Pepper - 5 yr old, 95lb Lab/Aussie Shepherd mix, neutered
Background: Pepper has been with his family since he was a puppy. With the recent arrival of a baby, his family has made the difficult decision to find him a new home. Pepper has growled when the baby has been nearby, and despite working with a trainer, his family does not feel comfortable keeping them together. Pepper needs a child-free home where his boundaries will be understood and respected.
What Pepper's Owners Say: Pepper is a sweet boy and is very close to the people he can trust. He loves to be babied and wrapped in a blanket when he isn’t well or if the weather is cold. Trust seems to be built through leadership in obedience training with rewards or through playing fetch. He also loves to cuddle or rest his head on your lap if you sit on the couch with him.
Pepper is very smart and learns new tricks easily. We always joked that he could probably learn to use buttons with recorded words to speak to us. He also enjoys dog puzzles, but he will tear it to make what we have fondly come to call “Pepperfetti”. Even the toughest toy can become Pepperfetti in just ten minutes. He never chews on furniture or anything that isn’t a toy/ rawhide or bully stick. He is very food motivated and loves treats of any kind. He can be a bit opportunistic and has been known to get into the trash or counter surf if he notices something tasty and you look away for even a second!
Ball is truly life to Pepper! We believe that if he could do only one thing all day, every single day for the rest of his life it would be to retrieve a ball and chew it. He enjoys walks, hikes, running, and swimming after balls or sticks. He is athletic, agile, and incredibly quick to learn; trainers have even suggested agility training as a great outlet for his talents. He travels well and can go on car rides by sitting or lying down in the back seat and also knows many commands.
Pepper needs a home without children. He has snapped at children in the past and has growled at our baby. He can also be selective around other dogs and has had conflicts involving food and toys, so we believe he would be happiest as the only dog in the home. He walks best with a head halter and could use continued leash training. He can also be sensitive about grooming (ears, teeth), but can be managed with patience and respectful, positive training. He has no guarding or prey instincts with cats or people at all; in fact our cat would attack him and he doesn’t even move.
What Pepper's Rescue Rep Says: Pepper is a friendly, people-loving dog who enjoys attention and is quick to roll over for belly rubs. He is comfortable being touched all over, takes treats gently, and has shown no signs of guarding food or toys from people. He lives peacefully with a cat and has also spent time boarding with other dogs. However, he has a history of resource guarding with a dog in his household and can be reactive on leash when he sees other dogs. For these reasons, a home without other dogs is the best fit.
Pepper is a strong, athletic dog who walks well with a head halter and will benefit from an adopter experienced with large dogs and committed to ongoing training. He would love a home with a secure yard, plenty of physical exercise and mental challenges, and people who can spend time with him. Given his history, a home without children is recommended. With structure, exercise, and continued training, Pepper has the potential to be a wonderful companion.
Medical: Roro is neutered, up to date on core vaccines, and microchipped.
Located In: Santa Rosa
If you are interested in Pepper, please contact Rescue Rep Kathy at ksmillich@gmail.com In your email, please tell me about yourself and why you would be a good fit for either dog.
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