Howard
Reference Number: 36508
Background: Stray
Breed: Medium Cross Breed
Gender: Male
DOB: 22/5/2024
Size: Medium
Weight: 24kg
Desexed: Awaiting Desex
Adoption Fee: $401
Requirements:
Experienced owners
Must meet all family members in the home
Kids (8yrs+)
Open to meet other dogs
Must meet all dogs in the home
Commands I know:
Sit
Drop
Meet Howard,
Howard is a bright and bubbly boy with a heart full of love and a tail that never stops wagging! This gorgeous guy is bursting with personality - he’s friendly, outgoing, affectionate, and always ready to bring a little sparkle to your day. Howard is best suited to experienced dog owners who understand the needs of a clever, confident boy like him — and in return, he’ll give you a lifetime of tail wags, loyal friendship, and endless love.
Howard is the perfect fit for active individuals or families who love to get out and about. Whether it’s a morning walk, a weekend hike, or a game of fetch in the yard, he’s always keen to join in on the fun! He’s also a smarty-paws who loves a bit of mental stimulation - so get ready for some fun training sessions and puzzle games.
Although Howard is super social and loves meeting new people, he’s also got a beautifully independent streak. He’s happy to entertain himself when you’re busy, and he fits in easily to different household environments thanks to his adaptable nature. Howard’s gentle soul and agreeable attitude make him a delight to have around. He’s the kind of dog who makes every day a little brighter, just by being his sweet, silly, engaging self.
Ideal Home: Howard is suitable to live in a standalone home or a farm/acerage, with a medium to large sized yard and high, secure fencing.
Family: Howard is open to meet kids from 8 years and up. Reason for this is simply because of his size and his play style as he may accidently knock smaller kids over.
Howard is fine to live with people who work full-time or part-time. He is independent and able to spend time on is own without any issues. He can be in the yard on his own too, but would also love to be inside with his new family on occasion.
Furry Friends: Howard is open to meet other dogs. During his dog assessment he was very eager to interact. He had a loose body, big wagging tail and play bows were exchanged. However, he was slightly timid when he first met the other dog but he warms up very quickly. He is a very playful boy but may be too playful for calmer dogs.
As we cannot test in this environment, we are unsure how Howard would go living with/meeting cats & pocket pets. This would be up to the discretion of his new owners.
Training & Development: Howard would benefit from post-adoption training such as training at home to cover basic commands/obedience. Group classes would also be nice for Howard so that the dog social skills that he already has don't go to waste.
With additional training and time to settle into a new routine, Howard could be the type of dog that you can take to a dog friendly café or social setting.
Howard is still learning his name, but he knows commands such as: sit and drop. He is food motivated too, and is gentle when taking treats from you - so having treats on you during training to mark good behaviour would be an excellent idea.
We always recommend post-adoption training whether it be at home or with a professional. Training doesn’t have to be a chore – it can be a fun experience for you both, it doesn’t have to take long & is a great way for you to bond with your new pal.
Play: Howard has mid-range energy needs & would benefit from exercise, play, or walks from 30-60mins a day to keep him healthy and content. Howard loves personal play with his handlers, he also likes to play with squeaky toys and soft toys.
Howard walks well on lead, but may spontaneously get the zoomies. He is best to be walked on either a collar and lead or harness.
Staff Comments: Howard is a big boy but he is also very gentle and endearing. He gently licks your hand for attention. He's not pushy or needy. He is energetic and loves to have spontaneous zoomies. He also likes to meet and make new friends boy people friends and dog friends.
The 3-3-3 Rule of Adopting a Dog
Post Adoption Life: With all animals it’s important to understand that going into a new environment with new people may not be as seamless as we want it to be. It’s important to know that these animals have unknown histories - most are left in the shelter by their owners. The information we have is from observing the animal’s behaviours & reactions to certain stimuli whilst in our care. Adopted animals can take up to 3 months to properly decompress from post-shelter life & a lot of behaviours & quirks may surface during this time. All that we ask is that their new owners have an open mind & are patient.
