Career change pet dogs available for adoption: Meet Hunter

Hunter, a black Labrador retriever, is lying on the ground indoors looking up toward the camera with a gentle, curious expression.

Dog Summary

Name: Hunter
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Age: 8 months
Breed: Labrador Retriever (Black)
Sex: Male, Neutered
Home behaviour: Smart, affectionate, sensitive; thrives in calm, predictable environments
Good with dogs: Yes, with thoughtful introductions; may be reactive on leash​​​​​​​
Good with cats: Yes
Good with kids: Yes, in a quiet home environment
Adoption fee: 

About Hunter

Hunter is a smart, sensitive, and deeply affectionate dog who loves forming strong bonds with his people. He finds changes in environment and routine challenging, which can lead him to become stressed and reactive to dogs, occasional people, and certain sounds. Because of this, guide work wasn’t the right fit — but life as a companion dog absolutely can be!

Hunter will thrive in a calm, consistent home that can support his ongoing training, help him continue building confidence, and give him the space and structure he needs to feel secure. He has so much love to give and is ready to enjoy a quieter lifestyle filled with long walks, yard time, and positive reinforcement learning.

A good fit for me is…

  • An adopter experienced with large-breed dogs
  • A quiet home (with or without respectful children)
  • A sizeable, fully fenced yard so I can run, explore, and decompress
  • Someone committed to continued obedience training, socialization, and positive reinforcement
  • A home that enjoys regular long walks
  • A household with compatible dogs or cats — or I can happily be an only pet
Hunter, a black Labrador retriever, is playing in the snow. He is looking up toward the camera with a gentle, curious expression and his snout is covered in snow.

My personality traits are…

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  • Affectionate and intelligent: Hunter bonds closely with his people and enjoys calm companionship
  • Sensitive: Hunter feels stress with sudden changes, so predictability helps him shine
  • Energetic: Hunter loves having room to stretch and burn off energy, safely
  • Learning and growing: Hunter is working on emotional regulation and would benefit from patient, consistent guidance
  • Eager to please: With the right support, Hunter responds beautifully to positive reinforcement
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Hunter, a black Labrador retriever, is playing in the snow. He is looking up toward the camera with his brown eyes and a gentle, curious expression. The photo only captures his face.

Training notes

  • Benefits from continued obedience and one-on-one positive reinforcement training with a professional
  • Working through reactivity toward dogs, occasional people, and certain sounds
  • Thrives with structured routines, calm environments, and clear expectations
  • Enjoys long walks and training activities that build focus and confidence

Hunter is available for adoption

If you’re interested in adopting Hunter, learn more about the adoption process