Pet of the Week, Kynjyn

Say hello to Kynjyn – a 4-month-old sweetheart! Kynjyn loves every human and dog that he meets. When he really takes to someone he will perform his full bum wag, not just a tail wag but a full back end wag – now that’s a happy dog!

Kynjyn is nearly house trained. His foster mom would say he’s 95 percent there. He is also crate trained and will sleep through the night without a problem. If he feels the need for a nap during the day – he will go in on his own and snooze on his own.

This cutie pie has also figured out the commands of sit and shake-a-paw. He is learning to heel on leash and has great recall when he is off-leash. Being a very food motivated puppy – he’s sure to learn many more commands and tricks quickly.

Kynjyn has qualities seen in some hockey players! He loves his two bouncy balls and when he has exhausted all attempts to carry both balls in his mouth, he will carry one in his mouth and will play foot hockey with the other one. What a talent!

Kynjyn hasn’t met any cats yet but his foster family believes he would be pretty okay with them. Kynjyn and other dogs are very okay. He hasn’t met another canine big or small that he hasn’t adored. When it comes to kids, the only children that Kynjyn has met are the kids that have come to Petsmart to checkout the ARF dogs on the weekend. He has always behaved when kids have been present in these circumstances.

After a long day of running around, catching and playing foot hockey with his most favourite bouncy balls – Kynjyn is very keen on snuggling with you on the couch and maybe snatching a couple of belly rubs from you.

Interested in becoming Kynjyn’s forever home? Fill out ouradoption application today.

Pet of the Week, Gem!

To say Gem likes a busy household would be an understatement. She loves her foster family, which includes 4 children, 2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 other foster puppies! She can be found playing with small and big dogs and loves everyone around her! When she’s not trying keeping up with all the activity in her foster house she loves to be cuddled and spend some one-on-one time with her human foster family. 

This happy-go-lucky gal is house trained and isn’t super high energy but enjoys her daily walks so if getting fit in the new year is one of your new years resolutions - Gem would be the perfect walking companion!

Gem is looking for a family to give her the security, confidence and love that she needs and deserves in her life.

If you are interested in becoming Gem’s forever family, fill out our adoption applicationtoday!

Pet of the Week – Jayda!

Meet Jayda – a sweet, people-loving dog looking for her forever home. 

Jayda is an active dog and requires a lot of exercise to burn off all her energy. She is a social butterfly and loves to play with other dogs. She is curious about cats and currently lives in a household that has two cats. She’s received a couple of swats and now understand that she needs to give them their space.

When Jayda is greeted by adults or children – she gets so excited! Her signature move is the full body wiggle. On occasion, her excitement gets the best of her and she jumps up on her new friends. She is working on containing this enthusiasm to when she goes on a long walk or run.

This lady is one smart cookie too. Speaking of cookies – she is highly motivated by food. Teaching Jayda new tricks or commands should be easy with this secret in your back pocket! She’s strong willed and wants to please her foster family. She isn’t completely sold on the leash yet but she is getting lessons from a trainer to help her through this.

You’re probably wondering what this super gal is afraid of. Hold on – it’s pretty intense. It’s the evil vacuum! That’s right, the vacuum. It’s the one thing that makes this girl turn a little shy.

Jayda loves to go for car rides and thinks looking out the window is the most fun! Jayda is an athletic dog who would love an active family to live with… someone who may throw her a ball over and over, take her for a hike or even a run!

If you’re interested in adopting this sweet girl, fill out an adoption application form, today! 

Pet of the Week, Solo!

Meet Solo! Solo is a curious, energetic and fearless puppy. He loves to play with his foster brother and foster sister a lot. His foster sister is Holly and she’s about 80lbs, but that absolutely does not hold Solo back. He seriously loves to play! Solo does great on a leash and when he’s at the dog park, he sticks close by 90% of the time, the other 10% he’s off to see what the other dogs are sniffing. Speaking of sniffing… he loves to just walk around and smell new things.

