Rio needs further assessment, behavior modification, and veterinary care before he will be available for adoption. You can donate toward his ongoing costs for diagnostics, treatment, medication, food, and enrichment at wags.com/donate.
Rio has lived in the same home since he was a puppy, and when his owner got cancer, his world was turned upside down. He was placed in a foster home briefly, but after just one night, he was returned. He is a friendly and social boy, generally not reactive, walks well on a head collar, and is well-behaved in the home. Rio can show stress by growling and barking at the people around him, similar to a person who may lash out when they have had a bad day or are feeling overwhelmed. Aggression does not always mean a dog wants to inflict harm, but it is how they communicate fear, anxiety, and discomfort. In Rio's case, as long as people respect his signals and give him space when needed, he generally does not escalate beyond these initial warnings, but being able to recognize pre-emptive signs and calmly de-escalate the situation is a must. We believe some of Rio's aggressive behavior may have a medical component to it, and are in the process of investigating this. Rio is a CKC registered purebred.
Ideal Home
Rio will require an owner who is a master of reading dog body language and is not fearful of canine communication, including growling and barking. This owner must understand that aggression does not equal a "bad dog" and will not threaten, punish, or try to dominate him. An owner who believes in compassion, patience, and letting a dog feel safe is essential. They must be able to calmly back off when Rio indicates he needs space and will follow a training plan provided by Wags, including maintaining consistent boundaries. An adult-only home is required, and a home without cats is best as Rio was not exposed to them in his previous home and can be fearful of them. Rio is good with other dogs and may do best with a small dog, or a large, calm female dog.
Ongoing Health
We believe some of Rio's aggressive behavior may have a medical component to it, and are in the process of investigating this.
Training & Support
Rio can show stress by growling and barking at the people around him. This is his way of communicating fear, anxiety, and discomfort. It is crucial for his owner to recognize these signals and give him space when needed. Punitive or dominant training methods are not suitable for Rio. He will benefit from an owner who can calmly de-escalate situations and will follow a training plan provided by Wags.
Application Details:
- Applications start by contacting us through Wags.
Transporation
Rio is located in Edmonton.
