(Adoption Pending) Big boy Justin is a super sweet guy looking for a quiet, laid back home with a dull, suburban yard (the rural life is not for him). Justin is very affectionate and loves, loves, loves people.
Quick Facts About Justin: • 6 yrs-old • Male • Neutered • 100lbs (overweight and dieting) • 1 owner since puppy and currently in a 6 week and counting foster home • Affectionate/Friendly • No bite/aggression history • Housebroken • NOT Crated • Use to Furniture Privileges • On heart worm meds • Microchipped (will need to be updated) • Good with children 8 and older • No cats • Good on leash until he's not (no deer please), and enjoys a daily walk • Can open doors w/ horizontal handles • Has always been an only dog • Little to no grooming history in his initial home • Reactive to deer and other wildlife • Can be left alone in home without destruction
Background: Justin was surrendered to TART by his original owners, a couple and teenagers. As a puppy, Justin had been given to the wife of the couple. He lived in a typical suburban home with a typical wood fenced yard. Current owners advised that they did not have the time or dog skills to provide Justin with the foundation of essential dog basics he needed. Therefore he grew up rather isolated with little training, socialization, or structure. When surrendered Justin had not seen a vet in years and had never been groomed.
A TART volunteer took Justin to a DIY grooming facility and trimmed him up and then on to the vet where he was given all his essentials.
Justin was placed in a wonderful foster to adopt home. This family truly adores Justin, but their rural environment is causing him anxiety and reactivity, especially in regard to the deer that coexist in their neighborhood. Despite their diligent work with him, this anxiety/reactivity is not improving and causes him undue stress. And although Justin lived with cats in his original home, he is also not doing well making peace with the foster’s cats. His current foster family has made the difficult decision to allow Justin to find a quiet home with no cats and no free roaming deer on their lot.
Temperament:
Justin is the sweetest, most lovable of guys but he is prone to anxiety in new situations and/or environments. This guy needs lots of love and attention in a quiet home with a predictable routine. Justin is friendly to visitors. He wants to be a part of everything and will get excited when new people visit. Once he meets everyone, he settles down nicely but stays in the center of the activity. Overall, Justin relishes lazy days chewing on his Kong and taking long naps. He spends about 5 hours alone, uncrated in his home during the weekdays and his foster family frequently return from work to find him still tucked in and snoring in classic Airedale style.
Justin is great/friendly with teenagers and in his original home lived happily with an 8 year old when he first arrived there as a puppy.
Justin's Favorite Things:
• Justin LOVES FOOD. ALL FOOD! Eating is absolutely his favorite thing to do (you can tell by his waistline).
• Justin loves LOVE! He wants to be in the mix when watching TV, eating dinner, lounging, cooking, etc. He wants to snuggle and be love on.
• As mentioned above, Justin loves to sleep...all day, all night.
Justin's Least Favorite Things:
• Justin does not enjoy getting his feet cleaned up, but is improving.
• He hates watching you eat when he is not also eating.
• Justin is not a fan of the heat and likes to keep mid-day walks to a quick pee and then will head back into the AC.
As mentioned, certain things seem to trigger Justin's anxiety, in particular car rides (but not always), new surroundings and situations, and deer. Justin also has a thing about stuffed toys, pillows and stuff beds. He is not destructive with YOUR pillows, but if he has a toy or pillow or bed that is HIS, or given to him, he will tear it up, slobber on it and possibly hump it.
Justin is allowed on furniture but is too overweight to jump up on most of the beds in his foster home, so he has his own covered single mattress on the floor of the master bedroom. He also enjoys sleeping on the family couch and on their teenage boy's low profile bed...especially if there is stinky, dirty teenage boy clothes on it.
Justin Training (Strengths & Weaknesses):
Justin arrived at his foster home not particularly responsive to his name, although they work with him on it. As a nickname they call him “Canoodle” (as he loves a good snuggle) or “Cah-nootter” with some success.
Justin is fully potty-trained. He has had no accidents in his foster home. He will stand at the door and paw when he needs to go out or he will get your attention to follow him in the door if you are in another room.
In normal suburban environments, Justin is good on a leash and enjoyed a daily walk. He has not been to dog parks but his original home had an off-leash area at a nearby school where he was able to roam around. His original owner said that Justin might pull a little at the beginning of a walk like most dogs do, but after a few minutes, he walks calmly by his side.
In his current rural environment, he gets very curious (not aggressive) but extremely excited to come across raccoons, opossum, and especially deer. Even cats and dogs can get this response now though they were not indicated as an issue in his suburban environment. The deer cause him a deep stress that lasts beyond the walk. It's as if he feels he needs to stay in high alert. When Justin is in an overly excited state he loses his normal manners and stops listening to commands that he usually follows. Like many Airedales, Justin is strong so having a relatively physically strong, large dog experienced owner to manage him on walks and other outings (especially those that might be stress producing) is essential.
Justin is smart and trainable and his food motivation is helpful in that regard. He is generally very eager to please.
Justin's Biggest Challenges:
• Justin can play rough and like many Airedales is mouthy. He sometimes has to be told when is taking things too far.
• His anxiety/reactivity to rural surroundings and in particular deer, is currently his biggest challenge. In a less stimulating his reactivity will be much less frequent but there may still be challenging situations now and then that present themselves.
• Justin is big and strong. He needs encouragement returning to his normal, calm demeanor once he's triggered.
Justin's Most Endearing Qualities:
Justin is super affectionate, smart and easy to train. He learns very quickly and is a total love bug. He has had no accidents in the house and can be left alone without destruction or mischief. (The fosters had one pillow fatality early on that stopped once they corrected him). It's wonderful to give him massages and stretches, which he enjoys and serves as a great bonding activity. He has gorgeous, expressive deep brown eyes and is an Airedale through and through.
Ideal Next Home:
Justin would absolutely thrive in a quiet, loving home with no cats and no free roaming deer in the neighborhood. He does not need a huge yard, but a privacy fence would work best for him to keep stimulating triggers out of his view. He needs to be a full family member and included in all home activities. Justin also needs someone committed to helping him reach his weight-loss goals and continue his work on basic training . His ideal home needs to be filled with love and understanding. When you spend time with him, you can see how the deficiencies in his first years of life have shaped some of his current issues and physical challenges. This pup is a wonder, a goofball of love who simply needs some time, patience and loving guidance.
Although Justin is an easy boy in many, many aspects, he ultimately needs an Airedale or large breed experienced owner who has the physical strength and mental tenacity to work with him on conquering his insecurities even though those triggers should be minimal and much more manageable in the right environment. Are YOU who Justin is looking for?
