Career change pet dogs available for adoption: Meet Norman

Norman, a black Labrador retriever, is out for a walk. He is sitting on the sidewalk, with a leash on, and looking directly at the camera is looking up toward the camera.

Dog Summary

Name: Norman
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Age: 19 months 
Breed: Labrador Retriever x Golden Retriever (Black)
Sex: Male, Neutered
Home behaviour: Benefits from structure and clear boundaries in the home. He can sometimes test limits and may show some poor manners indoors, but he responds well to calm, consistent redirection and guidance
Good with dogs: Yes, generally friendly with other dogs, though he can become overly excited and distracted
Good with cats: Yes, but very curious 
Good with kids: Best suited for homes with older children due to his tendency to become over-aroused and energetic
Adoption fee: $1,500

About Norman

Norman is a very sweet and affectionate boy who loves being around people and other dogs. He often comes across as confident, but underneath that confidence he is quite a sensitive dog who thrives with patient and understanding handlers.

Norman truly enjoys companionship and is happiest when he’s part of the action with his people. He is also very interested in other dogs, and would often prefer to meet and play with them rather than focus on work. While this makes him social and fun-loving, it also means he can become distracted in high dog traffic areas.

Norman is a loving and eager companion who wants to please his people and will flourish in the right home where his sensitive nature is understood.

A good fit for me is…

  • An adopter who can provide structure, patience, and clear guidance. Someone experienced with dogs or comfortable working through training and boundary-setting
  • An adopter who enjoys regular walks in quieter or moderately busy areas and can manage Norman's excitement around other dogs
  • An adopter who can be compassionate toward his sensitive side while helping him grow in confidence and self-control
Norman, black Labrador Retriever, is lying on the floor indoors, wearing a leash and tilting its head while looking up at the camera

My personality traits are…

  • Sweet and affectionate
  • Sensitive but loving
  • Social with people and dogs
  • Eager to please
  • Energetic and playful
  • Can become over-excited quickly
  • Sometimes vocal or over aroused during play with other dogs 
Norman, a black Labrador retriever, is standing on snowy ground outdoors, wearing a leash and looking calmly toward the camera.

Training notes

  • Norman responds well to redirection and positive guidance and shows a genuine desire to please his handler. He will benefit from continued training focused on impulse control, manners around other dogs, and maintaining calm behaviour in the home.
  • He can become distracted by other dogs and may fixate on them, although he can often be redirected with patience and consistency. Norman sometimes struggles to read other dogs’ social cues and may become overly enthusiastic during interactions.
  • He walks best in quiet to semi-busy environments and does well with familiar routes. With continued structure, patience, and understanding of his sensitivities, Norman has great potential to become a wonderful companion in the right home.

Norman is available for adoption

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