About Shadow

This is not an easy post for our family to make, but we have made the difficult decision that we need to find a loving, suitable new home for our 2-year-old fur baby, Shadow. Shadow has been part of our family going on a year now. This decision certainly doesn't come without a lot of thought and emotion. We want to find him a home where his personality, needs, and quirks will be understood and where he can receive the love and attention he deserves. We believe in being completely transparent about both his good qualities and the areas where he may need a little extra patience or understanding. Our biggest priority is finding the right fit for him, not simply finding him a new home quickly. Shadow was a rescue from a nearby shelter. They told us he was surrendered trapped in a horse trailer and covered in his own urine. I do not think he had the best start, but without more information I do not want to judge his previous owners too harshly. A little about Shadow: The Pros ��%BD��%BD%BD%9D%A4��%BD��%BD%BD��%BD��%BD%BD%8F * Shadow loves everyone he meets * Shadow also loves other dogs but does have reactivity(excited barking and typical border collie behavior) when little dogs get picked up * He is eager to please * Shadow is not reactive unless he is having crate anxiety ( we have tested the door bell, knocking etc and he does very well) * he is very trainable, eager to learn , and yearning to work!!! * Shadow now knows sit, wait, down, place, 'kennel up', heel, here (he comes to my waist and looks up to me, although it is still a warm in progress as he gets too excited and jumps on me instead!) The Cons / Things to Know: * We have worked extensively on his crate manners, we have gotten him to 'kennel up' on cue and he know when we say, 'quiet time' he should go to his kennel. But despite our efforts, he does not do well for extended periods of time. He will literally take his crate from one side of the room to the other side of the room if he is left alone. He does well with the door open when we stay nearby, but if we have to leave him home alone he becomes reactive. * We also worked with him on his impulsive behavior and 'stalking like' behavior toward our cats when we first got him. He did the typical border collie stare etc. We worked with him slowly to desensitize and establish they were part of our pack. This seemed to have curbed his behavior, as he does not become reactive to stray cats when on walks, so with proper introductionsand training I believe he would do well in a home with other cats. * Shadow is also reactive to cars. Again, typical herding breed behavior but we haven't worked out those kinks yet. We work with him by telling him to wait, and sit when we see a car. We redirect with praise and affection. He is not treat motivated. * Shadow does know the place command but he has never been fond of the dog bed so he will not do a duration 'place' successfully. * He does not like sudden movements, brooms, or doorways. Overall, he is an anxious dude. We thought this was mostly due to the shelter setting but we came to conclusion that this is just his personality. As much as we want him to stay with us forever, our household is not the calm environment he needs to calm his nervous system. I believe Shadow needs a home with * less hustle and bustle * calm routines * No small children ( when my younger kiddos play, Shadow will hide under my bed or immediately seems anxious) He also likes to herd my 7yr old which caused him to become fearful of shadow. We have been working with Shadow on this, but I feel like a home with no small kids is best for him. We are looking for a responsible, loving home that understands that pets are family and is prepared to give Shadow the time, patience, and care he needs. This would include the financial commitment as well. He will need continued training to help him be the best dog he can be. He has so much potential!!! This is not a decision we are taking lightly. We simply want what is best for Shadow, even if that means finding him happiness somewhere else. Please reach out with any questions or if you think Shadow might be the right addition to your family. ��%BD��%BD%BD%9D%A4��%BD��%BD%BD��%BD��%BD%BD%8F

Contact

Chesterfield County
Chester, Virginia

Allison Clance: 8046610323

Call Now Email