When Solo settles down for a nap, he is the best cuddle-buddy you could ever find. He sleeps in his crate all night and loves breakfast and suppertime – he loves food! His most endearing feature though? His ears! They are amazingly large and adorable!

Solo is great with other dogs and strangers are just friends he hasn’t met yet. His ideal home would probably have another dog that also likes to play so he has a canine buddy to romp with!

Solo was born with a mild neurological issue that affects his legs, sometimes making him a little clumsy, but most of the time, you can’t even tell. He will be going back to the vet in a few weeks to be re-assessed, but we haven’t seen any changes in him, so it is highly likely he will be just a little uncoordinated, but we doubt that will slow him down.

Solo's foster home made a video of him, too! Visit our YouTube Chanel to view! 

If you are interested in adopting Solo, fill out our adoption application today!

Pet of the Week, Aurora! (Guest blogged by Aurora’s foster family)

Meet Aurora! The first thing we have to tell you about Aurora is that we call her Pepper, short for Peppermint (suggested by a friend’s lovely little girl). Aurora, while a lovely name, was just too much of a mouthful for us. That being said, it isn’t hard to rename a puppy to whatever you’d like. We've had the pleasure of getting to know Pepper for the past seven weeks and we can tell you that she is a great little puppy who won’t be little for very long. When the vet handed her to me I was shocked to learn that she was only eight weeks old – she was twice the size of most puppies we fostered at that age!  

As soon as we got Pepper home she was off running and playing as happy as could be in our backyard. This is what Pepper is usually like: happy and goofy. Pepper has a lot of energy and is always ready to go - if there is another dog around or something going on she doesn’t want to miss a thing. Since she has so much energy we have found that it is very important to make sure she gets a lot of walks (a number of shorter walks each day), lots of time to romp and play, and mini training sessions to engage her mind. Pepper can get over-excited, and while this has improved dramatically, sometimes she still needs help to calm down. Because of this, she would probably do best in a home that was cool calm and collected, but willing to provide her with the exercise needed for a growing puppy. 

When there is nothing going on, Pepper is very laid back. She is happy to flop out in the kitchen and watch the world go by. She also loves to lie in the backyard and chew on a stick, antler, or Kong. She loves scratches and belly rubs and will roll over on to her back as you walk up to her so she doesn’t miss an opportunity for one. 


Housetraining took all of 3 days, and she now asks to go out by whining or barking at the door. Pepper has learned to sit and lay down on cue, and will also target touch your hand with her nose. We are working hard on loose leash walking and building a solid recall. Pepper sleeps happily in a crate and generally makes it through the night without needing a break. 


We do not have cats, but Pepper has been exposed to them a few times and seems to be more curious than anything else. She loves every dog she meets and would do well in a home with another dog who loves to play as much as she does, although older dogs or shy dogs may find her too exuberant. She would also be fine in a single dog home. 


Pepper is very smart, but she is also an independent soul who knows what she wants. We think it will be important for her new family to commit to spending the time to train with Pepper and build a strong relationship with her. This isn’t hard to do at all since she is so much fun to work with.

Pepper is an amazing puppy with a lot of personality. She will be an excellent addition to the right family! If you think that Pepper is right for your family, make sure you fill out an online application!

Pet of the Week, Mary!

Hi my name is Mary and I am seeking my forever home. My foster parents say I am full of love and enjoy meeting new people. I have recently learned how to play. This was pretty difficult for me because I was fairly insecure. My foster mom and I have been working to improve this by practicing with toys, meeting new people, and new furry friends.  My foster parents say that I am making daily improvement by showing them I want to play. I do this by bringing my toys over to them. They say this was one of the biggest milestones I have made.

One of my favorite games is to play tug-a-war. The other week I played tug-a-war with one of our new 9-week-old puppies. It was lots of fun and super cute! I have also been going to the doggy park where I have been meeting other dogs more my age. We seem to get along fairly well. The other nice thing about the doggy parks is I get to work on my figure by getting lots of exercise.

Mary and her foster sibling playing with toys.

