About Cooper

We are looking for a compassionate and attentive forever home for our family dog, Cooper. We are relocating internationally and cannot take him with us. A forever home for Cooper would need to have love and patience to offer in efforts for ongoing behavior support for fear reactivity due to past abuse. Cooper is a 4-year-old mixed breed (turning 5-years-old November 12th). We adopted him after he was abused as a puppy. He has lived with us and our daughter happily for the past 3 years. We and the shelter he came from have guessed that he is some combination of Aussie or Kelpie and a German Shepherd. He is 45 pounds and in good health. He is neutered and up to date on essential vaccines such as rabies. He can be fearful and reactive to strangers. If the stranger ignores Cooper and lets him meet them on his own terms he is able to become fast friends. If the stranger approaches to pet or let him smell them, Cooper may cower or growl. Cooper is fearful of other dogs and pets. If another dog approaches him he tucks his tail and growls. He has never bitten another dog. He needs to be in a home where he is the only dog or animal roaming free. He is an inside dog and uses a dog door. Cooper has lots of energy but loves to chill as well and be at your side or warming your feet getting pets. His favorite activities are any type of fetch, running, tug of war, or water play. He goes nuts for frisbees and balls. He loves to chase our hose water or play with our daughter in the water. He has been reliably gentle, patient, spatially aware, and attentive with our daughter and a variety of other toddlers, babies, and older children he has met during play dates and time spent at the park. No matter what kids do (and kids do all sorts of random, loud, and crazy things) he has always been relaxed and happy around them. He does not have separation anxiety. He has never been destructive to property and has always distinguished between his toys and our daughter's toys. Our family is moving internationally and we are not able to take Cooper with us. Recently, our family stress after a family trauma weighed on Cooper and increased his fear. During a few stressful instances (e.g. a garage sale with lots of strangers around, instances of attempts to handle him when strangers were around) he nipped at us to get us to give him space. He did not break the skin. An initial behaviorist evaluation confirmed a professional opinion that he is in no way aggressive, but simply fear reactive under extreme stress. These events led us to start him on clonidine, CBD oil, and Prozac to reduce his fear and stress. He is an absolute sweetheart and he has returned to his happy self. We expect with behavior training support he will remain on Prozac alone long term and perhaps CBD or other anxiety support for stressful events like the vet. Please enjoy these photos of our loving family dog who is looking for a forever home that can accommodate his needs.

Linn County
Albany, Oregon