario and is not yet ready for adoption. As soon as he is ready to find his forever home, we will open up the applications and let everyone know on social media.