Meet Nova Scotia! With his gorgeous brindle coat, goofy personality, and heart of gold, this handsome boy has been showing his foster family just how sweet and easygoing he can be. Since moving into a foster home, Nova Scotia has settled in beautifully and has been an absolute pleasure to have around. He has a calm, gentle disposition and seems happiest when he can be near his people, whether that means joining them for a walk, exploring the backyard, or curling up beside them on the couch.
Nova Scotia is a low-to-medium energy guy who enjoys getting outside for walks and some time to explore, but he's equally happy to spend plenty of time snoozing and relaxing. He loves trotting around the backyard, chewing on his favorite toys, and playing tug. He also enjoys curling up with his people and being part of whatever the family is doing. He's not a total velcro dog, but he likes to keep his people close and is usually happily hanging out nearby.
His foster family has been especially impressed by how well Nova Scotia has adjusted to life with children. He is currently living with two young children, ages 4 and 6, and has been gentle, sweet, and tolerant with them. He happily accepts their gentle pets and has remained calm even with all the normal noise and activity that comes with having young kids around. He has also accompanied the family on school pickups and has been a great car passenger, making him a fun companion for an active family.
Nova Scotia is friendly and social with new people, too. He has been introduced to his foster family, neighbors, and people he encounters around the neighborhood and has been consistently sweet and appropriate. His foster family has also noticed that he is unfazed by many of the everyday household sounds that can make some dogs nervous, including vacuums and blenders. In his foster home, he has generally been calm and easygoing, with very little of the jumping or mouthing behavior that had been observed in the shelter.
Nova Scotia also enjoys spending time with other dogs and has been playful with his favorite dog pals. He may need to meet any resident dog before adoption to make sure everyone is a good match, but his foster family has seen a fun, social side of him when he's around dogs he enjoys.
On walks, Nova Scotia can be enthusiastic and strong, particularly when wearing a traditional collar, but his foster family has found him much more relaxed and manageable in a front-clip harness. He's been non-reactive to people and everyday neighborhood activity, including neighbors, landscaping crews, mowers, and leaf blowers. He may show interest in exciting little discoveries-like a frog hopping by-but he's easy to redirect. His foster family is also working with him on basic manners and training, and he's beginning to learn that calm behavior and good choices earn him plenty of praise and attention.
Nova Scotia is still working on his house-training and has had a few accidents as he adjusts to his new routine, although the frequency has been decreasing and his foster family is learning to recognize his potty cues. He's also working through separation-related behaviors, which can include barking, whining, panting, pacing, and circling when crated. Outside of those separation-related behaviors, Nova Scotia has been remarkably calm and easygoing in his foster home.
Most of all, Nova Scotia is a sweet, lovable dog who seems to thrive when given patience, consistency, and the chance to settle into a routine. He's a wonderful couch companion, a playful friend to dogs he likes, and has shown that he can be gentle and comfortable around young children. He's still learning some of the basics, but he's making progress and has so much potential to continue blossoming in a home of his own. If you're looking for a handsome brindle boy with a goofy personality, a gentle heart, and plenty of love to give, Nova Scotia would love to meet you!
MVP Up to Bat! I'm a BARCS MVP because I'm a little picky about my playmates and prefer the ladies. On walks, I used to pull quite a bit, but my foster found that a harness made a huge difference. Now I'm mostly walking on a loose leash, and I'm still making progress! Please contact our Dog Foster team at dogfosters@barcs.org to connect with my foster family, and get to know me better! I can't wait to meet you.
Every animal deserves a home run! BARCS MVPs are overlooked pets in the shelter. Thanks to the generous support of the Alonso, Basallo, and Bradish Baltimore Orioles families, all MVP animals have waived adoption fees AND will go home with a brand new leash and collar or cat carrier.
??For more information or to see the full MVP line-up, click here: https://www.barcs.org/mvp
