About Crackerjack

This is an incredibly difficult, but necessary, decision for this individual, so I opted to help out any way I could. They are looking to rehome their 1 year and 7 month old Australian Cattle Dog, Crackerjack, to someone who is truly experienced and equipped to handle his extensive needs and tedious management. It is heavily preferred that potential homes are familiar with the unique temperament and tendencies of Australian Cattle Dogs, or at the very least have experience with herding/working breeds and/or severely reactive dogs. He has developed a habit of urinating in his kennel to prematurely get out, despite having him on a set schedule. He does not have a UTI, or anything of the sorts, this is behavioral and due to severe understimulation and stress, and very likely would be alleviated with the correct mental and physical stimulation for a young cattle dog. He is highly dog reactive - he cannot be around other dogs that he does not know. If there are dogs living with him he MUST be very slowly and cautiously introduced to new dogs (we cannot guarantee he will get along with every dog either, but he does get along with all of the dogs in his current house that he has grown up with.) Even the scent of a strange dog can overarouse him and lead him to start heavily reacting. He has redirected and bitten/nipped the person handling him on multiple occasions during high-stress situations, bruising the skin but never drawing blood. He tends to bite the leash and alligator roll if he cannot make contact with whoever is holding it. He is NOT (at this moment in time) able to refocus or de-escalate once triggered. He nearly pulls his owner to the ground. I can say, despite his reactivity, he does have a solid foundation in basic obedience. While his training hasn't been consistently maintained, he still responds well (obviously when he's in a manageable environment.). He is incredibly handler oriented, intelligent, biddable and eager to please, very affectionate with his loved ones, and enthusiastic about life. He really brings a smile to everyone's face, he's very happy and his energy is contagious. He wants to be included in your day to day life, and with structure, maintenance, and enough mental and physical exercise, I truly feel he can get to that point. He would love to have a 'job' whether that be advanced obedience and trick-training, at-home agility, potentially herding or simulated herding, etc. The truth is, he hasn't been getting the mental or physical stimulation he needs for a good majority of his life. His behavior challenges have become overwhelming for his owner, and they are no longer able to give him the structure and guidance he requires, which, shortly put, isn't fair to him and is deeply affecting him. He deserves someone who understands working breeds and behaviorally complex dogs - someone with the time, patience, and commitment to help him thrive. He is NOT a beginner's dog, and this is not a typical rehome situation. He will need a home with no other dogs or willing to take the amount of time needed to introduce him to dogs (cats he is surprisingly okay with), ideally someone who has a lot of (fenced) space (he is not fully reliable off leash), and, of course, someone who is willing to work with a professional trainer and behaviorist to counteract his issues. He also may benefit from behavioral medication alongside training/behaviorist. In the end, Crackerjack is a good dog with the potential of being someone's best friend and project dog. The unfortunate reality is that his current home and situation just isn't where he needs to be. He is at risk of facing behavioral euthanasia if he cannot find a suitable foster or home soon, as he is not thriving in his current home, and has not found a suitable home yet. Please only reach out if you have experience with high-drive, high-energy reactive dogs and are willing to put in the effort he needs. I want to help give him a chance at the life he deserves, with someone who can help him succeed. Located in southwestern VA USA

Montgomery County
Christiansburg, Virginia