Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
-
Story
MEET FRANK: SMART, PLAYFUL, TRAINED—AND READY FOR HIS LAST HOME
Frank has had more than his share of uncertainty.
He first entered the shelter after being confiscated along with several other dogs. He was adopted and later found as a stray. He was adopted again and abandoned at a boarding facility. After another adoption, he was returned with concerns about his compatibility with children and cats.
After four trips through the shelter system, we wanted Frank to have something more than another kennel evaluation. We wanted to understand who he really is outside the shelter and what kind of home would allow him to succeed.
Frank recently completed a two-week professional board-and-train program with a certified trainer, and his evaluation gives us a much fuller picture of this wonderful dog.
Frank is a confident, environmentally stable, independent and exceptionally playful Shepherd mix. His greatest passion is toys—especially balls and tug. He will bring toys to people to initiate play, happily carry them around and can entertain himself independently with a ball. Interactive play is also one of the best ways to engage and train him.
He currently has functional responses to sit, down, stay, come and wait for release and is working on place. His training has focused heavily on impulse control, disengagement and learning to wait for access to the things he loves.
Frank may have a big play drive, but he also has something every active-dog adopter will appreciate: an excellent off-switch.
When activity ends, Frank generally accepts that playtime is over and settles. He is typically quiet in his kennel, will lie down when nothing is happening and does not appear to require constant entertainment or attention.
WITH PEOPLE
Frank has demonstrated a high degree of tolerance toward people and is comfortable with extensive physical handling. During his training program, no human-directed reactivity or significant resource guarding was observed.
He enjoys affection when it is offered, but he is not a dog who constantly demands attention. Frank is comfortable doing his own thing and then happily engaging when invited.
WITH OTHER DOGS
Frank’s social behavior with dogs was evaluated through far more than a single introduction.
During his training program, he spent multiple days and many hours participating in group play with approximately 12–18 dogs at a time, including dogs of different sizes and sexes. Across those experiences, he generally demonstrated safe and functional social behavior without a pattern of sustained conflict or indiscriminate aggression.
Frank enjoys other dogs but is also independent and often content doing his own thing. Like many energetic dogs, he can become overstimulated during prolonged, high-intensity play and benefits from appropriate breaks and redirection.
FRANK’S IDEAL HOME
Frank would thrive with an adult adopter who genuinely enjoys an active, playful dog and wants to build a relationship through training, structured walks, ball play, tug, enrichment and other interactive activities.
His trainer recommends an adult-only home. Importantly, this recommendation is NOT based on observed aggression toward children.
Frank has an exceptionally strong toy drive and becomes highly engaged by toys and movement. During intense play, accidental hand contact can occur as he goes for a toy, and he may lightly mouth toward a person who is running. He has demonstrated good bite inhibition, but because young children frequently run, wave toys and carry objects, an adult-only household is considered the safest and most appropriate match.
Compatibility with cats and other small animals has not been sufficiently assessed, so a home without them is preferred unless additional evaluation is completed.
Frank’s adopter should be willing to continue working on impulse control, toy release, recall, disengagement around distractions and appropriate responses to fast movement.
Frank is not a couch potato—but he isn’t a dog who needs to be entertained every minute, either.
He is smart, funny, confident, athletic and intensely enthusiastic about the things he loves. His drive requires structure, but it is also what makes him such a fun and engaging dog.
For the right adult adopter, Frank has the potential to be an exceptional companion.
After four trips through the shelter system, what Frank needs most now is not another stop.
He needs a home that sticks.
