It might be a little controversial to say, but this author believes basil is the herb of summer … and our next adoptable mutt couldn’t agree more! Basil is a 6ish month old lab x from a remote community in northern Manitoba that was affected by the recent wildfires. She was found as a stray by the RCMP, alongside Herby, who is likely her littermate! Basil is loving life in southern Ontario and is looking for a family who enjoys adventures as much as she does!

So far, Basil has not met an outdoor activity that she doesn’t like: hiking, swimming, neighbourhood walks, fetch in the backyard, the list goes on! Her fosters are pretty adamant that she is not a city-slicker. Besides disliking the traffic and loud trucks, Basil needs a place where she can stretch out and burn off that puppy energy. It’s likely that she’ll be pretty big, so the more space, the better. Basil’s current exercise schedule includes 1.5 hours of leashed walks, and, if she’s lucky, a swim! She knows there’s no better way to beat the heat than by jumping into the water so major bonus points if her adoptive family has a pool or nearby river! If she’s still fired up at the end of the day, tossing the ball for 10-15 minutes usually does the trick! For a puppy, she’s great on the leash but still requires some training. She’s also outstanding off-leash and doesn’t abuse her freedom – she has incredible recall and knows to stay close by!

Basil loves any opportunity to socialize: she is playful and engaging with other dogs and wants to be the life of the party! Basil would be happy in a home that has other dogs, but she’s also independent enough to be on her own. With the household cat, Basil is quite keen on developing a friendship. Thankfully, the cat is as tolerant as possible of Basil’s energy, but an older cat may not be as cool with the invasion of space. With kids, Basil is better matched with youngsters who understand that she sometimes needs space. She will tell you when she’s had too much attention by nipping (a behaviour her fosters are working on), so it’s recommended that any children in her adoptive family understand how to respect a puppy’s boundaries!

Though she’s just cresting the six-month mark, Basil has already shown to be a perfect student and received an A++ on her basic obedience report card! She’s the perfect little (but getting bigger) sidekick: if you’re moving around, she’s moving around; if you’re relaxing, she’s relaxing! Basil likes affection very much, but on her own terms. She will seek out cuddles and nips when she’s had enough. Her fosters are teaching her that this is not an appropriate response, so with time and consistent correction, we believe this behaviour will disappear! On rare occasion, she has shown food aggression with high-value treats, growling when she feels her favourite treats are being threatened by other dogs. Again, given her young age, it is entirely possible for her adoptive family to get in front of this behaviour with the right training.

Basil is full potty trained and extremely good in her crate (a bit of protesting during the day but she settles down pretty quickly). She is microchipped and has received her first round of puppy series shots. Her adoption fee will include her spay at six months and remaining puppy shots. Basil is currently being treated for Giardia (all associated costs will be covered by MUTTS).

Eager to please and easy to manage, sweet Basil is ready for her next adventure! She’s the perfect addition to just about any family and we know she’ll bring nothing but joy to her future home!

SOCIABILITY: Humans (adults and kids), dogs and cats
ENERGY: Medium-high (puppy energy!)
QUIRKS: Basil will dump herself into your lap whenever she sees the opportunity! She is a cuddle-seeker with ZERO spatial awareness!
TRAINING NEEDS: Continued basic obedience and leash skills
MEDICAL NEEDS: Currently being treated for Giardia (all associated costs will be covered by MUTTS)
WEIGHT: 30lbs … for now!
FOSTER LOCATION: Waterdown