I can be a bit of a romantic and I enjoy going for long walks along the river – playing in between the rocks and grass. I have been practicing fetching sticks near the river and bringing them back to my foster mom. I still have a bit of trouble with playing fetch but I am getting better at it. Soon I may even be able to play fetch with balls! I haven’t been allowed to go swimming yet because the river is too deep, but once the river becomes a little shallower, I may get a chance to go swimming. 

I tend to listen very well when my foster mom calls me. I am not quite comfortable with the "sit" command, but my foster mom is working with me on this and I'm sure I'll get it.  I really like having someone around most of the time. I have a hard time being home alone for long periods of time, so it would be great to find a home with people who are home a fair bit of the time. 

One of my most favorite times of the day is dinnertime! I love eating kibble. I love it so much that I can be known to have a little difficulty in sharing my kibble. But when treats and bones are served, I can be a good sharer with the other dogs. Although when all my bones get taken I can get a little sad.

I have an optimistic personality and can’t wait to see what the future holds. I would really like a chance to meet my forever home and get settled in.

Love, Mary

If you are interested in becoming Mary's forever home, fill out our adoption application today!!

Pet of the Week, Thelma!

Meet Thelma. When Thelma was rescued, she had a condition called Cherry Eye. She's had surgery and since recovered quite nicely. Now, she is looking for her forever home!

Thelma is a very energetic and loving girl who is always open to wrestling, running, walks or a nice cuddle while her people watch a movie. She gets along great with every dogs she meets and has been fine with the children she's met at PetSmart.

It was initially thought that Thelma shouldn't go to a home with small children, but her foster home has seen so much growth in her that they see the potential in her being alright in a home with small kids. She plays well with other dogs in the house, but when she gets over excited she can be a little bit mouthy which may not be great with small kids running around, too. She never hurts anyone, it's just a pinch and her foster home is working with her on this and seeing improvement.

Thelma is a very sweet and curious dogs who wants to follow you around all the time. She likes to see everything that is going on around the house. She also enjoys watching birds from the window.

Both of Thelma's foster parents work full-time, so she spends the day in her kennel, with no issue. She tends to whine a little in the beginning, but they know the kennel is growing on her because she will take her naps in there all by herself. Slowly but surely, it will become her safe haven.

Thelma loves to run in the backyard with her foster brother and chase the birds that fly from tree to tree. She loves being outside so much, the her leash walking skills are a work-in-progress. She is getting better, but she's so excited to be outside that she still pulls a little bit.

Thelma listens very well, especially when she is calm or food is involved. So, those obedience classes ARF offers with an adoption would be right up her alley!

Thelma's ideal home is a home that has patience for her to continue to become a wonderful dog. She has an amazing, calm personality while still being fun and energetic. She also has immense amounts of love to give.

If you are interested in adopting this perfect catch, fill out an adoption application here. She won't last much longer!

Pet of the Week, Pixie

Meet Pixie! She is an amazing little girl who's looking for her forever home.

Some of her likes include: ear scratches, playing fetch, bully sticks, squeaky snake toys, learning new tricks and hanging out with her foster brother!

Pixie is a clever little thing and she's most excellent at figuring out what will get her treats. She loves tricks and games like sit, speak, lay-down, shake-a-paw, sit-pretty, fetch and keep-away with her foster brother! She's still learning about walking on a leash and is improving daily, but still pulls a little. She has almost perfected house training and is amazing in an x-pen when she's left alone at home for a few hours; she will nap and play with her chew toys and not get into any trouble at all. Pixie also sleeps all night on a doggie bed and would probably love to share a bed with someone if her forever home lets her. As clever and well mannered as this little girl is, you do have to watch your shoes around her! She's mostly just a thief, but you never know, she is still teething! Sometimes Pixie will bark for attention, but is learning that this never really gets her anything so she's learning not to do it!

Pixie is a litte shy at first and will get startled at sudden movements, so the ideal home for her would probably be one with older children – she also enjoys attention, so usually gets over her shyness quite quickly. She also gets a long with other dogs.

