Empire\xa0 (M) is a 1.5yo Lab X Shepherd. He is currently living with his foster parents and 2 canine foster siblings in a detached house!

Empire is house and crate trained. Empire absolutely loves all people, but can act a bit like a full grown puppy and is working on basic manners about not jumping up. He would do best not saying hello to nervous people or young children, as he can be a bit intimidating when hes energetic. \xa0If he had it his way, he would be getting pets and playing with his people 24/7! He is also working on being a bit more respectful and not pushing out of his crate, through doorways, and past people. Empire benefits from lots of crate time, place training and tethering to maintain a calm mind, as otherwise he can fixate on small noises or movements. Empire loves his people and is quite needy, but would benefit from learning some independence so he doesnt develop unhealthy attachment issues.\xa0

?Empire is very food motivated and takes to training well. He is working on his basic commands and doing very well, but needs work on focusing with distractions, duration, impulse control, and being calm. Empire doesnt listen very well with distractions and struggles to be calm in the house when transitioning to a new home - he is looking for a committed home who can work on his training at all times when he is out of his crate. He can be pushy for attention, and would do best in a home that can provide lots of structure and continue to work on his obedience. Once he has settled in his home, Empire is calmer and non-destructive.

?Empire is very rude and overstimulated around other animals, and would do best as the only dog in the home or living with well balanced, calm and patient dogs. Empire lived with two calm and well behaved dogs on intake and at first was lunging at them, but learned to calmly coexist and walk well with them at the end of two weeks. He warmed up quickly to his canine companions in his second foster home, and calmly coexists with them nicely. He needs very slow introductions to new dogs - it is best to work on handler focus drills and ignore other dogs on walks and in public places.\xa0

Empire came into care quite a bit overweight and would tire quickly on walks. He is overstimulated and was taught to pull in his previous home, so he is re-learning leash pressure and to walk beside his people. He often forgets what he is doing and starts pulling ahead, but falls into place easily with a reminder. Empire can be leash reactive when he sees other dogs on walks, especially if he is in the front, and needs a confident handler who can keep him under threshold and focused on his people! He is pretty good at ignoring well behaved dogs on the opposite sidewalk, but head-on or boisterous dogs can set Empire off into an anxious frenzy.\xa0

Empire has since achieved a healthy weight and is starting to put muscle on! He is a tall and strong lab, but is medium/lower energy at home.\xa0

?Here is what Empires foster family says about him:\xa0
"Empire is a very happy and loving boy who does best in a very structured environment. Since coming into our home Empire has mastered many commands but his favorite is sit. He is very flexible in his day to day schedule but is his happiest when he is with majority of the household.

Empire enjoys walks and being outside in general. At the beginning of walks he can struggle to stay in a heel position as he is easily distracted by new surroundings. While on walks Empire struggles with reactivity to other dogs as he is easily overstimulated. He is working on basic commands and does very well with them in the home, but can struggle when working on them outside with distractions. As Empire came into care somewhat overweight he is currently getting all his food from training sessions which makes him very motivated to learn.

During the day he is a very chill boy and is a great work from home buddy. He spends majority of his day entertaining himself with toys and napping. Initially he will push boundaries quite a bit to see what he can get away with but once he knows the rules he will not try and break them again.

Overall Empire is a calm sweet boy in the home who enjoys being around his people and giving and receiving love."

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**FIRST IMPRESSIONS: EMPIRE **
1.5yo male Lab X Shepherd
~80lbs (very overweight)

First impressions:
-Unknown with dogs, insecure, needs proper/slow introductions
-No cats\xa0
-Kids 15+
-Good in crate
-Anxious energy, hyper
-Pulls heavily, learning to walk well on transitional leash
-Anxious/alert personality
-Alert, easily suspicious of strangers
-Can be reactive, needs strong handler who will take a leadership role
-Pushy, will push his weight around to get what he wants and doesnt respect people
-High energy/hyper, but starts to get tired after 20 minutes on a walk (overweight)
-Needs lots of work on training, and structure and boundaries to learn to respect people
-Ok in car, walks around a bit, settles after a while

Fun Facts:\xa0
-First Morning Impulse: Bolt out of crate, run around
-Backyard Behaviour: Sniff everything, calm\xa0
-Best Traits: Goofy and affectionate with his people
-Needs work: Leash skills, introductions to new people, jumping up

Adoption Fee: $669.50 (Includes mandatory training program fee)*

Training fee: Empire requires a home that can commit to his training with a professional trainer. We have included the training fee for our training program in his adoption fee, Training Dogs Online, however we can reimburse the fee if you have signed up with your own trainer that we approve of.

?Vetting:\xa0Empire is fully vetted and neutered. He has no known health concerns.

Empire is being fostered in Waterloo, ON.

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