Love-Hungry Boy
Adopt Toffee
Boy • 7 years old • Cancer • Red • 5kg • Poodle
My story
Toffee joined PACK in April 2025. His previous owner repeatedly failed to take proper care of him, resulting in him getting lost several times. The last time he was found, a good Samaritan brought him to the Keelung Pet Shelter. When contacted, the owner refused to take him back. After a decision not to continue ownership and a fine, Toffee was turned over to the shelter. Possibly due to being abandoned multiple times, Toffee has some emotional trauma. He’s now very clingy and gets anxious when people leave his sight. But aside from that, he’s a total angel—well-behaved, intelligent, and easy to train. He’s currently staying with a foster family, working on his separation anxiety. We hope he learns to feel safe being alone soon—and even more, we hope he finds a loving forever home!
Personality
We’re not sure what kind of life Toffee had before, but he now seems to lack a sense of security and confidence. He constantly watches people, trying to win their approval. At home, he’s more anxious, but once he’s outside, his energy flips on—he runs around happily, exploring everything. He loves grass, and he’s also fond of strangers. He hasn’t fully relaxed yet in his foster home, but with time and adjustment, a cheerful little dog will surely emerge.
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Energy Levels
Toffee loves being around people. He gets super excited when he sees someone he knows and will push forward to get close, even if stopped. He’s very eager to be loved! Indoors in new environments he’s calmer, but once he’s outside—it’s zoomies time.
2
Temperament
Very friendly with strangers. He warms up quickly—just a few minutes of interaction and you’re already “fam.”
3
Role
Toffee knows what he wants and is persistent. He insists on staying close to people he knows, always trying to get near. This is likely because of his lack of security and fear of abandonment.
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Adaptability
He needs time to adjust to new environments. Frequent changes in foster homes have made it hard for Toffee to fully relax. He shows signs of separation anxiety—when left alone, he struggles with potty habits and barks. His caregiver should use a calm and steady tone and avoid overstimulating him emotionally.
Foster Family Says
Toffee is very outgoing during playtime but lacks a sense of security and clings to people. By the second day in the home, his true personality came out—lively, hyper, and not fully house-trained. He’ll pace and bark when nervous, and cries when alone. He sniffs a long time before peeing and doesn’t always poop in the same spot. Be cautious around stray cats—he may chase them—and he sometimes lunges toward passing motorcycles. He’s sensitive to tone and needs a bit more time to stabilize during training due to being timid.
Medical History
My health has been checked:
- Spayed/Neutered
- Microchipped
- Vaccinated
- Regular Worming Treatment
An early stage heartworm infection was diagnosed and treatment with injections and medications was completed.
My Behavior
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Tolerance Levels
At PACK Academy, we socialize our dogs by exposing them to different stimuli and recording their tolerance levels for each one. These oservations help us understand the dogs better, which then helps us find suitable homes for them.
Strangers
Friendly and approachable. Just a few pets and he treats strangers like old friends.
Dogs
Not particularly interested in other dogs.
Cats
Chases cats; may cause stress for them.
Kids
Willing to interact with kids and warms up after a bit of petting.
Noise
No strong reaction to loud sounds.
Touch
Loves being petted—anywhere is fair game, no sensitive spots!
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Behavior observations
There are some common behavior issues that we see in dogs who have spent a significant amount of time in a shelter. We assess our dogs for these behaviors and provide training plans for adopters to help manage them.
Barking
Barks due to separation anxiety, especially when left alone for long periods.
Separation Anxiety
Shows obvious distress when owners leave—barking, door-pawing, and an intense desire to be near people.
Aggression
No signs of aggression.
Resource Guarding
Doesn’t guard food or toys.
Destructive Chewing
No destructive behavior observed.
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Obedience Training
Obedience training is critical for nurturing healthy dog-human relationships and having a well-behaving dog. Our dogs receive basic training at PACK Academy, which provides a foundation for communication between dog and human.
Name
Understands his name.
Yes & No
Sometimes doesn’t understand “yes” and “no.”
Potty Trained
Mostly does his business outdoors. Can use pee pads indoors, but may have accidents when anxious or left alone.
Good on Leash
Loves going for walks; walking him on a leash is a very pleasant experience.
Sit
Understands “sit.”
Down
Doesn’t really understand “down.”
Stay
Not yet familiar with “stay.”
Come
Responds to being called.
Paw
Very good at shaking hands.