Rocky

Just a boy, looking for a second chance…

Reference #: 35821
Gender: Male
DOB: 1/9/2023
Breed: Staffordshire X
Background: Surrendered
Adoption Fee: $201
Size: Medium
Desexed: Yes
Rehoming Priority: High

Meet Rocky, a sweet boy looking for a second chance…

About: Rocky will come into your life like Miley Cyrus on a wrecking ball but don’t let this image of him deter you from reading on. Rocky is sweet, sensitive, and super friendly. He is a happy boy who is outgoing and playful. He’s also smart, affectionate, and very engaging with his handlers - he just wants someone to look at him the same way that he looks at a cheeseburger…

Rocky is best suited to someone who has owned dogs before, and he is also suitable for any household or home environment as he is easy-going once he is settled. He would love to go on adventures with you & the family.

Ideal Home: Rocky is best to live in a standalone home, or on a farm/acreage, with a medium to large yard & high secure fencing. He would love having the freedom to be inside as well as outside so that he can spend time with his new family & receive the attention that he deserves.

Family: Rocky is open to meet kids from 12yrs & up, and our reason for this is due to his excitability. Rocky can be very boisterous when meeting new people and will jump, nip and mouth to show you how happy he is to meet you. This behaviour is usually short lived; once he’s met you, he will calm down and await any form of attention you are willing to give him. The plus side is that Rocky is smart so we are actively trying to train his behaviour out of him.

Rocky is also fine to live with people/families who work part-time hours.

Furry Friends: Rocky is open to meet dogs, during his dog assessment he was a little unsure but as the assessment went on, he relaxed. He displays playful, puppy like behaviour and we are going to work on his manners as he can be a little too playful for other dogs.

As we cannot test in this environment, we are unsure how Rocky would go living with, or meeting cats/pocket pets. This would be up to the discretion of his new owners.

Training & Development: Rocky would benefit from post-adoption training such as training at home to cover basic commands & obedience, and group classes for the social aspect. Crate training when he is home alone would be a great skill for him to have as well and long-lasting treats such as Kongs & treat puzzles so that his mind is stimulated if home alone. Rocky does not display any typical signs of separation anxiety in our care, but we have a feeling that he may have a small fear of being left alone, so the treats & crate should provide him with enough to make him feel comfortable.

Treats will be a great training tool as Rocky is not only food/treat motivated, but he also takes them from your hand gently too.

Rocky knows his name (kind of), and also knows ‘sit’, ‘shake’ & ‘down’ commands. With additional training he would be the kind of dog you can take to a dog friendly café or social setting, providing he is desensitised to new environments, people & animals as he loves meeting new faces & making friends.

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: Rocky’s energy needs are high, and he would benefit from exercise, walks, or play time from 30-60mins a day. Rocky walks well on a lead, only pulling in the direction of a point of interest. So, he is best walked on a martingale or harness.

Rocky also loves soft, plush toys.

Staff Comments: Rocky calms down really well after a session of training & engagement. He will always offer a sit when you're approaching him in the yard. Rocky is super smart and will happily self soothe if not being engaged with.

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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.