Hunter ~ Kelpie x Labrador (15/10/16)

Meet Hunter, Hunter is a Labrador x Kelpie around 1 years old.He is great with everybody; kids included. Hunter can be a little unsure at first and will appear timid, but as soon as you let him know its ok, he’s all good.
Hunter is friendly towards dogs – he wants to say hi to every dog he passes. He hasn’t been tested on cats, chickens or pocket pets, but I would advise against being homed with them due to his breed; but if this is the case, I’d recommend supervision/separation ‘til he perhaps gets used to them.
Hunter is in a family home with 4 adults, 1 child and 2 family dogs. He is an inside/outside dog. He has been sleeping inside of a night and after he’s been outside to toilet he will quite happily stay on his bed all night. He’s a fan of the creature comforts. During the day it’s a mix of inside & outside, but he is quite content to laze about in the sun when the doors are shut.
Hunter is an energetic dog that loves (and needs) regular walks. He prefers to sniff and wander rather than play with a ball, although tug-o-war is probably his favourite game and chewing bones would be his favourite past-time. He does have an active mind and is constantly sniffing around, so mental and sense stimulating games would help wear him out, especially if food is involved.
He is a loveable dog and knows how to put on those sheepish eyes when he wants to, but at the “flick of a switch” he can become quite animated and goofy. He’s a pretty quiet dog all round and generally only barks when someone turns up to the house.
He is not an attention demanding or seeking dog, but does love a good pat and a cuddle and will come to you to check in. For Hunter, stability and love is important. He just wants to be part of a family, whether it’s with one person or ten. He loves to be around people and to be included in their lives. Unfortunately he was let down by the ones he loved unconditionally, so it has taken him a bit to trust family life again and to feel that he belongs. The calmness that he exudes now compared to when he first arrived is incomparable. He is so much more relaxed and at ease. He even knows the quiet rules when he comes to yoga.
Hunter would benefit from another playful doggy companion and/or an owner that is home more often than not. Because of his less than ideal past, Hunter will need a secure yard with 6ft fencing, especially in a suburban area, because he can jump. He doesn’t jump to roam the streets; it seems to be a reaction to being left alone by his humans and obviously a bad habit from his past. This has certainly improved with stability and love in his life. I get the sense that Hunter loves space, so would thrive in a large backyard and even though 6ft fencing is recommended for a suburban yard, I also feel that Hunter would love acreage. He loves to sniff and explore in the bush when we take him for a walk and he doesn’t stray too far; always coming back.
He is food driven, so training with treats is easy. He knows how to sit and will stay for a little bit, but the thought of a treat gets the better of him. His name recall is pretty good and doesn’t stray too far when off a lead – he loves his walks/runs through the bush. He can become quite focused when he’s sniffing or has found something, so a few extra “Hunter’s” are needed. He can pull on his lead initially due to excitement and probably more so because he’s competing with the other two dogs, so I would still recommend more training and a harness; plus lots of treats…
Hunter is such a delight to be fostering and is truly a great companion dog.
For more information or to meet Hunter, please contact his foster carer Olivia on 0488 749 720 or email horvat13@gmail.com. Hunter is in foster care in the Cessnock area, NSW and is available for adoption interstate.

Hunter's adoption fee is $400 and he is desexed, vaccinated, treated for fleas and worms, microchipped, and lifetime registered. You can see all our available dogs at www.dogrescuenewcastle.