Description
Australian Shepherd – 1 Year Old – Apollo | Experienced Home Only
I’m looking for a very special, committed home for my 1-year-old Australian Shepherd, Apollo. This is not an easy decision, and he will only go to the right home.
Apollo is a typical Aussie: highly intelligent, high-drive and very active. He is not a low-maintenance dog and will not suit a first-time or casual pet home.
He needs:
* Structure and routine
* Consistent, clear training
* Mental and physical stimulation
* Plenty of engagement, including training, play and activities such as agility
He is crate trained and is crated when unsupervised, as he is still learning to switch off. When out, I work on calm behaviours such as place training. Without structure, he will find his own ways to stay busy, including chewing and looking for things to play with, so routine and guidance are essential.
Temperament & socialisation:
Apollo is very good with both people and other dogs and is naturally friendly and sociable. When he sees other dogs, he can sometimes show excitement-based frustration because he wants to go over and play. He can be a bit too enthusiastic, so I am continuing to work on his manners and appropriate interaction, particularly with larger, calmer dogs who can communicate boundaries with him.
He also has a natural prey drive and will want to chase animals he sees on walks. His recall is still a work in progress, so continued training and responsible management are important. He also does love to do tricks and knows quite a few. He is still a young dog and needs someone who enjoys continuing this kind of training rather than expecting a completely finished dog.
Neutering:
Apollo is not neutered, and I had never planned to castrate him myself. He currently has no behavioural problems or issues outside of the normal training and development expected of a young dog, and I would personally prefer him to remain entire if he continues to do well as he is.
His siblings and other Australian Shepherds I know have also done very well remaining entire. If a future owner does decide they would like to castrate him, I would want this to be after he is 2 years old, allowing him to reach physical maturity first. This is also due to concerns around early castration potentially affecting growth and coat development in some dogs.
Looking for:
* Someone with experience owning or training working breeds, such as Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, German shepherds etc.
* Someone who understands structure, consistency and clear training
* A committed, active home that can continue his training and development
* Someone who genuinely wants to work with and enjoy a high-drive dog
Important:
Apollo will be sold with a sales contract. He is not to be resold or bred, and the terms of the contract will need to be agreed to before the sale.
I will be very selective about where Apollo goes. A home check and meet-and-greet will be required, and I want to meet everyone involved before making a decision.
Apollo is a loving, loyal and incredibly rewarding dog in the right hands, but he needs someone who genuinely understands the needs of a young, high-drive working breed and is willing to continue developing him.
If you feel you could offer Apollo the right home, please get in touch and tell me about yourself, your experience with dogs/working breeds and what you can offer him.
Adv. ID:6cK9eSSi-
