Harley ~ 13wk Old Shepherd X (On Trial 17/1/22)

Meet Harley - a 13 week old Belgian Shepherd X Boxer who is a big floppy playful softie who loves attention and affection.

Harley is a beautiful puppy with a lovely nature - he is already showing signs that he will become a big boy. He truly loves his humans and loves giving you kisses and having tickles and cuddles. He will happily sleep on your lap, by your side, or on his bed inside or out in the yard. His Foster carer currently works from home and Harley spends most of the day snoozing. Saying that, he has a few moments of madness when he enjoys playing, running around the yard and playing with his toys and you should take the time to play with him so his energy is best directed.

He has been left for up to 6 hours and was a good boy, we keep him in the laundry or garage if we go out for long periods but I believe he would be happy in the yard for a couple of hours at a time, as long as it is secure with shade, water and comfortable places for him to sleep. He has dug one little hole in his foster carers yard but that was in his first couple of days and hasn’t shown any signs of digging since then. He can cry and bark to come in sometimes, especially if he can see you inside. He has learnt to sit, and sits like a good boy while you prepare his food.

Harley is still being toilet trained, and knows to tell you if he needs a wee and as long as you follow his signals he shouldn’t have too many accidents. He sleeps through the night and wakes you up in the morning to let him out for a wee. He is still trying to learn that the grass is the best place to do his business and not the patio, so you will need to be prepared to continue training him.

Like any puppy of his age, Harley is a little bitey when play fighting and with his sharp little teeth he may be best without small children, however saying that he is currently living with a 2 and a 4 year old and loves the attention they give him. Along with the parents they are teaching him to redirect his bites and energy to his toys, and his new family would need to support him with ongoing training. He has learnt to fetch, loves chewing his squeaky toys and will enjoy a run around with you in the yard. we have had a couple of kids toys chewed on while he is learning so you will need to understand and continue with training.

Please note that as Harley is not yet desexed, he is NOT available for out of area adoption and is looking for a home in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, the Hunter Valley or the Central Coast.

He has only recently been vaccinated so has just started enjoying walks out and about. He is interested in the world around him and currently gets tired quite quickly after a 30-40 min walk but as he grows he will need at least one good walk a day. I imagine once he has been trained to recall (which his foster carers have been working on in the yard) he will be great at chasing a tennis ball on his walk. We have taken him to the beach where he has had some successful meetings with other dogs, and is starting to like the water!

Having a puppy of this age means that you need to have time to invest in his early life. We always recommend puppy-training classes to give your new family member the best start in life. All puppies will need plenty of affection, exercise, and training to ensure proper boundaries and routines are established. This will ensure that you get the best family member/friend possible.

Harley is currently in foster care in Port Stephens NSW. His adoption fee is $700 which includes all up to date vet work. Harley will come vaccinated (is due one more booster mid Jan at adopters expense), treated for fleas and worms and microchipped.

If you have any questions about Harley please email his foster carer at kimberleybranch@hotmail.co.uk To apply to adopt Harley, please complete the application here https://tinyurl.com/drnadopt