Scooby

Scooby is a sweet and energetic super mutt! He is around 14 months old. Scooby's sister was DNA tested and found to be mostly Australian Cattle Dog, Belgian Malinois, and Whippet. Scooby has an anxious (non-aggressive) disposition that needs a lot of patience and time to help train him to be the best dog possible.

We love him, but with a full house and other responsibilities I am unable be consistent in training him. And with all the multiple distractions of people and other pets there is a lot to be distracted by during training sessions.

Scooby will be hesitant to come up to you when first meeting you. It takes time for him to build a rapport with another person, but we have seen it happen when a friend stayed at our house to care for our pets. His anxiety also makes it difficult to walk him on a leash. Trainers believe with time that can change. He enjoys the dog park and meeting other new dogs that love to run and play with him. He is great at meeting the other dogs big or small when off leash and knows if he can play with them and matches their energy level. He can run at the dog park for at least an hour and still be ready to play after the car ride home.

Scooby has been great with our four children (ages 10-17) and my elderly mother-in-law. With regards to living with our other pets, he loves his adopted older brother, a lab mix, but can become possessive over bones that leads to some aggression. Feeding time has been fine as their bowls are separated. Scooby really wishes our cats would play with him and he still has not picked up on the fact that he should be much calmer with them. I would not recommend him going to a home with cats. We have an indoor rabbit, as well, he is gentler with the rabbit indoors but is quick to chase him when they are both outdoors.

Scooby is crate trained. He sleeps in it at night, and we put him in there when new people come over, so he has a safe place until things settle down. There are still occasions that when extremely excited or scared, Scooby will pee in the house (small amount).

Scooby enjoys all foods and would love to eat it all, but he has a somewhat sensitive stomach. He has had bleeding ulcers due to different foods he has gotten into on occasion. I frequently give him an antacid and probiotics to help his gut. He should avoid dairy.

Pet's Name: Scooby
Dog: Primary Breed: Australian Cattle Dog
Birthdate, estimate is okay: 11/2023
Age Category: Young
Where did you get your pet?: Mission Viejo Animal Shelter
Adoption Day, when did you adopt your pet? An estimate is okay.: March 2024
Gender: Male
Size (at full grown): Medium
Weight (in pounds) at full-grown size.: 50
Primary Color: Black
What are your pet's favorite toys and activities?: Running at the dog park with other dogs and chewing up soft dog toys.
Has your dog received any formal obedience training?: Yes
What commands does your dog know?: Sit, Down, Stay, Go to your mat, still working on leave it.
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 wants to play with our rabbit and cats like they are dogs. Recently our birds escaped from their cage and he got one to play with and broke her wing.
How does your dog react to being left alone for short periods?: He is ok, but home with another dog.
Are there any specific triggers that cause your dog anxiety or stress?: When our other dog leaves to go on a walk and definitely new people.
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?: He has had bleeding stomach ulcers.
How often does your dog require grooming (e.g., bathing, brushing, trimming)? : Bathing - depends on how dirty he gets at the dog park, but minimal bathing.
Does your dog have any dental care routines (e.g., brushing, chews, professional cleanings)? : He occasionally has dental chews.
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?: Very friendly: Loves meeting and playing with other dogs.
How is your dog with cats?: Aggressive: Does not get along with cats and may show aggressive behavior.
What's the most endearing thing about your dog?: He can be sweet and cuddly.
What criteria are important to you when considering an adoptive family or home for your pet?: The owner(s) is going to need patience. He will take a while to warm up to you. He needs a quiet environment free of distractions to be trained and will learn quickly. He needs love and support and a place to run to get his energy out.
Is there anything else you'd like your pet's new family to know?: We love him, but our home has too much going on to give him all that he needs.
Why are you rehoming your pet (primary reason)?: Incompatible with Other Pets
Rehoming reason details (if necessary): I don't have enough time to properly train him in counter conditioning and there is a lot going on with our other pets and people in the house that it makes it hard from Scooby to focus on training.
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?: Two weeks
Who is your veterinarian?: Dr. Holden
What do you feed your pet, and does he/she have any feeding quirks or preferences?: Kirkland sweet potato and beef kibble and occasional canned wet food.
Do you have pet insurance for your pet? : No
Would you consider a long distance adoption?:
Yes
No
Maybe
City, State: Tustin, CA
Zip Code: 92780
How did you hear about us?: Other Search
Service Level: Tailored: For pets with minor behavioral or special needs