What is a Career Change Dog? Our professional trainers carefully select our dogs by evaluating them for temperament, health and eagerness to please. They are rescued from shelters where they are at risk for euthanasia. They enter a rigorous training program to become Hearing Dogs for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Not all of our outstanding dogs can meet the demands of becoming a Certified Assistance Dog, thus the need for a "Career Change". They are, however, still winners, and make wonderful pets. Many are already housebroken and some know basic obedience commands. In short, these "near misses" make wonderful companions. We can help match you with a lifelong canine companion.





Jojo

Posted on 9/12/2019

Jojo is a 1 ½ yr. old 10lb., spayed, vaccinated and healthy Papillion/poodle mix. She was a rescue from the LA County shelter in Baldwin Park and evaluated for our Hearing Dog Program. While Jojo does not quite have the confidence to be a working dog, she will make someone a wonderful companion.

Jojo is sweet and affectionate and very vocal. She barks when she is excited, when company arrives, when she is spooked, when it is mealtime and when she plays with other dogs. She is housebroken if she is walked out to the backyard frequently and throughout the day to relieve herself. She is quite active and may do best with someone who enjoys playing with her during the day. She is crate trained for sleeping at night and because she always has a human with her, she does not require any confinement during the day.

Jojo enjoys playing with other dogs her size. She also tries to play with human toes and fingers. We think someone must have entertained her in this way. She rides ok in the car and will enjoy leash walks once she becomes familiar with the area she is walking. We believe she has had very little to no experience being with young children.

We do not know anything about her past except that she may have been living with someone who participated in backyard breeding. Jojo initially could not distinguish between where she lay/play and where she potty. We believe she (with other dogs) spent most of her time in confinement or in a small area where she did not learn the differences and even had to clean up after herself.

Jojo may be best suited for an experienced dog owner without young children or weekly visiting grandchildren. She is young and there is much she can learn and experience with the right handler. She is pretty cute and spunky and will make someone the perfect cuddly companion.

If you believe you are the right home for Jojo but have questions, please complete our online application first so we can best assist you. Our application can be found under ‘Dogs for Adoption' at www.samsimonfoundation.com. Because we conduct our adoptions in the home, we are unable to place our Career Change Dogs outside of 50 miles from Malibu, CA.