ANTONIO *ARRIVING 8/22* - LABRADOR RETRIEVER / SHEPHERD / MIXED DOG FOR ADOPTION

Description

Dog Breed: Labrador Retriever / Shepherd / Mixed. Adoption Fee: 600. Antonio is a strikingly handsome puppy with expressive eyebrows and a beautiful coat, but it’s his gentle, reserved nature that really stands out. He came from a heartbreaking situation—one of at least nine puppies born to an unfixed pet and abandoned with their mother near a bridge. Two of his siblings didn’t survive, but thanks to a determined volunteer, Antonio and the others were carried to safety. He’s not a naturally confident pup and was shy and withdrawn when he first arrived in his foster home. When you pick him up, he sometimes goes limp with his mouth slightly open—an endearing little quirk that hints at his uncertainty. With time and patience, though, he’s starting to open up, and having a confident older puppy or dog in the home would help him tremendously as he learns the world is safe. Antonio isn’t particularly vocal indoors, but outside with the other puppies, he’ll bark if he sees you—usually because he knows something good is about to happen. He’s healthy now, though a bit lean from his early struggles, and has been treated for fleas and intestinal parasites. This sweet boy needs a calm, patient home and ideally a steady dog friend to show him the ropes. With the right support, Antonio will grow into a loyal, loving companion who’s as beautiful on the inside as he is on the outside. Antonio is from Texas. They arrive in Minnesota on 8/22/2025 and will need to be picked up from the Ruff Start Rescue office in Princeton, MN between the hours of 9am and noon. Please plan for their arrival accordingly as we cannot accommodate pickups outside of this time frame. Since they haven’t arrived yet, they are available exclusively through Ruff Start’s Foster to Adopt (FTA) Program. Click here to learn more about the FTA program. Once they get to Minnesota, they might require further veterinary care. Ruff Start’s veterinary suite is located in Princeton, MN, and, as the foster, you will be required to transport your dog to and from these vetting appointments. If you are interested in getting to know this animal better, please fill out an adoption application. An adoption application is the best way to show your interest in an animal and is not a binding contract. To learn more about Ruff Start’s adoption process and the care our foster animals receive, please visit our How to Adopt page. *Rescue puppies are notorious for losing their birth certificates before entering our rescue. We cannot guarantee the breed or size they will be full grown.* If you are unable to adopt but want to help this animal and others in our care, you can donate to support the medical and veterinary needs of all Ruff Start Rescue animals.

• Physical Attributes

  Likes to Vocalize:	Some
  Altered	Yes

• Behavioral Characteristics

  OK with Dogs:	Yes
  Energy Level:	High
  Activity Level:	Highly Active
  Exercise Needs:	High
  Obedience Training:	Needs Training
  Other:	Crate Trained Likes to Play with Toys Likes to Swim

• Personality

  Personality Characteristics

  Playful Timid

• Additional Information

  Was the Dog Found	No
  Other	Up-to-date on Vaccinations