Arlington, VA

Ivy

Young · Female · Labrador Retriever / Poodle (Standard) / Mixed (medium coat)

Meet Ivy

Ivy came to us as an owner surrender after spending far too much time confined to a crate in a garage, with owners who were not providing the care and attention she needed. She was on the waitlist for the county shelter, which is overwhelmed with too many dogs and not enough resources, so they reached out to Worthy Dog for help.

Ivy is a sweet Labradoodle girl who has come a long way. She came to us with pale gums, vomiting, and very little energy. Our vet confirmed that she was anemic, likely due to fleas and skin infections. She was emaciated and dehydrated and needed small, frequent meals just to get her stabilized.

Her foster mom, Cindy, has done an amazing job nursing her back to health and teaching her house manners. Ivy has gained more than 15 pounds and, while she still has more weight to gain, she finally looks like the healthy, happy dog she was meant to be.

Today, Ivy is a completely different dog. She is house-trained, uses a dog door like a pro, and is surprisingly calm and well-behaved in the house. Most of the time, she is either relaxing or entertaining herself with one of her many toys. She absolutely loves toys and will happily destroy a stuffed animal, so her new family should be prepared to keep a good supply on hand.

Ivy loves other dogs and has done well with every dog she has met, both at home and out on walks, hikes, and trips to the dog park. She loves to play, run, wrestle, and play tug, and she has a great time with her foster sister Libby. She can bark excitedly when she sees another dog, but it is always friendly. She has also been wonderful at the dog park, where she loves meeting both people and dogs.

Ivy is great with people and kids too. She will bark when someone comes to the door or fence, but she is friendly once people come inside. She is incredibly affectionate and wants to be wherever her people are. She is a loyal girl who has bonded closely with her foster mom and loves nothing more than being a couch and TV-watching partner.

She is also a great activity partner. Ivy loves walking, running, and being outside, and she would happily join her family for hikes, adventures, and just about anything else. She enjoys playing in the yard but is generally pretty calm once she is back inside.

FOSTER MOM UPDATE - 10/28/26

"Ivy is probably the most affectionate dog I’ve ever had. She will follow you around the house. All she wants to do is sit by you and be petted. When we first took her in she had no manners and had never been in a house. She has certainly acclimated to home life and has turned out to be a wonderful dog and a wonderful companion. She is very special. My husband absolutely loves her so does everyone who meets her. I think she really would love a companion dog that has a similar energy level as her. She absolutely loves to play and will entertain herself all day playing with Libby.

Ivy is the most affectionate dog we’ve ever had or fostered. She just wants to be with you! She’s a great couch companion and TV watcher, sleeps soundly through the night, and loves belly rubs and her toys. She’s calm in the house when she’s not playing with my dog.

Once she settled in, Ivy was great in the house. She’s completely potty trained, uses the doggy door, and isn’t destructive. She does love to steal socks, though! She’s also very food motivated, which makes her easy to train, but she’s a counter surfer, so keep food out of reach.

Ivy came to us at 32 pounds and now weighs 50. She LOVES walks and hikes, goes to the dog park regularly, and plays wonderfully with other dogs. She’s a great car rider and adventure companion. She’s delightful, goofy, and quirky, and everyone who meets her loves her.

An active family and a playful dog with a similar energy level would be ideal. Ivy and my dog, Libby, have become best friends, and having another dog could help her learn a new routine. She learns quickly and needs daily exercise.

Her leash skills are still a work in progress. She

  • Good with kids
  • Good with dogs
  • House-trained
Adopt Ivy fromWorthy Dog RescueArlington, VA · listed Oct 3

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