Koa #2 Black Labrador Retriever Mix Male ~2 Years Old #3766

Koa is a handsome approximately 2-3 year old, 62lb  Labrador Mix.  Koa is Hawaiian for “warrior”. He survived being dumped in the country in Arkansas and a month in the pound.   When no one came forward to claim him, he was moved into foster care with Monticello 2nd Chance Fur Dog Rescue.  They reached out to Brookline for assistance in rehoming Koa since stray dogs are numerous and adoptive homes are hard to find. Please read Koa’s blog from the bottom up to learn more about him while in foster care. Please read his blog from bottom to top as more updates are posted

June 3, 2026

Koa has been doing incredibly well with us and truly seems to feel at home. He is fearful of the crate, so we’ve chosen not to use it—and honestly, he doesn’t need it. He has proven to be very trustworthy when left alone in the family room. We’ve been doing short trips, leaving him for up to 4.5 hours, and he spends that time relaxing on the couch and napping. We do keep his toys in an open crate to help desensitize him to it, but overall, he’s very comfortable without being confined.

Koa’s appetite has improved, especially since adding a spoonful of wet food to his kibble—he gets very excited for mealtime now. While he has a lot of energy, he’s also great at self-regulating. We play ball throughout the day in the yard, which he absolutely loves.

He’ll run and play hard, then lay down and take breaks when he’s had enough.

He’s making steady progress on the leash and is becoming more comfortable. For now, we’ve been sticking to walks around our property, as he does show some what I believe may be excitement-based reactivity toward other dogs on leash. We’re working on this by keeping distance and reinforcing calm behavior, and he’s improving each time. He’s also been doing great ignoring the bunnies and groundhogs we see regularly outside when on the leash.

Koa is incredibly affectionate and thinks he’s a lap dog—he’ll happily climb into your lap any chance he gets. He loves being talked to and cuddled, often gazing into your eyes as if he understands every word. It’s hard to imagine his life before this, because he thrives on attention and love.

He’s also been exposed to many new experiences and handles them with curiosity and calmness—even watching a barn being picked up and moved didn’t faze him! Koa is wonderful with children. He’s gentle, enjoys playing, and doesn’t chase or get anxious around them, even during active play like swinging at the playground. When he does get excited and does his little “Tigger bounce,” he still does not jump on people.

Koa would do best in an active home that can match his energy level. We recently had to take it easy for a couple of days after he seemed to pull a muscle from jumping off the couch, and he definitely had some extra energy built up. Regular exercise and play are important for him, and the great part is it’s easy to incorporate—he loves playing fetch and will reliably bring the ball right back and drop it at your feet, ready for the next throw.

Koa is the perfect mix of playful and independent. He loves being around his people but is also content to relax and entertain himself. He’s truly a special dog who will thrive in a home that continues to give him the love, activity, and guidance he deserves.

May 26, 2026

Today, we tested leaving him gated in the family room for an hour, and he handled it like a pro. After a quick check of the doors and gate, he hopped on the couch and settled in for a nap—no whining, barking, or signs of anxiety.

I gave Koa a bath on his second day with us. He definitely had a feeling walking into the bathroom might be a setup, but with a little coaxing, he joined me in the shower. Once in, he stood still and was very easy to bathe.

Koa is doing great with house training and consistently takes care of his business outside. Koa is still learning leash etiquette and has shown he has a high prey drive- pulling towards bunnies and following scent trails. I am working on curbing that behavior, but expect it may take some time. We are working on building our bond and our foundation so that we can succeed at that task.

He’s incredibly intelligent, independent, and determined. Koa loves playing with his wobble ball and is impressively skilled at problem-solving—he kept himself entertained without getting stuck or tangled, even while playing around patio furniture on a tie line. He’s very comfortable with the tie line and seems to understand his boundaries well, I believe he may have been on one previously in his life.

