Kayla - Labrador mix

From Chris, a volunteer at TAS West:

Kayla is a big, sweet girl who’s been at the shelter for a while. She’s listed as a Lab cross, but there may be some Shepherd or Border Collie in the mix as well.

Like many high-energy dogs Kayla sometimes doesn’t present well in the cage. She may jump and bark, especially at people she doesn’t know. Once past her initial excitement of getting out of the cage, however, you see her for what she is: a people dog with a ton of potential. If you can keep up with her, that is.

Once she warms up to you, Kayla is your best friend, especially if you have a tennis ball. She will play all day but likes to break up her game of fetch with a few quick belly rubs. Kayla is very smart, food-motivated and is learning to work for treats, picking up the basics (sit, down, come) quickly. By all accounts she gets along well with other dogs at the shelter. Kayla pulls some on her walks, but is learning not to lunge and is getting better with practice. The further she goes, the more she calms down. With longer, more frequent walks and more training she will improve quickly.

Here’s the thing about Kayla. She’s ‘a lot of dog’. She’s probably not a fit for the first time dog owner or for someone with small children. For an active owner with experience who’s willing to put in the time, though, she could be a real gem – she is smart, loving and up for anything. And if you already have one high-energy dog and are looking for a companion, she might be perfect.

The best way to check on the adoption status of Kayla (and other dogs and cats and other small domestic animals) is to visit Toronto Animal Services adoption website or call (416) 338-6271 for the Toronto Animal Services West shelter. If Kayla is no longer on the TAS adoption website, it's probably because she's been adopted already.