Rusty

Breed: Australian Cattle Dog
Sex: Male

Birthday: October 3, 2021
Rescued: March 17, 2023
Re-Homed: November 28, 2024

Status: Adopted

Temperament

• Rusty is an athletic and intelligent boy.
• He enjoys opportunities to hang out with his people, go for long leashed walks.
• Rusty came to us straight from 16 months tied outside, because of this, he is still learning manners. He needs reinforcement of his good behaviours.
• Due to his limited time indoors, he could be curious initially in his new home.
• He loves to snuggle on the couch and have your attention.
• Bonds strongly with his people and rewards their efforts with love, loyalty and trust.
• Rusty walks nicely on leash, takes good verbal cues, and greets people politely, but can get over excited. But in time and with consistency, this will be easy to manage.
• Rusty may exhibit some reactivity to other dogs while behind a fence, but rarely reacts on leash, especially if he’s content, and busy.
• Rusty has trouble socializing with other dogs, so interacting with other dogs is difficult, partially because of his herding instincts and his lack of socialization at a young age.

Owner Suitability

• Rusty’s energy level is moderate to high and would benefit from a family that can consistently commit to an exercise and ongoing training regiment. Rusty needs boundaries set immediately in his new home, and ample outlets for his energy and smarts. He would benefit greatly from classes in any canine sport which will also strengthen the bond with his person.
• Rusty does exhibit prey drive; squirrels and birds and smaller animals would likely attract his attention. He needs to live in a home without cats, other small animals or young children.
• He would be a good fit for a home with one or more adults. He could possibly do well in a home with dog-savvy kids around 12 years or older.
• Rusty’s new family would need to recognize the things that stimulate him, resulting in his drive escalating, and understand when it’s time to remove him from the situation. Consistent reinforcement of his good behaviour will be important.
• Rusty spent more than 1 yr of his life tied up. This CANNOT happen in his new home, as he could regress and become unmanageable in the house.
• A fenced yard is a must. Given his natural curiosity and drive, he’ll need a secure space to be off-leash at home to continue to thrive.
• Rusty is not a dog-park dog and is not well-suited to large social gatherings off leash. He is a very sweet and bright boy that would excel in a quiet, routine environment where he can be leash walked daily, with an opportunity to run without other dogs, and to explore, learn and play interactive games.