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My basic info
Breed
Australian Shepherd
Color
Black - with Tan, Yellow or Fawn
Age
Young
Size
Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg) (when grown)
Weight
–
Sex
Male
Pet ID
014-1107
My details
Good with kids
Good with dogs
Shots current
Spayed / Neutered
Housetrained
My story
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Here's what the humans have to say about me:
Gus is a handsome pup that has had a good start in life. He reacts very well to positive reinforcement and already is quite well behaved for his age. He is great with other dogs and we assume he would be fine with cats and kids although he hasn't been tested with them at this point. Due to his breeding, he will be a very loyal companion, bonding easily with his family and enjoying being around them. He is still very much a puppy at approximately a year old but is well on his way to becoming a very capable companion. He currently weighs 31 lbs and we expect he may grow a little more but will not be over 40 lbs as an adult.
Here is what his foster family had to say:
Gus has received nothing but praise anywhere he has gone with me. He is a very affectionate, sweet dog who loves to play and spend time with people and other dogs. This handsome boy will make someone a very loyal and loving companion. He is also very smart and learns quickly. He has had no difficulty settling into our routines and is happy almost all of the time. He is happy, healthy and has a beautiful silky, shiny, soft coat of fur. Based upon his size and energy level, I think he's about the age that was stated. His energy level is moderately high. He is still a young dog who needs several walks a day, someone to play fetch with, or another dog to play with.
He is a friendly and curious fellow. He has met several people on our walks and always greets them nicely. I don't know how he would react to young children or cats. He plays very well with other dogs. Gus is not shy at all. He is one of the few dogs I've fostered who hasn't seemed to be affected by his shelter experience. He is always happy and curious about his surroundings. He is very respectful around my dogs. He has tried to play with my dogs and seems to respect the fact that my dogs want nothing to do with him :( He greets other dogs nicely or our walks with a sniff (if allowed) and then we usually continue our walk. He has had one play date and did really well playing with a lab that was a bit larger than him. I've been leaving him in a large xpen and he cries when I leave. He does not want to go into the pen. I have to put him on a leash and guide him in. So far he hasn't reacted fearfully to anything. Gus's favourite way to spend his time is to play with other dogs and to cuddle up with his person. Gus is very quiet. He barks at squirrels and will bark a bit if my dogs are barking.
Gus is still a young dog and should be kept in view or baby-gated outside of the kitchen. The garbage does not interest him but he did put his paws on the counter once to see what was up there. Since then I've kept the kitchen gated from the living room. I tend to keep my shoes in another room out of his sight but I did find him with one of my slippers between his paws. He was licking it and I'm sure he would have started to chew it if I hadn't been watching him. It's obvious that Gus has been trained using positive reinforcement. He knows "come", "sit" and does not pull on his leash unless he's excited. He expects a treat and will take one from my hand very, very gently. However, a refresher course would be of benefit to reinforce walking on one side as he criss-crosses back and forth in front of me when we're walking. Gus is fully house-trained. I let him out 4-5 times a day. I leave Gus in an xpen when I am out for the day. He is good for about 4 hours. I don't think it's a good idea to keep him crated for any longer than that. He doesn't like going in the xpen. He should be crated when unsupervised until he can be fully trusted in the home. Once he is in the car, he is very quiet and still. He usually curls up in the backseat. He does not always like to get into the car. Sometimes I have to coax him in. This has gotten much better since he's been here. We went from me having to pick him up and put him in to him jumping into the backseat with no problem.
He is so sweet and loving but he has a high need for exercise. He also needs someone who will understand the jumping/nipping behaviours and be willing to work with Gus to extinguish these behaviours. Gus would do best in a home with a backyard to play in and someone that would give him at least one good walk each day. He would do well with playdates with other dogs or for there to be another friendly dog in the home. He is a young boy and still very much a puppy in many ways so he will need a family that is committed to his further training.
If you think Gus would be a good choice for your family, please submit an application for consideration.
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