Adopt

Are you looking for the stereotypical, pure-bred labrador Retriever?  Well I am NOT it!  I AM SPECIAL!

I have had a heck of a time with life until now, and I am looking for my forever home.  Sit back and listen to my tale:  When I was a tiny young puppy, I was found by a good Samaritan out in the desert outside of Tucson where I was apparently dumped to fend for myself.
I was brought to an animal shelter where it was discovered I was a hermaphrodite.  Yep, I have all the parts!  (To be more accurate, I had all the parts until I was neutered.)  In the meantime, since I was such a lovely pup, my good Samaritan’s mom decided to adopt me.  Things went well for two whole years.  Then, my mom went in for surgery and had a lot of complications, resulting in illness and then she passed away.  While she was in the hospital, a neighbor took “care” of me, but not very well.  I lost weight and fur because I was allergic to what I was given for food.  I ended up returning to my good Samaritan savior, who contacted the folks at DLRR.  I know, I glossed over that hermaphrodite part, but it’s really not that big of a deal.  I have more parts than anyone else downstairs, but I function well!  I also only have half a tail.  That just means I can wag faster!  Now to the part all adopters want to know.  I am almost 3, so I have some energy, but I’m not a spaz!  I love people, although I can be shy or skittish sometimes with strangers.  I love and play really well with other dogs.  I love and play well with cats!   I love children!  I love to jump with children on the trampoline, so if you have a
trampoline, sounds like a fun bonus!  I love toys!  I love a good Nylabone chew session and I love to take apart and de-stuff stuffed toys, squeaky toys and tennis balls.  Fetch is also a favorite!  I am crate trained and house trained.  I actually love my crate!  I enter
without objection and sleep quietly overnight.  I respect human possessions within the home, but I have been crated while at the foster home whenever there are no humans present.   Foster mom says that is in deference to the elderly cat in residence.  I jump right in and ride pretty well in the car–I love to hang my head out the window.  I walk “ok” on the leash–I just want to explore everything!  I take treats gently.  I know “sit” and “wait” and I am willing to learn more!  I behave well at the vet.  I bark sometimes, but not a lot.  I am
unfazed by the sound of fireworks.  I have been counter curious but have not taken any human food from the counter or table, but given the opportunity, I might sniff or try to lick!  I can make myself taller by standing on my hind legs longer than your average doggo.
Sometimes when I am very excited, I do jump on my foster mom, so small children may, or may not, be subject to this behavior.  I have not been around small children in my foster home, but I did live with children for a time who were 4 and 6 years old.  Foster mom says she will miss how I greet her with my non-stop tail with puppy exuberance at the door when she returns home.  She says she will also miss how I lay my head on her lap while we watch TV.  She says I would prefer to be a lap dog, but I do stay off the furniture.  She says that while I resemble a Lab and have Lab personality traits, I am also a unique different dog.  And most importantly she says I am an
always happy, gentle, loving soul who would be a wonderful companion to anyone.  If you are interested, please give my foster mom
a call!

Hi! My name is Coco Bean. I’m 84 lbs. of sweet, chocolate Labrador “lusciousness”! I’m super soft, and I love pets and my belly rubbed. I’m living with my foster mom and dad til I find my “furever” home. Hopefully, I will find it by Jan. 30th when I turn 9 years “young”. Don’t let that age fool you… I’m very active and if I didn’t have a few grey hairs around my muzzle you would think I was a youngster! I’m working on my “girlish” figure trying lose a few pounds, so green beans, carrots, apples and blueberries are my friend. I’m very smart, sometimes a little stubborn (so my foster mom tells me…). I know sit, down, paw, wait, stay and come. I don’t chew, dig, or pick up stuff off the floor. Once in awhile I will get into the garbage ( BUT, it’s not really my fault cuz my foster dad forgot to take out the garbage and BOY did it smell good! I couldn’t resist !! ) I’ve been known to drink from the toiIet if the lid is up. What can I say??? It’s cool and refreshing!! I take treats gently. I am polite and wait when you feed me. I wait at the door and don’t barge in and knock you down. Well….. most of the time…. Sometimes I’m just in a hurry! I love to ride in the car. I know how to use a doggie door. I sleep through the nite on my favorite couch or dog  bed where I can watch what is going on outside. I can be trusted in the house alone. I’ll just nap while you are away. I LOVE the pool and will retrieve tennis balls ( sometimes 2 at a time) forever! My foster mom and dad think the water is too cold right now but, I’m a Lab! I’m built for cold water and I LOVE it! I will play catch with you in the greenbelt too. I love, love, love tennis balls! I need to be the only dog in the house because I like ALL the attention. I like other dogs to play with at the park or at a play date at a friend’s house, just not living with me in the same house. I’m pretty much perfect EXCEPT I haven’t been on a leash and walked much in the past. I really don’t see what the big deal is that I pull and zig zag all over…. BUT, I’m  learning not to pull and zig zag all over. Blah, Blah, Blah…It makes my foster mom and dad happy so I’m trying really hard to be good. If you would like to meet me (I highly recommend it!), contact my foster mom. You won’t be sorry!

