BHRR’s Bruce, a Great Dane is AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION!
Weight: 56 Kgs(November 18th, 2022). We want to keep him lean/muscled, and fit. He could use a few more pounds as he builds up further muscle mass/tones.
Type of Home Ideal For Mr. Bruce: He loves his walks, and hikes, and getting so much better with car rides – he still has some anxiety – and interacts well with people/dogs he meets, and we are hoping for a quiet, socially low-active level home. A residence that, while visiting family plus friends and having people over, does not host frequent BBQs or gatherings of large groups. We do not want to see him in a home with a high level of travel, with other people taking care of him. He is loyal and loves his humans, and we want him to be part of the family if they go camping, go to the cottage, or do other fun travels. His quietly social and needs a home that is like him. He would adore cottage life or hang out at home with his family. Visiting friends, family, pet stores, and pet-friendly places is excellent too. We want an active home for Mr. Bruce. He is intelligent, healthy, and such a wonderful boy!
He MUST go to a home that will continue to work on his anxiety. He takes some time to settle down in a car while travelling. He will pace and sometimes whine before lying down. He is a lot better than he was, yet he still worries. As he was dumped at a shelter after his owner died, understandable that car rides still have a negative connotation for him. So much time and effort have gone into having him be comfortable in his own skin, to not only like yet love his own company. He charges into new situations with enthusiasm! A home that understands and shall continue to help him learn about this big fantastic world that we live in. We want him to live a quality, filled, wonderful life rich with experiences. He is being fostered in a beautiful home in the Kemptville area yet can equally live comfortably in the city or country.
We want him to be happy and to live his best life every day. We want him to reach his full potential! He is another versatile BHRR dog! He can be in a home that works ft; pt works from home is semi-retired or retired, etc. He will ONLY go to a home prepared to ensure that he receives the balance he requires with proper exercise, socialisation, etc. He does not need to go to a dog or even a Dane-experienced home. The home must be committed to his obedience, structure, and consistency, and to be patient, kind, and understanding, and while not hermits, they are not doing a hundred things each day. We want him to be treated as a cherished member in a right-matched forever-loving home. We want him to be a cherished member of his forever-loving adoptive home! He shares the communal water bowls and toys and understands that no human or dog will take his high-value food. He is fed in a quiet place and knows that he will be fed enough food, fed on time and that no one will take his food away.
He loves home and his friends – he needs canine friends! He also loves to explore, go on hikes, walks, and working on car rides, and visit people/places that are not over the top busy. We are not advocates of dog parks. Many private properties rent out space for acreage rentals so that he can enjoy a controlled environment to run and zoom in. He needs a home that will give him new positive and great safe, memorable experiences. If you are a home that likes to take infrequent walks/hikes/strolls, Mr. Bruce is not for you…he is a healthy dog and needs to be kept emotionally and physically stimulated. He would make a great companion to get out into nature, explore and even enjoy the beach and having other exciting adventures! He is so unbelievably affectionate!
Personality/Temperament: Super loving, affectionate, and calm, yet does get excited as he is incredibly happy and sweet; and he loves to get outside to romp and run and is a delightful, playful pup! Not the most coordinated or graceful to watch! He needs to be emotionally/physically properly stimulated, incredibly social, active, affectionate, gentle, plus kind. He thrives with consistency, structure, routine, and clear open communication to understand exactly what is expected of him. He is SO praise-motivated. His whole body demonstrates how happy he is!
Previous Dog Experience: Previous Dane experience is not required per the above, yet a home that is going to be committed to his wellbeing and make the small adjustments required as he does have some anxiety in the car. He does well overnight in his crate – he has been getting some trazodone before bed as needed. He is an EARLY rise! While we would ideally like to see him in a home with at least one right-matched personality fit dog – it is not a deal-breaker. He needs a strong doggie friend network. That is so important. We have friends; he needs friends too. He has enjoyed meeting other dogs!
Good With Cats: He has been good with LAH’s clinic cat, and he is fine with one of the cats in his foster home.
Good with Pocket Pets: His foster home has rabbits.
Good with Children: NO small children. Children are fast, flighty, unpredictable, spastic, plus loud. We will consider homes with responsible children 10+ and no more than two children in the house. A home without children is our first preference, as we want Mr. Bruce to be the priority. He has not had any issues with children. We would consider homes with younger children, yet, it would have to be an exceptional home.
Grooming: He is fine to wash and do his nails. He needs regular grooming to keep his coat healthy and looking his best.
Car: He still has some anxiety in the car. He will settle down yet, will pace, and turn around. Telling him gently that he is ok and passively ignoring is huge.
Housebroken/crate Trained: He is housebroken and crate trained. We never recommend that any new addition be given too much freedom to start. It can be very overwhelming plus too stimulating for them.
Obedience: He requires a home that will be consistent and dedicated to continuing to help him become the best dog that he can be. His potential is enormous! As per our adoption contract, a full round of group obedience is required with all of our dogs. This is not about having a dog that ‘listens.’ This is about creating a strong and mutually respectful bonding relationship. Trust and respect work both ways.
Activities Suited For Him: He would excel in obedience, and I wonder when his brain is mature if he would not make a WOW therapy dog. He is such a riot! Makes me laugh! So eager to please!
He is precious. He will be a champion amazing companion to watch movies, the sunset, long walks on the beach, small hikes in the mountains, etc. He is awesomeness!
Loves & Bad Habits: Like any dog, he is not perfect. He is perfect in all of his imperfections, though! NOT to mention super handsome with a fawn merle colour. He can have some anxiety, particularly in the car. He LOVES everything! He lives in a home with rabbits, cats, and other dogs. He is still a bit of a ‘bull in a china shop’ with his leash manners. He has pretty much ZERO interpersonal space issues, has the Dane lean, and loves to be around his human and animal friends! He is excited about living and the world! He has been so gentle about taking treats, yet sometimes needs a reminder to be gentle.
He is an awesome dog! So low maintenance! He LOVES everyone and everything!
Anxieties/Worries: It is integral that the right-matched personality fit home does not spend 24/7 with him. During this pandemic and even before it, we still need groceries; we should still go out and do errands; we should still get in our cars and go for a small drive to go somewhere to do something! Time has been spent having him learn to not only like yet enjoy his own company. As we need our alone time, he must do too. He is a solid and stable dog, and we do not want any SA behaviours to develop. His foster has worked hard on his anxiety in the car and with crate training.
As we have stated for over 26 years now, we will NEVER rush any dogs’ rehabilitation journey, we do not flip dogs, and we are not desperate to adopt them out.
We will always place up for adoption the dogs that can be adopted and safe haven all others that cannot be placed up for adoption due to medical and/or behavioural reasons.
We do not take in hundreds of dogs yearly; we only took in 6 dogs in 2021 as it is about helping the next in need of us, giving them top-quality care, and not about taking in numbers. In 2022, we have ONLY taken in 17 dogs to date.
After 26+ years, we know that we cannot please everyone, which means that BHRR is not the rescue to be followed, supported, and believed in by everyone. We remain small plus mighty, and as we go through this next transitional stage for BHRR, we shall continue to operate with a zero-tolerance approach, providing and beyond care to the animals.
Our mandates have never changed and will remain the same as long as we are around; the animals shall always be done right by as our priority.
Our adoption success rates remain second to no other group– 100% for over ten years of operating, and now 99% as we go through year 26, and we are excited as we go through this slow transition for BHRR!
You have come so far, Mr. Bruce, and we are delighted you are making your special announcement!