Pixie's ideal home would be a home with dog savvy, kind-hearted people who will keep her busy and are interested in doing various training and ongoing activities with her. She has lots of smarts and amazing potential and would likely be a good companion for someone interested in doing agility or some other dog related sport.

If you're looking for a canine companion that will truly be a life-time of fun and games, Pixie's your girl. Don't wait and fill out that adoption application today!

http://www.arf.ab.ca/adopt/dog-adoptionform.php

Pet of the Week, Rosie!

Meet Rosie! She is now six months old and one of the smartest puppies her foster parents have ever met. She is completely house broken and even goes to the door when she needs to go out. Rosie is learning sit-pretty and shake-a-paw. Rosie gets along great with larger dogs – she has a big brother in her foster home. Rosie loves to go for walks and is doing great on a leash and learning not to pull her foster home all over the park! 

Rosie is still working on her puppy nibbling, but has come a long way. She is a quiet pup who barely barks in the house. Rosie would make a wonderful companion for a family that has a larger dog or who can bring her to daycare occasionally – she has a lot of energy and can play rough at times.

Rosie is a beautiful dog with loveable qualities and would make a wonderful addition to any loving family. 

If you're interested in adopting Rosie, fill out an adoption application for her today!

http://www.arf.ab.ca/adopt/dog-adoptionform.php 

Pet of the Week, Heidi!

Meet Heidi!

No one can really believe she is still available for adoption! Heidi lives in a foster home with three young boys and gets on really great with them. She's learning how to properly greet people and she also lives with two older, smaller dogs, so she's also learning how to respect their space.

Heidi loves to go for off-leash walks in the forest by her foster home's house. She has a good recall and loves other dogs! She is really playful and will greet other dogs, big or small, without hesitation. She is a pretty high-energy young gal, so an active home who is willing to think about occasional day care for her would be excellent.

Heidi is also fully house-trained and will go to the door to tell you she needs to go out. She also really enjoys the great outdoors and the cold weather doesn't seem to phase her!

Heidi plays fetch and is starting to get really good at bringing the back/toy back to you and she has learned both sit and down with verbal and hand commands.

So, if you're looking for a super unique, friendly, playful, smart-as-a-whip companion, Heidi is your gal! Don't wait too long, someone else might scoop her up!

ARF's online adoption applicatoin can be found here: http://www.arf.ab.ca/adopt/dog-adoptionform.php

Pet of the Week, Rocco!

Rocco is a happy easy going puppy. He has a great personality and has been a joy to have in his foster home. They know he will make a wonderful addition to a very lucky home.

Rocco is crate trained and happily runs in when it is time for bed and he sleeps right through the night without needing to go out.  Rocco also loves to go in his crate for naps during the day – he knows that every so often there is a tasty treat to be found in there.

House training is coming along really well.  Most of the time Rocco will let his foster home know he needs to go out by sitting by the door or whining a little if he cannot get to the door. He still needs to go out frequently, especially when playing.  Sometimes when he is too busy playing he forgets he needs to ask and has an accident, but these are getting less frequent all the time. After all, he is still a puppy!

Rocco loves any toy with a squeaker and chewing on antlers (you can get them at pet stores – best dog chew ever). He is learning to play fetch and loves a good game of tug.  If he were allowed to he would collect all of the slippers and shoes in his foster home and bring them into his crate where he would lay on them like a little dragon watching over his hoard of gold.  

Rocco is very gentle when taking treats and he is learning not to jump on people. His foster home is working on his basic obedience commands and he can sit on cue and is working on down, come and stay.  

Rocco's foster home cannot get over how well Rocco does on a leash.  He is more than happy to trot along beside you taking in the world. He doesn't love it when buses or loud vehicles go by, but is getting used to them.  He loves to meet people and other dogs and his whole body wiggles with excitement as he approaches them.  

