Princeton

Princeton requires a meet and greet in Toronto. If it wasn’t for how much Princeton loves walks, it might be possible that he is a cat trapped inside a dog’s body. He’s an independent guy who likes to be with his people but does not need to be in constant contact; he takes time to build trust with people, and don’t even try to rub his belly! Princeton likes pets and attention, but on his own terms. As you build a bond with him you can see the results in his behaviour. He’ll slowly let you pet him for longer and become less reactive to pets along his body. However, the impression that he is doing you a favour by letting you pet him remains. While Princeton does enjoy being petted, he does not like to be handled in any way. Touching his feet, picking him up, touching his side/belly, grooming etc. are all things he is not comfortable with and will likely result in a bite. When put in a position he is not comfortable in, Princeton is quick to go on the offensive, biting first and asking questions later. When it comes to fight or flight, he will always pick fight. His attack mode can be intimating and he is definitely not for the faint of heart. He would benefit from “Cooperative Care” training to slowly help him to tolerate more handling. But his adopters need to understand that he will likely always have limits. While Princeton is muzzle trained, he does not like that either. Princeton has a high food drive which is a huge asset in his training. Plus, crumbs on the floor will be a thing of the past in your home! He is currently following the training method “Nothing in Life is Free” where he is fed by hand instead of eating out of a bowl. NILF provides a unique opportunity to bond with him, engages his brain, and reinforces his training. The results of this method can already be seen has he associates our hands with something positive (food) and not something scary. A continuation of his NILF training and the use of a drag leash will be required during the adoption transition period and is highly encouraged afterwards. Princeton will likely never be a cuddle bug, but he is a wonderful little canine companion.