Bruce

I'm a BIG boy, but don't let that scare you....I'm a gentle giant. At the moment I'm in foster care with 6 other dogs (I'm the biggest) and I get along great with all of them. I understand the little ones are a little intimidated by my size at times, but I enjoy having a wrestle with the bigger ones.

My foster mum has been working hard at teaching me some new commands and so far, I have learnt...'stay', 'come', 'away', 'outside', 'wait', 'no', 'on your bed', 'off' and name recall. I'm also learning 'settle' and 'sit' and am sure I'll have those mastered in no time because I love to learn and please you. I will sit and wait patiently for my dinner until told 'good boy' (which means I can then eat!)

Although I can be a bit food possessive at times, it is not food aggression. My foster mum has been working on food etiquette which is something I've never been taught before, so everyday I'm improving with this. I'm extremely food driven which makes it so much easier to train me.

I'm currently living with older children and very much enjoy their attention. My whole body wags with excitement when patted but I'm learning that I need to stay calm to keep the pats coming. Obviously due to my puppy like nature and size, older children would be a better option for me and they will be less likely to hype me up too much.

I'm learning quickly that toys can provide me with endless entertainment so to prevent me from boredom chewing, rope toys and wood chew toys will be a good choice for me. I also love a good game of Tug-o-war with my furry friends!

My foster mum is amazed at how well behaved I am inside the home....I haven't displayed any destructive behaviours while in care and am toilet trained. I have learnt to use a doggie door so I can take myself outside when I need to do my business and am happy to follow you wherever you go and find a comfy place to lie down. I have my own bed in my foster mum's room where I sleep at night with no issues at all.

Do you enjoy going on hikes and adventures? Well I do! I'm super easy to walk on leash and won't pull you over. A hill or two at the start of a walk will easily get rid of any excess energy and then i'll happily stroll next to you. Barking dogs won't distract me from our outing together, but motion stimulus (bikes, running cats etc) do get my attention. This can be easily sorted with some simple desensitising training. I love to go for a drive in the car and will lay down happily across the back seat and have a nap until we reach our destination.

Ideally, being that I'm a pretty easy going dog, I would adapt to many home environments. My energy level is what you would call, medium, and would be quite happy with two walks each day. I'm still a pup and will need a balanced, assertive, yet gentle leader who understands how to raise a dog. Are you happy to implement boundaries and routine, but also give affection?

Essentially, the world you give Bruce, is the dog he'll give you! If he's surrounded by chaos and boundless excitement, then he will be chaotic and excited. Give him a calm environment with good leadership, then he will be calm and listen. You will LOVE Bruce the Spruce Moose :)

Bruce is in foster care at Blue Haven on the Central Coast, NSW and available for adoption now. You have to meet this gorgeous boy to see why we all love him so much.