The funniest thing about Rocco is that he really loves to lay on soft things.  He would much prefer a soft bed or a blanket to the hard ground.  He is always looking for ways to get into our older dog's bed and in the kitchen he will snag a dish towel to lie on if he can. 

So, if you loves walks, have a soft place to lay, and a few squeaky toys, Rocco just might be the dog for you.

Don't wait! Click here and fill out an adoption application today!

Pet of the Week, Chanel!

Hi! My name is Chanel... or Coco for short! I'm a cool little pup and I would like to tell you all about the new things I'm learning in my foster home!

My biggest accomplishment is figuring out the house-training rules. I am so reliable and I wait at the door to go outside. Even though I sleep through the night without potty breaks, I like to go outside every 2-3 hours until I’m a little older and can "hold it" for longer.

You wouldn’t believe that I will sit so calmly before meals and wait for the cat to finish her food so I can lick the bowl clean. Actually, my three foster siblings and I eat together and in close proximity, but we never try to take each others’ food or anything!

There are a few other dogs in the house, so there are lots of other toys to play with and we never fight over our favorites. The Frisbee is a very cool thing and I think it will be the best toy to chase when I am bigger and faster.

I also like playing tag with my foster sister, but she’s still too quick for me. We sleep together and explore the yard together, yet I do like getting individual cuddles from my foster parents. I like it when they pick me up and give me special attention. It's so wonderful!

Last week, I got my nails trimmed and that wasn’t a big deal at all! And, when the weather is warmer, my foster Mom wants to give me a bath. So, I’ll let you know how that turns out!

If you think I would be a great addition to your family (I really would, you know!), fill out one of ARF's adoption applications for me! I love my foster home, but I can't wait until I have my very own forever home to call my own! You can find the application here: http://www.arf.ab.ca/adopt/dog-adoptionform.php

OH! I almost forgot! There is a really cute video of me playing with pine cones on ARF's Facebook Page... you should go check it out! www.facebook.com/ARFAlberta

Pet of the Week, Buddy!

Meet Buddy! He was rescued by ARF at the end of August and had to have his leg amputated. You can read that story on our website here.

So, Buddy is a tri-pod. That means he only has 3 legs, but I don't really think it either bothers him, or slows him down at all.

Buddy is actually the ideal canine companion. He is extremely well behaved and fun-loving! He truly wears his heart on his sleeve and if you haven't had the chance to receive a one-armed hug from him, you don't know what you're missing!

Buddy does not behave like a dog with a disability, at all! Only two months after his amputation, he is totally back to living a full and playful canine life. It's almost like he doesn't know he's missing a leg – nothing stops him!

Buddy truly is one of the sweetest, gentlest and must trusting soul that many of the ARF Volunteers have ever met. As soon as he arrived at his foster home – after a few days of trauma, including a limb amputation – he just melted into his foster mom's arms and he's been melting hearts ever since. Being the handsome and loveable guy that Buddy is, he captures the attention of people everywhere. On walks, at parks, on the ARF website and on Saturday's at our PetSmart viewings; he always steals the show!

Buddy is a healthy and active 2 year old dog who loves to play with other dogs and toys, but most of all... Buddy LOVES people! Buddy is always happy to get human attention and is super content hanging out wherever his people are. He is a great sleeper, is fully house-trained and can spend the day on his own without incident.

Most of all Buddy loves to play chase! He can run like the wind and loves the chance to do so. His daily walks and occasional off-leash runs are a must. Buddy's signature is his spotted tongue hanging out the side of his mouth! When you see this, you know Buddy is happy! Because he's such a happy boy, his forever home will be sure to see this goofy and charming smile everyday!

Buddy's ideal home would likely be any home. Although he is awfully interested in cats, we're not totally sure how he'd be with them, but otherwise, he'd fit right in anywhere. Especially if you have another like-minded canine companion for him to grow old with!

If you're interested in adding Buddy to your home, you won't be disappointed, so hurry and fill out that adoption application today! We're not sure why he hasn't been adopted yet!

