ZZeus

ZZEUS

LINK TO APPLICATION FORM
https://forms.gle/4xMyjsPosAggKu8D7

If your vision of an ideal soulmate is a broad chested, big boned, heavy breathing, wet and slobbery smiling faced goofball, then you are about to find your perfect match with this adorable big boofhead, Zzeus. Unbelievably, at only 12 months old, Zeus has been let down by humans not once, but twice in his short life - and so finding him his true forever home with an owner as loving and devoted as he is, is our absolute priority. We simply cannot afford to make a mistake with this, and only the very best, most stable home will be chosen for our precious big boy. Zzeus is delightfully happy, perfectly playful

and perhaps a teeny tiny bit kooky-looking. He is the perfect dog to take on a short daily adventure in the great outdoors before settling down and spending the rest of the day curled up on the couch together. This gorgeous guy came into foster care with wild, terrified eyes, panting nervously and pacing restlessly. However after only a short time in foster care, Zzeus has lost his look of terror and has quickly settled into life as a family pet. Whilst his distinct brachycephalic nose and adorable underbite (oh, and did we mention those slobbery jowls?) pointing to his primary ancestry as a boxer, he also has hints of mastiff or staffy background. His smooth, caramel-coloured coat speckled with chocolate flecks just begs to be patted, and stroking his soft floppy ears are a surefire way to relieve the stress at the end of even the toughest day. This guy really is a special dude, and we know that with the right owner, he will quickly mature into a top notch member of canine society.

Beautiful Zzeus is a Boxer x who is a larger size med boy

Zzeus has been fostered with three large boisterous resident dogs and two small foster puppies. Whilst clearly terrified when he first arrived, he bravely faced all three resident dogs without a single growl and warily made himself at home in his new pack. He quickly discovered the joy of chasing and wrestling with his best buddy, the resident blue heeler, but is also very respectful of the two less tolerant dogs. He has pushed his luck a couple of times with the oldest and grumpiest dog and received a very curt rebuke for his trouble - but he has taken his punishment very graciously, becoming immediately submissive without a snap or growl. Despite his age difference with the puppies (and obvious size difference!), Zzeus immediately reverted to full-blown puppy mode, pouncing at them and throwing himself on the floor inviting them to play. The puppies were originally terrified and screamed blue murder whenever he even looked at them, but as the days passed, they became more comfortable with him and loved playing chasey and wrestling games with him. Zzeus just loves other dogs and could happily live with a female canine companion in his new home. Due to his size and exuberance (and in the interests of keeping his new owner’s precious walls and furniture in one piece), any new sibling would need to be friendly, mature and stable in order to enjoy Zzeus’ playing style whilst still being able to clearly let him know when it’s time to settle.

Zzeus has also been fostered with three resident cats and has been very well behaved around them. He has shown the usual puppy curiosity in them and doesn’t mind shoving his face into their fur to make them run but he is clearly not a cat chaser.

Zzeus’ foster home has four children aged above 10 years and he enjoys their company however he does seem to gravitate more towards the adults in the home and this should be taken into consideration for anyone looking to adopt a dog primarily as a child’s pet. Zzeus has been exposed to sheep, horses, cows, alpacas and kangaroos whilst in his foster home. He has shown the usual puppy interest in them as large, strange animals however he has shown no signs of wanting to chase them - even when his naughty foster brothers and sisters have headed off after a rabbit or kangaroo, Zzeus has come back immediately when called. He has been walked each day whilst in care, mostly off lead in the back paddocks near his foster home. Zeus has also been walked on a harness and lead around the neighbourhood streets. Considering he walks with 2-3 other big dogs at a time, Zzeus has done a fantastic job on the lead, walking at a nice pace without dragging you down the street. At his normal walking pace, Zzeus shows off the classic hip swagger that lovers of large dogs will recognise and adore (if you know, you know, right?). As he is still a pup and doesn’t have much spatial awareness yet, he does weave a little bit when walking and often manages to somehow get himself caught up under your feet. For this reason he will need an owner who is steady on their feet as he can definitely be a trip hazard. But he is so placid, and tries so hard to be a good boy when out walking - we have no doubt that with a little more practice, he will make a fantastic walking companion when he is fully mature.

During the day, Zzeus can spot a comfy couch a mile away and will make a beeline for it - all the better if his foster mum is sitting down because he gets to rest his ginormous head in her lap. He sleeps in the garage at night and happily heads out to bed with a treat without whining or crying. He sleeps soundly all night without needing to go to the toilet.

Zeus currently eats one meal a day of Prime roll and premium dry food. He enjoys raw bones and treats such as cooked chicken and sausages when doing any training. Having never cared for a boxer before, his foster mum has taken great delight in giving him treats and marvelling at the way his chunky little mouth opens and closes around treats like the bucket of a front end loader - and he is oh so gentle, never snatching a treat from their hands.

Zzeus came into foster care already knowing how to sit for treats and his general behaviour is excellent. True to his breed, he is a good guard dog and will bark to alert you to someone at the front door. Zzeus can give a few nervous barks when someone he doesn’t know enters the house. As with any nervous dog, new people in his space should ignore him completely, move quietly around him and not try to call him to them. Once he feels safe and secure in your presence, he is your devoted shadow. Even though he is a slobbery breed, he is not a big licker or kisser - instead he would much rather lean against you for a head rub, or even better, throw himself at your feet and roll over on his back, looking up at you with his gorgeous googly eyes begging for you to pat his chest.

Zzeus has only been in the car a couple of times and is happy to jump in and stay in the back seat. He shows no signs of travel sickness.

Zzeus seems to be fully toilet trained however he did have a couple of toileting accidents on his first day in care - no doubt due to nervousness. It’s possible he may have a couple of toileting accidents when he first goes to his new home but this should resolve itself in a few days.

We are looking most importantly for someone who recognises that Zeus has had a rough and tumultuous life so far - he is going to need some time to settle in. We ask that you give him space and don’t expect him to throw himself at you with gratitude on day one. He has had his heart broken twice already, and who can blame him for being wary of giving it away so quickly again. But Zzeus is truly a good, good boy and once he knows that you are his person, he is going to give you 100% of his huge heart.

Zzeus is a classic placid large dog with a huge sense of fun - he just loves playing with toys and chasing balls, especially bouncy balls. Breed experience with boxers is preferred so that his quirky personality can be celebrated, whilst boundaries and discipline are maintained.