Fergal

Meet Fergal, a two year old Jack Russell Terrier with a quirky personality and quite a wild history! His backstory involves a near-death experience from falling off a cliff and also an emergency abdominal surgery...

This little guy has been through a thing or two and as a result, he has developed some anxious behaviours which unfortunately has impacted his ability to stay with his family and their newborn child but he is an absolute legend of a dog and we know there's a wonderful person out there waiting to embrace him and help him become his best self. Could it be you?

Fergal is an active dude and needs at least one walk a day. He is lead trained and will sit for treats but he would benefit from ongoing training as he has not yet developed his recall and can be a cheeky little fellow if left off lead. Fergal loves car rides - he would make the perfect companion for an adventurous person with lots of time to spend exploring the world with him.

He does love to admire a good view but be sure to keep clear of cliffs! When Fergal was one year old he was out on a coastal walk with a larger dog when he was accidentally bumped off the edge of a cliff! He fell over 20 metres and suffered a severed concussion which saw him drift in and out of consciousness for almost a week, requiring close veterinary attention and rehabilitation. Thankfully he had no physical injuries and he has made a full recovery but that incident, coupled with an emergency surgery some months later to remove a grass seed from his bladder, has left Fergal feeling quite vulnerable at times and in need of patience and reassurance.

Some of the behavioural changes his family noticed were that Fergal now becomes nervous around large dogs that he doesn't know and he is frightened of loud noises and thunder storms. His anxiety sometimes takes shape in protective behaviours such as barking at people who approach the house and car or chasing small animals that come near his yard. He also doesn't enjoy being around small children as he feels threatened when they encroach on his personal space. For this reason we have excluded applicants with young children or small animals.

Despite all this, Fergal is still a happy chappy and can be a lot of fun! He has a very cuddly side to him too - he loves napping on laps, which makes him the ideal snuggle buddy! He enjoys playing with toys and would benefit from environmental enrichment such as chew toys to keep him entertained, especially if left indoors alone. He would love someone to teach him to play fetch and visit lots of new places for him to sniff!

Fergal would be well suited to someone looking for a full time companion to go on walks and cuddle up on the couch with. Someone who has the time and patience to attend dog training to improve on Fergal's manners and help him grow more confident in social situations. You will be rewarded with a lot of snuggles- and a lot of laughter too as he is very entertaining character. He just needs the right home to flourish!

If you think your home could provide the perfect environment for Fergal then please get in touch!