Kisses are welcome from those who have come to know Onyx (Onnie to them) and yet introducing her to new people ends too soon because Onnie takes more time than other dogs to close the gap between fear and acceptance. Knowing that her first impulse is to bark at you, the many, many volunteers (men included) who spend time with Onnie all took that first introduction in stride and came back to being a member of the Onyx club. Onnie has many "best friends" now, but shelter life is very hard on any dog and she has been in the shelter about half of her young life. Onyx's reaction when she first meets people is a turn off, but if you have dog-smarts and some experience you will find that Onyx is ready and eager to learn. She trusts the person holding her leash and sometimes has moments of unbridled vocalizations to approaching strangers making her difficult to show to people who don’t understand that she means them no harm. She can cuddle with the best of them, this big puppy with a shiny black coat and big pleading eyeballs. For any experienced dog owner, Onyx — a stunning physical beauty — will warm your heart if you give her a chance, which translates to time and patience. She has relished the laps of many people who now call her an excellent cuddler. She plays with several other dogs and may be a good companion for an equally active dog. You can visit the dogs from noon - 3 pm Saturdays and Sundays, otherwise by appointment. We always recommend submitting an application (and a copy of recent vet records for your current pets if applicable) to info@aradopt.org. Link to application: https://www.angelridgeanimalrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Dog-Application.pdf