Gus

Hi!
Thank you for taking an interest in Gus. I want to be completely transparent. He’s super smart, but that causes him to get in trouble a lot. I’d like to describe him as a reactive dog, he could use some obedience schooling, if possible, or at least someone who has the time and energy to work with him. With the way our lives are going, and both mine and my fiancé’s schedule, it’s just not possible for us to do. He’s super sweet, and affectionate. However, he isn’t house trained, and he gets out on us every once in awhile.
It was a super hard decision that we went back and forth on, but we think it’s best if our sweet boy is rehomed to someone who has the time, and/or the space for a dog like him. Gus hasn’t been around little kids too much, but he gets along fine with younger kids, and other animals for the most part. He isn’t the greatest with introduction, but I promise he just needs time and soon enough he’ll come out of his shell. The main reason we decided to rehome him, is because we used to live in a small town in the U.P., where he had a big yard to himself and had to no reason to interact with others very much. We ended up needing to move, and landed in Grand Rapids, and to make matters worse, we live in a trailer park. It’s not fair to have him adjust to the size difference. I don’t think city life works too well for him, so if possible, if someone could adopt him that lives in the rural area, it would be best. Gus could make an excellent addition to your family.

Pet's Name: Gus
Dog: Primary Breed: Australian Shepherd Dog
Birthdate, estimate is okay: 11/08/2020
Age Category: Adult
Where did you get your pet?: A breeder
Adoption Day, when did you adopt your pet? An estimate is okay.: 1/1/2021
Gender: Male
Size (at full grown): Large
Weight (in pounds) at full-grown size. Example: 35: 95
Primary Color: Calico/Multi/Tricolor
What are your pet's favorite toys and activities?: He likes squeaky toys, especially if they’re the color orange. He loves those dog toys that have smaller toys inside of them( like squirrels in a tree, or cookies in a milk container; barkbox and Amazon have lots of options). Gus enjoys playing fetch, swimming, and going for walks, even though he isn’t well trained for walks.
Has your dog received any formal obedience training?: No
What commands does your dog know?: Sit, No Bite (drop it), Stay.
Has your dog ever exhibited any challenging behaviors, such as biting a person or another pet? If so, could you please share some details about the situation?: He’s never bit anyone, but he is super timid. I’d like to say he is a reactive dog, he gets to excited, and jumps on people.
How does your dog react to being left alone for short periods?: Not too well. It’s part of the reason we want to rehome him. He used to destroy the house, but the most he does now is dig the trash and go potty in the house.
Are there any specific triggers that cause your dog anxiety or stress?: Separation, Unknown people/ animals in the yard (he doesn’t have an issue with meeting people/ animals while in his home, other than trying to jump).
Is there a particular routine that works best for your dog in terms of feeding, walking, and sleep?: Not specifically
Medical History and Care:
Vaccinations up to date
Spayed or Neutered
House/Litter-Trained
Microchipped
Special Diet
Special Needs
Never Vetted
Unknown
Does your pet have any history of health issues or medical conditions that potential adopters should be aware of?: No
Personality:
Playful
Constant Companion
High Energy
Medium Energy
Low Energy
Stubborn
Timid
Needs Training
Friendly to Strangers
Good with Other Dogs
Good with Young Children
Good with Cats
Bonded Pair
Requires A Fenced Yard
Crate Trained
Purebred
How is your dog with other dogs?: Friendly: Generally gets along well with other dogs.
How is your dog with cats?: Selective: Gets along with some cats but not others.
What's the most endearing thing about your dog?: He loves to give cuddles, and kisses. Gus can be goofy, he makes us laugh all the time!
What criteria are important to you when considering an adoptive family or home for your pet?: Preferably lives in the countryside, rather than the city. He deserves to be able to run around with no restrictions
Is there anything else you'd like your pet's new family to know?: Due to his breed, I’m sure he would be happier in the outdoors. Such as a farmers dog, or a hunter. He would be good as a normal companion as well, but would require lots of walks and stuff along those lines.
Why are you rehoming your pet (primary reason)?: Housing is Inadequate for Pet
Rehoming reason details (if necessary): I feel like our living situation isn’t the best for him. He’s had more behavioral issues since we’ve moved, and I believe it’s because we used to live in a small town with a bigger yard, and now we live in a trailer park.
If applicable, do you have the legal right or necessary permission from the breeder or rescue organization to rehome this pet? :
Not Applicable
Yes
How long will you be able to keep your pet before you may need to consider surrendering him or her to a rescue?: Not an option, my pet will stay with me for as long as it takes
What do you feed your pet?: Dry food
Do you have pet insurance for your pet? : No
Would you consider a long distance adoption?:
Yes
No
Maybe
City, State: Grand Rapids, MI
Zip Code: 49534
How did you hear about us?: Google Search
Service Level: Assistance Needed: Help Me Choose