Cruise

Cruise’s Story

Cruise / Male / 8 weeks / 4 lbs / Mixed Breed (will likely grow to be large) / Good with Dogs / Untested with Kids & Cats / Local Surrender / Fostered in Toronto

Cruise is a sweet, friendly, and incredibly cuddly puppy with a gentle, affectionate personality. He’s very curious about the world and attentive to his people, and while he’s generally quiet, he does become quite enthusiastic when food is involved. At 4.58 kg, he is growing quickly and is in a healthy puppy stage. He currently sheds very minimally. Cruise loves playing with his brother Bru, wrestling, tug-of-war, and zooming around the house. He also enjoys independent play with stuffies, ropes, Kongs, and ice cubes for teething. When he’s tired, he becomes the world’s softest snuggle bug, happily curling into your arms, falling asleep with his belly up and his head flopped back. He follows his humans around the house and loves to climb, especially when he’s trying to reach you for attention or play. One of his most adorable habits is sitting calmly before meals with the biggest, sweetest puppy-dog eyes.

Cruise isn’t overly fearful of anything, though he is unsure about loud noises like the vacuum, which is typical for puppies his age. His ideal family will be patient, gentle, and dedicated to continuing his training as he grows. Like all young puppies, he is learning how to settle, regulate excitement, and interact calmly. He responds extremely well to positive reinforcement and soft voices, and he aims to please. His perfect home would include people willing to give him lots of affection, playtime, and consistent structure. He could thrive in a house or townhouse, in the suburbs or a rural area, and he would do well with respectful, dog-savvy children who understand normal puppy behaviours like jumping and teething.

Cruise is very friendly and relaxed with familiar people and meets new people with the same excitement and ease. He hasn’t been formally tested with children, but based on his behaviour, he would do well with kids who are gentle and respectful, understanding that he is a curious puppy who may jump or mouth. His energy level is on the higher side, with bursts of play followed by long naps. Because he only recently received his vaccinations, he has not begun leash training yet, but he has been exploring the backyard and house with growing confidence. He enjoys indoor enrichment, short play sessions, and plenty of sensory exploration.

Cruise has not been tested in the car yet. He is, however, a determined climber and has figured out how to climb out of his pen when he’s excited for food or play. His foster family is working on reinforcing calm behaviours, such as keeping four paws on the floor to receive treats. While it’s too early to know if he’s a true flight risk, he tends to stay close to his people outside rather than wander off, but supervision is expected for a puppy his age. He is not yet fully potty trained but reliably uses pee pads and has begun slowly transitioning to outdoor pottying now that he is vaccinated. He does not mark indoors.

Because of his age, Cruise is only left alone for very short intervals, usually settling quickly with his brother beside him. He sleeps with Bru in an open crate inside a playpen in the living room and has been sleeping through most of the night, usually until around 5–6 AM. Cruise’s house manners are typical for an 8-week-old puppy—he can be mouthy, curious, and eager to explore with his teeth. He will chew on inappropriate items if given the chance, but redirects beautifully with toys or teething-safe items like ice. He follows his foster family from room to room and settles quickly after play sessions.

Cruise is dog-social and interacts happily with both his brother and the resident dog, though he can be overwhelming for adult dogs at times due to his enthusiasm. A patient resident dog who is comfortable with puppies would be a great match. He has not lived with cats but could likely adapt with slow introductions, provided the cat is tolerant of puppy energy. Cruise is already learning “sit,” “come,” and basic patience exercises. He is extremely food-motivated and eager to learn, making him a strong candidate for continued positive reinforcement training. His main areas for future support include redirecting climbing behaviour, bite inhibition (which is improving), and general puppy manners.

Cruise has no health concerns and is described by his foster family as a wonderful, lovable puppy who will make his future family very happy. If his fosters didn’t already have their hands full, they’d keep him in a heartbeat, he’s a total heart-melter.

ABOUT YOU!
Puppies are a lot of work. At just 8 weeks old, we are looking for families who have FLEXIBLE work schedules and the time and energy to invest in socialization and training. Yes, Cruise is tiny and oh-so-cute, but we can pretty much guarantee that he will:
-Pee and poop on your floor
-Chew your furniture
-Eat your designer handbag
-Ruin your leisurely Sunday morning sleep-in

As a condition of the adoption contract, their new families will be required to:
-Ensure they have an opportunity to go outside every 2-3 hours. If you work full-time, this means hiring a dog walker to come in 2x per day for a puppy visit.
-Attend and complete a basic obedience class at your own cost (proof required).
-Provide plenty of socialization opportunities – both dog and human – it's important at this stage.
-Spay/neuter them within 6 months of adoption. If done at our partner vet in Mississauga, the spay/neuter will be included in the adoption fee. If you choose to do it elsewhere, it will be done at your own cost. Proof of spay/neuter is required to finalize the adoption.

If you’re interested in adopting Cruise, please apply at
https://www.fetchandreleash.ca/adoption-info#adoption-form

Cruise’s adoption fee is $1,000. To learn more about our adoption fees and the adoption process, please visit our FAQs at https://www.fetchandreleash.ca/about-us#about-faqs.