Courtesy Post
A Big Personality in a 36-lb Package
Spyro is a 4-year-old Australian Shepherd mix. Once he decides you are his person, he is all in. Intensely loyal, affectionate, smart and playful, he wants to be close to the people he trusts and involved in whatever they are doing.
As an active herding breed he needs an outlet for both his mind and his body. Spyro thrives with structure, exercise, training and meaningful things to do. He would be an excellent companion for someone who genuinely enjoys an active life with their dog, whether that means hiking, scent work, agility, herding-inspired activities or other forms of enrichment.
His biggest challenge is his anxiety and insecurity. Spyro lacks confidence and can become overwhelmed and hyper-focused in busy, noisy or unfamiliar environments. For this reason, we believe he would do best in a quiet suburban environment with fewer daily triggers and a predictable routine.
He is also significantly affected by being left alone. When unsupervised, he needs to be crated, as his anxiety can lead to accidents and destructive behaviour. He may also bark or howl in his crate, particularly in a new environment. That being said he can stay alone in small blocks of time.
With people, Spyro is affectionate and gentle once he feels comfortable. He loves children, but can be cautious with new visitors, particularly when they enter his home. He may bark, growl or retreat until he feels safe. He can also be more hesitant with men at first. But once Spyro trusts, he bonds deeply and becomes an incredibly devoted friend and companion.
With other dogs, Spyro can make a dramatic first impression. He may rush toward them, bark, whine become extremely excited. Once that initial excitement passes, however, he generally settles and does well. He is not looking for conflict and will usually walk away rather than challenge another dog. Cats and small wildlife are a different story. Spyro has a strong prey drive toward cats and skunks outdoors and cannot be trusted loose around them.
Spyro has good recall most of the time and naturally wants to stay close to his person. He is goofy, expressive and affectionate, with a wonderful sense of humour and an enormous capacity for loyalty.
Spyro needs understanding, consistency and commitment. His adopter will need to continue working with him on his confidence, anxiety and training. His anti-anxiety medication will also need to be monitored with his veterinarian and adjusted as needed. Most importantly, Spyro needs someone willing to give him the time, structure and patience he needs to feel secure.
We are looking for an experienced, patient adopter who understands anxious dogs, enjoys an active lifestyle and is prepared to commit to Spyro for the long haul. In return, you get an incredibly devoted companion who wants nothing more than to belong.
Spyro is neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. He may be able to live with a chill, confident dog. He has lived with cats but would need strict supervision with new ones. Kids 12 plus.
No direct message inquiries, please.
We adopt to Montreal and surrounding areas only.
We will only respond to applicants who match the requirements.
