Dog Summary
Name: Manny
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Age: 2 years
Breed: Labrador Retriever (Black)
Sex: Male, Neutered
Home behaviour: Sensitive and selective; benefits from routine, calm and experienced handling. Can be destructive and may seek out inappropriate household items when unsupervised.
Good with dogs: May be reactive toward other dogs (vocalizing/lunging observed) but not aggressive
Good with cats: Unsure
Good with kids: Yes
Adoption fee: $1,500
About Manny
Manny is a sensitive dog with a thoughtful personality and a solid understanding of his training. He is capable and intelligent, and when he feels comfortable with a handler, he can perform well and show great potential. Manny tends to build strong preferences for familiar people and may be selective about who he chooses to work with, so he will do best with someone who is willing to invest time in developing trust and consistency.
Manny benefits from a predictable routine and gentle handling. In a home setting, Manny has shown destructive behaviours when left unsupervised. Manny will need a home that is committed to keeping items safely out of reach and providing appropriate outlets for enrichment.
Manny will thrive best in a calm, structured home with an experienced adopter who understands sensitive dogs and can support him with clear routines, patience, and positive reinforcement.
A good fit for me is…
- A calm, experienced adopter who understands sensitive dogs and shutdown behaviours
- A home that can provide structure, consistency, and predictable routines
- Someone committed to using gentle handling techniques and avoiding heavy collar pressure
- An adopter experienced with reactivity, or willing to work with a qualified trainer
- A home prepared to manage household item-seeking behaviours (keeping items out of reach)
- A patient handler who will build trust and work at Manny’s pace
My personality traits are…
- Sensitive: Responds best to calm, gentle handling and reassurance
- Intelligent: Understands his training well and can perform strongly with the right handler
- Selective: Builds preferences and works best once trust is established
- Environmentally Curious: May seek out household items and requires supervision
- Needs Structure: Thrives with predictable routines and clear expectations
Training notes
- Highly sensitive to collar pressure. if pressure is applied too heavily, Manny may become overwhelmed and shut down. Responds best with minimal pressure and calm guidance
- When stressed, may shut down, stop on walks, or refuse to move forward – requiring additional encouragement to stay engaged.
- In the home, may become destructive when stressed, bored or left unsupervised and has a history of ingesting inappropriate items, including one incident where he ingested a decorative item. Frequently seeks out household objects (socks, slippers, boots, mitts, tea towels)
- Has recently shown increased reactivity toward other dogs, including vocalizing and occasional lunging
- Benefits from positive reinforcement, consistency, and structured routines. With an experienced adopter, continued training, and structured exposure, Manny will improve with time and consistent guidance