Tuatara

🏡🐶AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION🐶🏡
Name: Tuatara
Breed: American Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix
Gender: Male
Size: Large- 40kg
🎂 DOB: 01/07/2023
🐱 Cats: Maybe- if dog savvy
🐶 Dogs: Yes
🧒 Children: Yes, 10+ dog savvy
🏃🏻‍♀️ Energy level: Moderate
📌 Location: Croydon Hills, VIC
🆔 Microchip: 956000014530819
PER: RE100115
Not available for interstate adoption.

Tuatara is pretty quiet for a young dog of his breed and age. He is currently in care with a geriatric dog, a female mentor dog and a smaller cattle dog mix foster as well as 3 cats all of whom he gets along with.

He loves to run and play though at 40kg, he doesn’t know his size and can bowl the smaller dog over when rough housing. He is cat curious and loves to sniff and lick them, but needs work on understanding their cues to leave them be and is shocked when he gets a thunder paw or hiss. If they run off, he chases them until they are out of reach, but there is no intention with him other than to play, but needs to learn the cues.

He is toilet trained and is fine to be left outside during the day when his carer is out. He doesn’t cry or wreck anything, though he has dug some small holes in sneaky places which his carer believes is in response to being given bones to chew on while she is out. He doesn’t bury them though. He is halfway there…..he has a bit to learn as a young fella.

Tuatara’s ideal home would be one with a mentor dog, of equal size, and probably female though he has not attempted to be dominant with any of the dogs in his foster home which are all female. He takes instruction from the resident mentor dog, but usually after she has a nip to back up her growl. He doesn’t challenge her, he learns. So he is social, happy to see dogs, play with them, but they need to teach him a few manners about living in the same space and about space generally. He happily comes inside of an evening and couches out while the others all sleep in their favourite spots.

He has slept in various areas since in care. In a crate a couple of nights (he’s not keen but doesn’t carry on), on his carer’s bed one night, and outside a couple of times where he chose not to use one of two warm, decked out kennels, but slept on a bed his carer set up between the kennels, under cover, wearing a coat. He was outside due to not settling and wanting to jump around because the cats were moving around. The next night he came in and settled when told, so he learned that lesson.

He would be fine with children as he is gentle when not running around the yard and does not jump up. We are told he was used to or lived with kids in his previous life. I would recommend children over 10 due to his size, but within the home he usually sleeps or wanders around to see what’s happening in the kitchen at tea time.

Tuatara’s ideal home would include people who know and love his breed, or who are large dog experienced. Resident mentor dog is a must, he must have a friend and preferably female. He can live with dog savvy cats that have a place to get away if he’s being a pesky big-little brother with personal space issues. He ideally would benefit from some training at puppy school however if his people are experienced in this area, that would suffice. A family with children would either need to be large dog savvy but if not, as previously suggested, over the age of 10 would be ideal. This is why training is important, as if he follows instructions, he will know to be gentle around them. Bearing in mind, he is still only a 1yo pup.

He would need to be part of the family, be allowed inside the house and have a bed inside for nights. He would love daily walks, but again, training will teach him not to pull on the lead when he sees other dogs. He just wants to meet every dog he sees and being a breed that is often misunderstood by those who don’t know them, people will often avoid any contact with their dogs. Socialising at puppy school will be an excellent way for him and his people to learn and teach him the social skills that are appropriate when meeting small and large dogs and allow him to continue to enjoy the company of other dogs he meets along the way.

He has the very basic of learning at this point and will sit (especially for a treat or titbit), outside, on your bed and being told no. He can be playful and cheeky and mischievous and will pinch things that aren’t his, like leads, or something on the kitchen table, just because. He is supervised inside the house so he hasn’t destroyed anything, but being a puppy, that’s likely what he would do with anything he finds. Chew toys (tough ones) and big bones keep him happily occupied for hours. Once his people start to train him, this will also keep him occupied and if there are children in the family, they can participate in this and spend time with him when the adults are busy.

He is very loving and enjoys a cuddle on the couch of an evening, a good back and belly scratch, and lots of kisses and “you’re a good boy” or “you’re so handsome” (he is the most unusual and rare walnut/liver colour and is really stunning) get lots of tail wags. He has a sweet nature and is just a big baby and needs to start living his best life with a family perfectly suited to him. His new home will need a secure yard with good fencing and locked gate/s for his safety.

If you are missing a boof-headed, handsome, smoochy boy in your lives, he’s right here waiting for your application. Don’t miss an opportunity to meet this gorgeous guy.

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