While he enjoys his independence, Koa is also very affectionate and loves companionship. His favorite place is stretched across your lap. He adores kids and plays wonderfully with them—he’d make an excellent “goalie” for a young soccer player! When he gets excited, he bounces around like Tigger, and we’re working on teaching him polite greetings instead of jumping.

His indoor manners are excellent, and we’re continuing to reinforce expectations outside as he learns that rules apply everywhere.

Koa showed some nervousness and uncertainty around things like fireworks, the vacuum, and the Dremel—possibly because he hasn’t had much exposure to them before. With gentle reassurance, patience, and plenty of cuddles, he began to relax and feel more at ease.

Koa is a smart, loving, and fun dog with so much potential. He would make an amazing companion for an active family willing to continue his training and enjoy all the love and personality he brings!

May 21, 2026

Started training. Last night we worked on leash manners, sitting on the first command, and introduced the down command as well. I think all of those things went really well. He has already mastered open staircases and walking on slippery floors.

May 20, 2026

Koa arrived at my house yesterday late afternoon 5/19/26. He struggled a bit to get into the kennel in my car. The ride home was quiet. Koa doesn’t like being kenneled in the car or house.  I’m thinking he’s afraid he won’t be let back out.  He is quiet in the crate though.  We did manage to have a little fun.  I introduced him to drinking out of a hose as I watered my garden.  He seemed to enjoy that.  I did try to make an introduction to my lab.  He wasn’t very receptive to that.  He showed some body posturing and lots of barking.  I ended that, kept them separated for the rest of the night and will see if tonight is a better night.  If not, we will wait.  One a good note, he did eat some breakfast.

This is a picture from early this morning. He was trying to figure out if he wanted to come back in the house . I did wait him out and he came in on his own.  I do have  to say he loves people and is definitely starved for love and affection.

May 14, 2026

Koa came up from AR and went to Joe Nick’s to start training to become a police dog based on how focused he is with a ball, but unfortunately he is not going to be a police dog .

He is definitely ball focused and loves to play, but he is too timid and shy in new situations – he lacks the confidence they are looking for in dogs doing police work.

However, Joe said he is absolutely the sweetest, most affectionate dog ever!  He just loves to be loved and wants to be with you, please you and will be your loyal friend in no time.  He does well with other dogs, though he can be intimidated by them if they come on too strong.  He needs time to feel confident in new situations, but once he does, his tail never stops wagging.  He said he’ll be a great family dog in so many situations.

May 7, 2026

Koa has landed with Joe in NJ, who trains police and search and rescue dogs.  This boy had an incredibly long ride north, but despite that, was so happy to meet all the humans along the way.  He takes a minute to check you out, then quickly bonds and becomes your best friend.  He has already stolen hearts at his new place, and it is apparent that his first priority is being loved.  He actually spent a couple of hours sitting in a female trainer’s lap just enjoying getting loved on.Koa is definitely ball oriented and loves to retrieve and bring it back to keep the game going.  He is good at dropping it but also will easily allow you to take it out of his mouth.  He loves all kinds of balls, including squeaky ones and unlike many Labs, does not chew them to get the squeaker out.  He much prefers just to play with them! A toss of the ball for Koa is a good training reward.  He’ll work hard just for a chance to retrieve the ball.

He is great on leash with only a flat collar and knows a lot of basic commands – sit, stay, wait, come – and has a good recall.  He just wants to please.

He likes other dogs but is very respectful of their lead, and will back off if anyone grumbles at him.  He seems to prefer women over men, and was found cuddling within minutes when the female trainer stopped by to say hi.  Ironically, he is afraid of cats.  Evidently he hasn’t spent much time with any feline critters.

Koa is definitely hesitant in new situations – he shies away if something is unfamiliar or scares him.  He needs time to check things out, then is fine.  But the thing that characterizes this sweet boy the most is that he just wants to be loved.

Stay tuned for updates as he starts his training program.