Pet of the Week, Jesse

Jesse (formerly Jinx) has come a long way since she found a new foster home. At first she was quiet and nervous, being in a new home with young children, but she’s really come out of her shell and is really relaxed and comfortable around everyone! She no longer hides under the couch, or any closed space for that matter and Jesse has really started to enjoy the company of people, even strangers. The first time I met her she was in a strange place with a bunch of strangers. She was willing to approach me, take treats and let me pet her. Within a few minutes, she was purring and soliciting attention from me.

Jesse’s foster home has a revolving door of foster kittens and she seems to adjust really well to all of them. She has been found sleeping with them, grooming them and even playing with them.

Some of Jesse’s favourite pastimes include lazy days sitting in the window being entertained by all the goings-on outside, tummy rubs, she plays fetch and loves to hunt files and bugs.

When she’s not busy playing and getting attention, you can usually find her snuggled under the clothing in her foster mom’s closet taking a nap.

Jesse is a young, energetic cat and she is just a tiny little thing too. We think she’d make a great companion to just about anyone, provided her forever home understands that it might take her a little while to open up. But don’t you worry, once she does, you won’t be disappointed!!

For more information on Jesse or to adopt this wonderful little cat, visit our website at www.arf.ab.ca and view our available cat page!

Pet of the Week, Tiger!

This is Tiger. She is a lovely 1.5 year old, brindle beauty. She has remarkable amber eyes and an amazing personality.

Some of Tiger's favourite things include other dogs, cat food, all kinds of toys and food! Tiger is incredibly food motivated and is a pretty smart cookie – she will be a dream to train! She already knows sit and down, she behaves in the car, is house and crate trained. She could use some work on her leash manners and recall, but again, she is really food motivated, so these issues will definitely improve with training – which is highly recommended since she likes to chase birds, squirrels and rabbits!

Tiger also thinks that people are kind of cool. She loves attention and getting petted. She hasn't shown any shyness to strangers, kids or other animals for that matter. If you're willing to pay attention to her, she's willing to be your friend! I have personally watched her go up to anyone at PetSmart who showed interest in talking to her and she's always willing to roll over for a belly rub. This girl is smart and friendly! What else could you ask for?

Tiger is a medium sized dog at about 50lbs and has a wonderfully sweet disposition. She also lives with a cat – whom she mostly ignores. Her ideal home would be a family with another dog, but only because she loves playing with other dogs so much. She could still go to a home without another dog, but you'd have to promise her you'd take her to daycare or the park as often as you can to make sure she gets to fulfill one of her favourite activities!

If you think Tiger might be the perfect addition to your family, please fill out an application for her! She's a sweetheart! Applications can be found by clicking here!

Pet of the Week, Ryley!

Photo Courtesy of Theresa Swain.

Meet Ryley! He is such an easy-going, fun-loving, adorable little pup! Look at his ears; it looks like someone outlined them with a sharpie. So. Cute.


Anyway this little guy has been in our system for a while. His mom is Roxie and they came in when her pups were quite young. He's been well socialized and nothing much seems to really faze him.

He really enjoys being around the people in his foster home and has been exposed to lots of strangers and children – he loves to give kids kisses!

Ryley is currently living in a foster home with two adult dogs and gets along with them wonderfully. He loves to play and wrestle with them. He also loves going for walks and is doing really well with his leash manners, he also knows how to sit and is working on down. Because he's a puppy, he obviously still needs to be supervised and is still working on house and crate training and of course, puppies chew, but he LOVES Elk and Bison bones and playing with Kongs, so he is easy to redirect and keep occupied!

Ryley is also food motivated and smart, so training this little fella should be a dream!

When his foster mom is filling the dish washer or making tea, he likes to sit at her feet and watch. Such a curious little guy.

Ryley would likely do well in any sort of home, but if you're an active family with a couple of kids and maybe even another dog or two, let me tell you – he'd fit right in!

If you think this adorable little guy would be a match for your family, don't wait – fill out an application today! You can find the application on ARF's website here: http://www.arf.ab.ca/adopt/dog-adoptionform.php