Cattle dog

Spearfish SD

Description

Fair warning, this is going to be really long. I want to make sure anyone considering has all the information they need to make a well informed decision. Jocko is a special dog who is going to need a very special home. I absolutely adore him, but unfortunately I've done all I can for him, and it's just not working out. Add in some impending life changes, and it looks like I need to find Jocko a home where he can truly be the dog I know is in there somewhere. I don't want him to find himself back in this rehoming situation again, so I'm going to be very particular about who he goes to. Jocko is a three year old full heeler (no papers). I would prefer his new family has experience with cattle dogs, as they can be a very challenging breed. And he is very much a stereotypical heeler. He came to us as a pup from a neglect scenario, and while we have made progress with him (and I know he is capable of so much more), he does come with quite a lot of baggage. But first the good stuff. Jocko is super smart, and is responsive to treats and verbal praise. He loves to be told he is a good boy. He's very affectionate with his chosen people- a total cuddlebug. He has some basic obedience - he will sit, lay, stay for about two milliseconds, and waves hi. He is crate trained, and has made some good progress walking nicely on leash. He gets along with the other dog in the house (and a couple times was able to do well at the dog park). Jocko is healthy, neutered, shots current, no special dietary needs, and will come with his crate, bark collar, etc... Now the challenges. Jocko is reactive and can be aggressive. While we have made progress here (his crowning achievement was the day he sat nicely to the side and allowed a bicyclist to go past us without so much as a peep), Jocko will lose his noodle over cars, people, other animals, leaves, shadows, and individual air molecules. The urge to chase/herd is strong with this one. While he has never been aggressive with me, he has been unable to accept that my children are also in charge, and has displayed aggression towards them. He *cannot* go to a home with children younger than teenagers. Heelers are known to be stubborn, and Jocko is especially stubborn. He really wants to be in charge. He's going to require someone with the time, patience, and experience to be very consistent and firm with him. Otherwise, Jocko will try to steal your dinner from you while you are eating it, 100 nights in a row. Just for a random example. He can't be in a house with cats, or small critters like rodents or birds. Jocko is also a bit like a toddler who gets so worked up about needing to pee that he can't get his pants down in time. He has some piddling issues while we are trying to get out the door. Which is often. He loves to drink, and thus, he pees *a lot*. We've had this issue checked out- he has no UTI, diabetes, kidney problems, etc. The vet thinks that eventually he will stop doing this with age. To sum up, the ideal person/family for Jocko: -Is up for a very rewarding challenge -Has experience with heelers, or at least herding dogs and/or training "difficult" dogs -Has no young children (under about 14) -Has a well fenced yard, or at the *very* least is committed to a lot of daily exercise -Patient, consistent and firm. Have the time available to make him a priority -Would agree to a "trial run" with Jocko, and if for any reason he wasn't working out, be returned to me rather than rehomed again or taken to a shelter. Thanks for taking the time to read. If you're still here and think Jocko would fit into your world, please get in touch.