This gorgeous boy was adopted from us in August 2024 but sadly needs to find a more suited home since small children have arrived.

This is what his mum has to say about him:

Rudy

Rudy is a bright, affectionate and mischievous boy who is sadly in the wrong environment in his current home. He is 2 years old and still quite an adolescent, strikingly handsome with a short, all black coat. He is tall, athletic, weight approx 36kg. Rudy has no health problems or allergies and is castrated.

Rudy loves to learn and is quite food and toy motivated. He is a high energy dog who loves the woods, the beach and anywhere with water to splash about in. He is happy to be left alone for up to 4 hours and is clean and non destructive in the house. Rudy loves his toys, be it fetch, tug, chewing or generally zooming and rolling around with them. Rudy is generally friendly with people and I would say less suspicious of strangers than your average shepherd. Rudy travels well in a car crate with a blanket over it to avoid over stimulation. With firm boundaries Rudy walks well in a halti headcollar.

Rudy shares his home with young children and although a bit of a bull in a china shop he is generally very good – he loves to play with my pre school age daughter and preferentially brings his ball back to her to throw. He has lived happily with an older staffie (she passed away) and enjoyed the company for romping and wrestling. He is leash reactive to dogs out and about but could potentially live with another dog or have play dates assuming they were of similar size and assertive enough not to take any nonsense.

Rudy had a trial to become a police dog and did better in the assessment process than some of the specially bred candidates, however his concentration around other dogs was the main barrier to him being selected. He is very capable, and would make a fine companion for an intrepid person/household or a dog sports enthusiast to keep him occupied in body and mind. He is a cuddly boy and has learned how to relax in the evening. He sleeps downstairs in a crate where he is very happy to flop out.

Rudy needs a new home because he impulsively grabbed another dog as she ran past him, resulting in serious injury. This was unexpected and not an act of aggression, more a mix of hyperstimulation from the movement and frustration because he was on lead. Unfortunately, this kind of unpredictability is not compatible with living safely with small children who do a lot of running around and it’s not a risk that can be controlled for. Rudy has bitten me when he was about a year old but this was more me getting caught in the crossfire as he was reacting to the sudden appearance of an off lead dog barking aggressively at him whilst he was on lead. He bit my husband a day or two after he was castrated and feeling very stressed and out of sorts; this scenario was related to resource guarding a toy and has never been repeated.

In conclusion, Rudy is a much loved dog with a few quirks and a lot of potential who will make a fantastic companion for outdoors adventures and cuddles on the sofa. He could live with adults or teenage children, and potentially another dog of suitable character. He will be rehomed with all his equipment including car and home crates and bed.

Apply to adopt

Location:

Caldicot Wales

Sex:

Male

Age:

2

Neutered:

Yes

Good with children:

Yes - Older Only

Good with other dogs:

Careful introduction

Good with cats:

Unknown