Meet Foster!

Foster is a very large, 1.5-year-old yellow Lab with lots of energy and a big, loving heart.

This handsome, large goofball loves car rides, belly rubs, and snuggling up after a day of fun. He’s always up for an adventure, whether it’s hiking a new trail, tagging along to the barn, or just exploring the neighborhood.

Foster walks nicely on a leash  and would make an awesome adventure buddy for someone who loves getting out and about. He’s also kennel-trained, great on outings, and absolutely lives for belly rubs and time with his people. He’s been around horses, does great with outdoor activity, and is fully up to date on vet care: neutered, vaccinated, and healthy as can be.

He’s an active, smart boy who is currently in training with Connected Canine and will go home with lessons to support his adopter. Foster learns quickly but can be a bit stubborn, so he’ll do best with someone committed to continuing his training. He is extremely cuddly and forms strong bonds with his person. Foster is very sweet and thrives on connection with his people. He has some separation anxiety and will need a patient, structured home to help him succeed.  If this sounds like the perfect companion for you,  please text his contact to meet Foster.

Jack is a very energetic and fun dog that loves to chase balls and be around his people. He is a neutered 4 year old Black Lab mixed with a pointer breed. He weighs in at 70 pounds but it is all muscle! Jack is very smart, loving, and loyal. His favorite thing to do is to chase balls into the pool and he’ll bring it right back for another throw. Even when he is very excited to play ball, he has learned to stay on command and only retrieve it when released. Once playtime is complete Jack settles into his engaging and calm personality.

Jack came to DLRR in December, 2024 because he had too much energy for a young busy family. The original owner stated that Jack was obtained from a breeder specializing in Pointing Labs for hunting dogs.

Jack has urinary incontinence and wears a belly band in the house during the day. He is housebroken; he just occasionally dribbles a few drops unknowingly. DLRR has performed extensive diagnostics on Jack and found his anatomy to be intact. Traditional medications have not been 100% effective for his incontinence. Additionally, Jack is overly exuberant on car rides. A successful management strategy includes Kong toys embedded with frozen treats.

Overall, Jack is a joy to be around and everyone who has spent any time with him falls in love with him. Jack is crate trained although he is not destructive in the home when left alone. He uses the dog door and sleeps on his dog bed through the night. He is friendly with strangers and other dogs. Jack is well behaved on the leash and when he sees other dogs, he is interested but not reactive. He has been very gentle with a visiting 18-month granddaughter. After receiving enough exercise, he settles down and loves to cuddle with his people. He is equally affectionate to men and women.

The best adoption match for Jack is a home with a pool and enough backyard space for good exercise. Owners should prepare for ample exercise time in the mornings and evenings. Anyone looking for a running partner, agility dog, dock diver or hunting dog?

Luna (20) is a 63 pound, 8 year old, spayed, female black lab with a big heart – both figuratively and literally. She is shy at first and very timid, but after a few weeks, she will come out of her shell and is really a very sweet, loving, loyal dog. She loves to go on walks – although not very far – and car rides, but mostly she loves just being with her people and getting her ears, neck and belly rubbed. She is house trained and can be left alone to her own devices for several hours. Her favorite toys are stuffies and toys that squeak. If you toss a toy, she will saunter over to it, pick it up and gently bring it back two or three times – and then she is done with that game. She can use a doggy door, but prefers to go in and out the human door. She is good with children and other dogs and is ambivalent about cats.

As noted above, her heart is enlarged and she has a significant heart murmur. Her heart condition makes any surgery impossible unless it is for life saving purposes. The vet has recommended that we monitor her respiration while she is sleeping, and if it ever gets above 35 breaths per minute she should be brought into the vet’s office immediately. Her current sleeping respiration rate has stayed between 14 and 20. This condition is currently stable and could remain so for several years. She is on a grain, sweet potato, chicken, and legume diet, with no salt to support her heart health This can be purchased premade or a recipe to make it can be provided. She takes trazodone twice a day for anxiety and pimobendan twice a day for her heart condition. These medications will need to be provided to her for the duration of her life.

Meet Meatloaf

One-year-old black Labrador | Sweet, goofy, and full of personality

Meatloaf is one of those dogs that makes you wonder how your home ever felt complete without him. He’s affectionate, goofy, and genuinely wonderful to live with.

He’s excellent in the car and loves going along for the ride — coffee runs, pup cups, errands, parks, and even coffee shops are all right up his alley. He’s fully house trained and crate trained, goes into his crate when asked, sleeps through the night, and doesn’t make a sound until you’re up for the day.

At home, Meatloaf is polite and well-mannered. He doesn’t counter surf and only gets on the couch if invited. He enjoys stuffies, but balls are absolutely his favorite. He’ll retrieve on repeat, drop them neatly at your feet, and has been known to carry two at a time — sometimes optimistically attempting three.