April 9, 2026

Koa had a good week and was especially happy when I threw him the ball, no lie, about 50 times!!  LOL.  I need to invest in a ball launcher for this boy.  He did finally have enough tosses and relaxed on his bed.

Yesterday, we worked on catching treats.  You would think that if this big boy is a pro at catching balls, he’d have no problem catching a treat.

It took him a couple tries but he finally did get it.

This handsome guy is still waiting for his ride North!  If you’ve ever thought of fostering, please reach out to give Koa a shot at a finding his very own loving adopter!

April 2, 2026

“Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them and filling an emptiness we didn’t even know we had. Ball games are just the start.” – Thom JonesCalling all ball enthusiasts! Love dogs and balls? Well then, Koa is the boy for you!Koa is always running, jumping, and chasing after that perfect catch.

He’s also chasing his dreams of a forever home, one ball at a time and hoping to fetch his way into someone’s heart. Whether you or your kids have MLB dreams, Koa is very willing to help you train.  Did you know a well-thrown ball is the fastest way to a dog’s heart?This face says it all: I live for chasing balls.“Stop takin’ picturs and frow da BOLL” love Koa!

March 25, 2026

Despite all this he is a happy boy who loves balls.

He loves to fetch balls. He was made to chase balls. He dreams about catching and chasing balls. His love for the ball has been helpful in teaching him some good doggie manners.  He knows he needs to sit for a toss and is learning to do it for a treat too.

He is also learning that he needs to bring the ball back and drop it for another throw.

He is quick, smart, and energetic. After some play, he slows down he takes breaks and chills.

Koa also likes to play tug with friends, and doesn’t mind the occasional wrestling match.

He is a big guy with an even bigger heart!

March 20, 2026

This boy is an athlete.  Just look at how high he can jump for the ball.

Koa would love to find his special someone whose idea of fun is to spend time playing ball with their favorite furry best friend.  This guy just can’t get enough of it.

He’s even learned that sitting is what needs to happen before he gets a toss.

This guy could probably learn anything as long as there is a ball toss involved as his reward.

March 16, 2026

Koa got a new toy!

He really likes the squeaker!

I’m surprised that he hasn’t chewed through it to get at the ball.Koa was born ready to chase after the ball.  He just can’t get enough of it.

March 10, 2026

Koa is healing well after his neuter surgery.  He’s been spending more time in the house so we can work on his house training.  He really wants to be a lap dog and loves his snuggle time. It was hard for Koa when he didn’t have his ball time right after surgery since he loves that ball!

He was happy that I gave him a little ball time so we could practice “sit”.

I’m hoping that his new family loves to play ball too and has a strong arm!!  This boy is alway ready for a game of fetch.

March 6, 2026

Koa had a trip to the vet yesterday to get neutered.  He made the ride with his friend Howie who also had to get neutered. Koa had to bring his ball along for the ride.

He’s doing well after surgery but has to be on restricted activity for 7-10 days.  He’s not allowed to have his ball during this time so he is not a happy boy about that!  He LOVES his ball.

March 3, 2026

Koa is currently in foster care with a rescue in Arkansas. As they are in a rural area with limited opportunities to find an adopter, the AR rescue reached out to Brookline in hopes of helping to re-home him.Koa is athletic, food motivated and ball obsessed. He is good with other dogs and his current foster has many dogs of all shapes and sizes. He has never lived inside a home in close quarters with other dogs and is ball obsessed, so we are looking for a foster with no other dogs in the home. He has not been exposed to cats in his current foster home.

Koa is currently kenneled outside and keeps his run clean. The foster has been taking him inside occasionally to get him acclimated to living in a home but he will need further house training and basic manners and leash training.Koa is a sweet boy and loves attention and pets. He thinks he’s an extra large lap dog.

It’s rare to see his tail stop wagging especially when he is playing fetch and tug with his people.

Koa is heartworm negative and is on preventatives, he is neutered and UTD on vaccinations prior to transport.

Take a chance and foster, and you just might find the next love of your life!