Barney

* Located in Gordonvale*

Dog friendly: No
Cat friendly: No
Child friendly: No
Toilet training: Yes
Crate Trained: Yes
Energy level: High

“Hey I’m Barney. Don’t let my size fool you, I’m full of bravado. My move into foster care was a little overwhelming. I came from a loving home and at the time I didn’t understand why I had to move. I know now that they loved me so much that they wanted a better situation for me even though it was absolutely heartbreaking for them. My foster carer has promised to only let me go to a home that is well suited to me.

I’m not use to sharing my home or my person with other dogs. My foster mum is teaching me some leash manners and some impulse control. She said we are going to play this really fun game where I chase a fuzzy toy attached to a string as I fancy myself a bit of a rat catcher, it feels so natural to me. When I get worked up I become quite vocal and I tend to make bad decisions. This make me unsuitable to attend off leash areas or dog parks.”

Breed experience is essential if applying for Barney. People tend to be drawn to terriers due to their size but there’s more to them than that. To give you an idea as to why we request breed experience here’s some info from the AKC website: Feisty and energetic are two of the primary traits that come to mind for those who have experience with Terriers. In fact, many describe their distinct personalities as “eager for a spirited argument.” Bred to hunt, kill vermin and to guard their families home or barn.

Prospective owners should know that terriers make great pets, but they do require determination on the part of the owner because they can be stubborn and have high energy levels.

Barney’s home environment is going to be the determining factor to him successfully living a happy life and preventing undesirable behaviours. He needs plenty of room to run and burn off excess energy, preferably in a controlled manner as this will exercise the brain as well. Games with rules benefit your dog as they are mentally stimulating.

His ideal set up would be in a low foot traffic area, fences to the back with a gap free fence so he can not see through. Mesh, wire or large gaps between pailings won’t work for Barney. A see through fence will result in fence running and barking, which will trap Barney is a constant state of arousal making him overly reactive to his environment. Crating, especially at night, is a must for Barney. He is both crate and kennel trained.

As always we recommend attending obedience with Canine Training School. Not only does obedience school help you build a bond with your new dog, it also offers some ‘trouble shooting’ as you have access to dog trainers whom you can ask questions and they can help you set your expectations from the start.