About Phinney

Phinney is a sweet loving 1 year and 5 month year old Australian Shepherd and Labrador Retriever mix.��%BD%A0 My partner and I recently got him from Tacoma Humane Society.��%BD%A0��%BD%A0��%BD%A0We live in Seattle and think he may be finding the city overstimulating. He is very friendly with most people, but he has shown some hesitancy about some men.��%BD%A0 He was very comfortable with the��%BD%A0male employees at the shelter though, and he immediately trusted me (also male). He seems to like kids too, but he may be too large and full of energy for very small kids (55-60 lb). Phinney is showing some reactivity with dogs, though it usually seems like he is just overly excited to meet them. Per the shelter, he has a positive history of playing with other dogs and he did well in their play groups. He spent the 1st year of his life living with his sister (they came into the shelter together). He has greeted other dogs on leash successfully, and he has had a playdate with another dog that went well. On leash with us he seems to get overstimulated around other dogs and has barked (though he more frequently he just whines out of excitement). He is doing better with this each day though!��%BD%A0 We are working on clicker training (he is really getting it) and counter conditioning (75% of the time he will now turn to us for a treat if he sees another dog).��%BD%A0 Will go over everything we have been working on with him with you. My partner and I wonder if the reason he is having a hard time is that he has never been away from his sister - he might benefit from being with another dog in the home. Phinney is so smart and we can tell he is trying so hard. He is doing great with sit, stay, lie down, and waiting at thresholds. He is house trained if kept on a schedule. He is cuddly and leans on you with his big body to get pets. He is bouncy when he plays and has not been destructive in our home at all. He is not at all resource guarding (we can take his chews out of his mouth) and he even seems��%BD%A0to enjoy��%BD%A0baths. He is crate trained and is so comfortable in his crate that he will go into it at night as soon as we indicate that it's bedtime. He seems to only bark��%BD%A0when he is trying to communicate that he is scared, and does not bark back at dogs if they bark at him through a window or fence. We took him to a Sniffspot and he loved it - I think he would love to have a backyard he can decompress in. He does not appear to be territorial of our home. He can be energetic but also loves to sleep and cuddle.��%BD%A0 We love Phinney so much, but feel we are not meeting his needs. We want what is best for him and are looking for someone who could give him the support he deserves.��%BD%A0 We would also be willing to provide his existing crate, toys, food, etc to help with his transition.��%BD%A0 If you are interested in Phinney, let us know! Video of Phinney: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OxFZKMHe7r8

King County
Seattle, Washington