Freckles

**FRECKLES IS BASED IN PERTH SO A MEET AND GREET CAN BE ARRANGED**

🌤️ A Day in the Life of Freckles 🐾

Meet Freckles, young cattle dog x, and full of brains, personality, and potential. He’s not for everyone, but for the right person, he’s going to be something truly special.

Freckles starts his day with a good stretch, a chat (he’s very vocal!), and a sniff around the yard. He’s a routine guy he feels safest when life is predictable and calm.

After breakfast, it’s time for a walk or a bit of mental stimulation. Freckles needs a job even if it’s just some enrichment games, training time, or slow walks where his brain gets a workout. When he’s under-stimulated or confused by the rules, he can act out. But with structure, he shines.

He lives for calm, firm pats think slow head massages, not rough ruffles. Too much excitement and he gets a bit silly. He’s working on it, and he's come a long way.

The rest of his day? A nap in the sun. A chat with his doggy friend. A bit of backyard patrol. And more naps he’s surprisingly good at switching off once he’s had his needs met.

🐶 Freckles is looking for:
✔️ A male carer who’s calm, confident and consistent
✔️ A home with one other stable dog
✔️ No young kids — he’s still in training
✔️ Indoor access, a secure yard (he doesn’t jump, but he will wander through an open door), and someone who “gets” working breeds

He’s currently in foster care in Perth but needs a new carer due to his dislike of farm animals. His current foster family adore him and are ready to support a smooth handover whether you’re fostering or fostering with a view to adopt. or straight forward adoption.

Freckles isn’t the easy option but he’s the right option for someone who wants a dog with heart, loyalty, and spark.

If you’re looking for a curious, cuddly, and energetic companion, put in an application and see if we’re a match! 🐾

* From the PetRescue website please click on this link: https://safe.org.au/find-a-dog/animal/ND1632/
* On the SAFE website simply click on ‘Apply to Adopt’.

All dogs need a lot of care - working breed dogs just generally need more of it! That's part of the fun for you and me. We’ll develop an amazing bond because of what we do together & I’ll be the most loyal, devoted dog ever!

I’LL RELY ON YOU TO:

1.  EXERCISE ME

Exercise!  Exercise!  Exercise!  We need to wear off our energy. We're bred to spend long days working, using our brains to solve problems, so we have a strong drive to be active and mentally stimulated. If we’re not working, we need help to use up that energy.

2.  PROVIDE ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES

We have very active minds & are super smart. Activities in the community include flyball, agility courses, herding & search & rescue. There are lots of enrichment activities you can provide for me at home, too. I'd love to work for my food every day instead of just being given it. You could do things like make food puzzles, or hide treats for me to sniff out and find, give me lovely big frozen blocks of stock or an ice block with a chicken wing in the middle. And what about throwing one of those soft type dog frisbees that don’t hurt your teeth? And games of fetch where you teach me to drop the toy instead of turning it into a tug of war. Yeah!

3.  BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR BOUNDARIES

Consistent, clear boundaries mean I’ll always knows the right way to behave eg if you don’t want me in the kitchen, teach me to sit outside the entry. It’s confusing if you allow me in the kitchen one day & the next make me stay out. Keep me off the sofa & human beds. Give me my own bed & make it clear that is my space. If you let me break a rule once, I'll probably break it again. 

4. TRAIN ME

Teach me these basic commands as they’ll get us through any situation:  sit, down, stay, come, down, no, stop & leave it. Let’s practice them every day so I’m always primed to obey what you tell me to do. Use positive reinforcement for training. Negative training may lead to fear & aggression. Reward me with treats or pats when I pay attention or perform a command correctly. Don't punish me for unwanted behaviour. Instead, redirect my thoughts when I’m doing something you don’t want me to do eg if I chew on something you don’t want me to have, take it away, but trade it for a chew toy. When training, be happy & excited.

5.  SOCIALISE ME

Socialise me from the start! Introduce me to as many people, places, animals, sounds & smells as possible. I will be well adjusted because of it. If I start any herding tendencies, speak to the rescue or a trainer to nip it in the bud as early as possible.
 
NOTES:
Adoption fee includes vet check, first vaccination*, flea and worm treatment, microchipping and sterilisation at a SAFE approved vet at 6 months of age.

*Puppies and dogs may require further vaccination(s) to complete the full vaccination course. This will be at the cost of the new owner and is not included in the adoption fee.

6 GREAT REASONS TO ADOPT FROM SAFE:

1. Lifetime Support: If you can no longer care for your adopted pet, please inform SAFE, and we will do our best to help you find a suitable solution.
2. Discounted airfares: if applicable
3. Adoption fee includes vet check, first vaccination, microchip and desexing
4. Foster care instead of cage confinement, ensuring lots of love and socialisation
5. Speak directly with my foster carer
6. Quick response to your enquiry

APPLY TO ADOPT ME

Am I the one you have been looking for? Click the link and fill out the application with as much detail as possible. The more information you provide, the easier the adoption process will be, hopefully bringing us together sooner!