So far he sounds perfect, right? But let’s face it, nobody’s perfect, not even a dog…

On leash, Meatloaf is pretty good and enjoys his walks. He could use some fine-tuning with the right handler and needs continued training, especially when other dogs are around. He is a bit under-socialized with dogs and tends to use his voice to get their attention. This is not aggression — it’s enthusiastic, exuberant energy paired with uncertainty. His tail wags the entire time.

Because some dogs find this level of excitement overwhelming, Meatloaf is currently working with a trainer to build confidence and better canine social skills. Continued training will help him feel more comfortable navigating the world of dogs, and he’s already showing great potential.

Meatloaf would do best with an adopter who appreciates a happy, social Lab and is willing to continue his training journey. With guidance, structure, and love, he’s going to be an incredible companion.

If you are interested in meatloaf, please text his Foster advocate.

Meet Mozi: Single 4.5-year-old chocolate Lab seeking loving family to spend quality time together! I love snuggling, long walks through the neighborhood, snuggling, playing with my toys (especially my stuffed toys), snuggling, hunting for socks, snuggling, taking naps, snuggling, playing with my foster sister, and snuggling. Nothing fills my heart more than spending time with the people that I love! I do not love cats, spending time alone, or the vet but I do love car rides and sleeping in my crate. I’m very well-mannered!  Of course, I’m house trained and you should be too! I’m seeking a family that is home the majority of the time so that we can snuggle! All of my friends say that I am the sweetest and most enjoyable, easy-going companion and that any family would be so lucky to have an amazing girl like me!

I am also so special that I come with my own chair to eat in! It’s true! I call her Bailey because it’s my Bailey chair for my megaesophagus. I love sitting in her to have my meals and hang out with my foster family for a while after I eat. I know that my foster mom would be so happy to show you how easy it is and how much fun I have in it!

My name is River.  I’m a 3-4 year old black flat coat retriever mix.  Most say I’m mixed with Border Collie or Australian Shepherd which like my age, is of course, educated guess work.  Like any river most of my life I am relaxed and go with the flow.  Other times I’m babbling, like when I play fetch with my foster mom.  Once in a while, I get overstimulated and I show my rapids!  At home, I’m calm waters.  I am a dream in my foster’s home, excelling at lounging, relaxing and sleeping. I am gentle, love pets and love to follow my foster mom from room to room.  When she leaves, I behave myself. I am a gentle soul, self-soothing and house broken. I love walks, but I’m a bit out of my comfort zone out in the world.  That is to say, my leash training is a work in progress.  Most of the time I walk beautifully at heel.  Then something, typically a yippy dog, just stimulates me, and I pull and bark like they activated my river rapids.  Luckily, my foster mom is training me with the help of experts to minimize my leash reactive behavior but continuous commitment to training is needed in my new fur-ever home.  I have made significant progress, but need consistency from my alpha!  Because I like to graze and not eat a lot at once and because I’m a bit protective of my home space (bed), I’d prefer to be an only dog.  If you are looking for a endearing, loving, chill companion and appreciate the ebb and flow of a beautiful River, I’m your dog!

Picked up as a stray by the Yavapai County Animal Control in Prescott, Wabi-Sabi was taken to the Yavapai Humane Society where she spent a month before being taken into DLRR.  Upon meeting her, her foster realized why the shelter had named her Wabi-Sabi.  She is truly beauty in her imperfection.  She is a perfect example of why we choose a Labrador Retriever to be our companion.  She is 2 years old, affectionate, funny, smart, energetic, loves toys, people, pets and other dogs to play with.  She has a beautiful shiny, soft, black coat in a sleek body at only 53.5 pounds.  Yet, her limp shows her imperfect front right leg.  According to the vet, she may have been injured as a puppy and the injury was left to heal on its own.  The result is a front right leg with curved bones that causes her foot to turn out. She drags it when walking.

Wabi-Sabi is still a puppy (we know Labs never grow up) and full of energy.  She plays ball and runs as long as she wants.  She and her 6-year-old foster sister play very well together. Swimming would be great exercise for her as long as she used the stairs to get in and out.  She is curious and loves to explore.  She might excel in low-impact activities like scent work or therapy dog.  The vet’s advice is to let her set the pace.

She is crate trained and house trained (no accidents).  She knows basic commands like sit, down, stay, come, wait.  She sits for her food and can wait at the door.  She pulls a little on the leash, but she isn’t going to be the dog to take on long walks.  Short walks are good.  She will go anywhere.  She travels well in the car and got right into the motor home.  She will be your travel companion.  She doesn’t seem to have any separation anxiety. She has some excitement when meeting new people and jumps up a little.  This can be worked on with her healing.  Occasonally, she puts her paws on the counter.  A firm “nope” seems to be all that is needed.  She will respond well to the boundaries.

She will be a beautiful and loving companion to anyone willing to accept her imperfection.