About Cooper Pupp

History I made my journey from Mount Elgin, Ontario, to the Finger Lakes in December 2020 and have been with my family ever since. I came from Narnia Kennels and am Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) certified. I need an owner that can manage working breed dogs. My parents trained me themselves, and I picked up commands quickly. I have an extremely high ball-drive, and playing fetch is my absolute favorite activity! With my family, I am loving, affectionate, and always ready to play. I thrive on regular good exercise and mental stimulation. Without it, I find it hard to relax. Recently, I started taking anxiety medication, and it has helped me feel much more at ease. Before that, I would whine, pace, and sometimes even pull the hair off my tail when I got too anxious. Now, with daily exercise and my meds, I'm doing much better! Unfortunately, as the little kid in my home has learned to walk and run and grab, I've become more anxious around him and we all believe I would be happiest in a kid-free home. Even though I love my family, they've made the difficult decision to find me a new home where I can feel completely comfortable and stress-free. My Quirks and Needs While I love attention, I don't like to be smothered or trapped. I need my space when I'm getting affection-at least until I trust you. Brief hugs and kisses are fine, but if I feel too enclosed/encircled, I might let out a little warning growl to communicate, 'Hey, I need some room.' When that happens, I usually take myself to my crate to relax. The best way to show me love is to let me come to you when I'm ready. I'm also a protector of my family, so when I meet new people, I bark. A lot! It takes me 5-10 minutes to calm down, and I do best when my dad gives me treats and helps me refocus. If guests come over, I need to be in my crate at first. Once I've had time to settle, my dad lets me out with a muzzle on, and that's a great time for visitors to toss me or offer me treats and earn my trust. It will take several visits for me to warm up to new people, but once I do, I am a loyal and loving friend forevermore. I've learned a lot of commands, thanks to my dad! Here are some of the things I know: Sit, Down, Stay, Shake, Speak, Boop (touch my nose to your fist), Spin (to my right), Reverse (to my left), Up, Kiss, Legs (sit between your legs and look up), Heel (sit on your left side), Leave it, Out (drop what's in my mouth-most of the time!). Pretty good, right? I even know hand signals for almost all of these! The best way to train me is with treats, and I'm always eager to learn more. Cohabitation and My Ideal Home I would LOVE a home without kids or other animals. I get anxious around children and am very reactive to other animals. While I've lived peacefully with my dog sister, Molly, for years, it's hard for me to meet and learn to trust new dogs. Being your only dog would be awesome. As for animals I don't know��%BD'��%BD| If I see an unfamiliar dog or cat, my protective instincts kick in, and I will do everything I can to get to them. For this reason, I must always be on a secure leash or in a fenced yard. I would love an active owner who understands my need for exercise and structure. A big fenced-in yard would be amazing, but I do just fine on a secure outdoor leash in an unfenced yard. My new owner should be strong enough to handle me on a leash-I'm 75 pounds of muscle! No-pull harnesses like the Freedom Harness, the PetSafe 3-In-One Harness, or the Gentle Leader can help! Favorite Activities Running! Fun, treat-filled training sessions! Learning new tricks! Practicing what I know! Playing fetch! Chewing and ripping toys! (Makes me feel like a superhero!) Being outside with you (not by myself)! Hide and seek! Getting petted (but not smothered!)! My Health Aside from my anxiety, I'm a healthy boy! In the summer, I sometimes get hot spots on my belly and itchy paws, but regular baths and medication help manage that. Other than that, I'm in great shape. Final Thoughts I know I might not be the easiest dog in some way, but I promise I am one of the most special. I'm a loving, goofy, and incredibly smart boy who just needs the right home environment to help me thrive. With patience, structure, and daily exercise, I will be the happiest and most loyal companion you could ask for. If you think you're the right person for me, I would love to meet you and start building our bond!

Tompkins County
Ithaca, NY, New York