Size
(when grown) Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)
Details
Not good with kids,
Not good with dogs,
Not good with cats,
Needs experienced adopter,
House-trained,
Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Name: Rex
Breed: Dutch Shepherd x Belgian Malinois
(as per previous owner)
Sex: M Will be neutered by rescue
DOB/Age: January 4, 2024
Weight/Height:
Known Health Issues: None at this time
Bite History: Yes. Will be discussed with approved applicants.
Dogs: Not at this time, but there is the potential for a well matched, neutral companion with proper management. He is NOT looking for a pet relationship.
Cats: No
Kids: No homes with persons under 18 will be considered, due to bite history.
Owner Experience Level: Must have Dutch Shepherd or similar breed experience, and solid dog behaviour and training understanding.
Ideal home: An active working/sporting/training focused home. He needs a life with purpose.
Energy Level/Drive: High energy, and mod-high drive. He absolutely can be built further.
Sports/Activities he’d enjoy: Hiking, swimming, camping, running, coursing, agility, disc, dock diving, rally/obedience, Canicross, bikejoring/dryland, sledding, weightpull. I do not consider him a bitesport candidate, but possibly club level with a knowledgeable handler. I do not recommend team sports such as flyball.
Swimmer: Yes!
All our adoptable dogs are: House trained, Crate Trained, travel well in vehicles, and well started on basic obedience. Please read bio for further individual details.
** NO DOG PARKS **
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All Adopters are required to attend post-adoption training.
All Adopters are required to obtain, and maintain pet insurance for their newly adopted companion.
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MEET REX!
Rex is a large and in charge fellow, looking for a dog sport enthusiast to enjoy life with! He did not get the foundations these breeds need at his start, but has come a long way relearning appropriate outlets for his drives and genetic predispositions. If you love the breed, and enjoy a promising project dog, read on!
Rex wants to be doing, and doing something always. He enjoys a wide variety of activities, and appreciates variety in his training, Currently a jack of all trades, master of none, he would love to find his forever handler to take him to the next chapter of his life, and continue to build his life skills.
Rex loves the water! He took to toy retrieval quickly, and enjoys natural bodies of water. This summer we had the opportunity to work with AquaDogs, and he has started his dock diving journey! He is going off the dock, and is working on confidence/timing with his launch. He currently tries to walk along the bottom of the pool, due to his large size, but we are working on good swimming habits. We just need more practice!
He has also started working with the disc, and is getting used to catching competition discs. I am not a very good tosser, so props to him for being able to catch any of my inconsistent throws! He would excel quickly with an experienced enthusiast, and is forgiving enough to learn together with someone new to the sport.
Rex is reactive, and has been working very, very hard on appropriate behaviours. He arrived reactive to just about everything, and currently is well under threshold with most. He still struggles with unfamiliar dogs, in novel environments, and traveling in the car/van, but is improving consistently. He needs a confident handler, willing to continue his training and management, so that he can be successful across the board.
Rex does not appreciate handling by people who aren’t his person, but his tolerance is improving. We muzzle at the vet for routine procedures with myself present, but he will require sedation for anything invasive/painful, or if I cannot be present. He is showing a willingness to form new training bonds with people he has had the opportunity to get comfortable with (typically we hike together first), and is eager to work for toy or food.
Rex is BIG for his breeds, and not adverse to using that to his advantage. He had no concept of leash pressure when he arrived, and would easily blow you off and bulldoze through. He also saw no value in the bond with his handler, and was happy to make his own decisions. And while not a complete 180, he’s definitely a good portion of the way there. From what I have seen, I expect this to continue to grow stronger, and am excited for his full potential to shine!
Rex is a diamond in the rough, that is just starting to be polished. If you enjoy the rewards of building a strong bond, with an incredible dog, Rex looks forward to your application!
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Adoption includes:
– The dog!
– All vaccinations & required boosters; DA2PPv, Bordetella, Lyme, Leptospirosis, and Rabies
– 4DX Blood Test (Heartworm, Lyme Disease, Ehrlichia, Anaplasmosis)
– Age appropriate wellness blood screen
– Fecal test
– Deworming & Flea/Tick/Heartworm prevention
– Spay/Neuter
– Microchip
– Hip xray for all dogs that undergo anesthesia
– All medical needs assessed and concluded. For those that have ongoing medical needs, all bloodwork and tests will be current, and a full refill supply of meds sent with the adopted pet.
– Full 30/35lb bag of their current diet
– Nylon Leash & Collar set
– Training Collar
– Biothane Leash, Collar, & Training Line set from MyLeash
– Free facility boarding for the life of the dog
– Lifetime support
Please complete an application to start the process. Thank you for considering adoption!