Sponsored by Christine Zimmer – Sponsored by Laila, Wally, Nori, Christine, and Mark in honour of Willis Blair and Kerregan Wallder, whose lives were well lived and defined by their deep love of animals and people. Their laughter and compassion live on in Alan Walder and Margaret Blair, and in the comforting thought that Sedona will find a forever home with them watching over the journey.

Sedona is a 5-year-old miniature poodle who is learning what it means to be a family dog after spending the first part of her life in a puppy mill. Despite her difficult start, she is a gentle, affectionate girl. She is spayed, microchipped and up to date on her shots.

She is excellent on leash and loves going for walks. She is comfortable in the car and close to being fully house-trained. She is very quiet at home and rarely barks. She has shown no signs of aggression or destructive behaviour. She loves sleeping in the family bed and being close to her people, provided it’s on her terms. She is not a dog that is suited to being in a crate.

As a former mill dog, many ordinary dog experiences are still new to her. She is still learning about toys, treats, and how to play. Mill dogs have spent their lives with other dogs and Sedona would benefit being in a home with another confident, friendly dog who would help her feel safe and teach her how to enjoy life as a dog. Like many mill dogs, Sedona can be startled by fast movement and loud noises. Because of this, a home with children under 12 may not be a good fit.

As is often seen with mill dogs, Sedona is more comfortable initially with women and can be more cautious around men. She will often observe men from a distance before deciding whether she feels safe enough to approach. She may dart away, only to return a few seconds later, and then be gone again. It is not unusual for her to balance caution with curiosity—avoiding contact one moment and then jumping onto the couch to snuggle the next. This is not to say that Sedona can’t form strong bonds with men or has a general fear of them. Once she decides someone is safe, she enjoys affection and will relax and get very close. For example, at bedtime she eagerly jumps into bed to snuggle with one of the men in her foster home.

If there are male family members in her new home, they will need to understand her history, respect her boundaries, and allow her to build trust at her own pace. Female family members should also understand that Sedona may not always seek affection in the way they might expect. She has made tremendous progress since arriving in foster care, but adopters should understand that she may need time to go through parts of that adjustment process again in a new home.

Sedona is so deserving of an understanding person who can help her discover what a wonderful world this can be. Sleeping on the big bed is only just the beginning of all the great things that lay ahead.

To learn more about Sedona, watch her video at:
https://youtu.be/n2vPjHGbq34?si=-kvzzMnBKgbVR51W

**Adoptions within the province of Ontario only