Jax

Jax is a very handsome working line German Shepherd. At almost 4 years old, Jax has found himself homeless in the shelter due to no fault of his own, he has been let down by humans, who have purchased him based on his stunning looks rather than his needs… we won’t let that happen again.

Before being surrendered to the shelter, Jax has been confined to a backyard for the last year. He hasn’t received walks, socialisation, or enrichment, a complete disaster for a young, energetic dog. Jax is a working line shepherd, this means that he has higher enrichment needs both physically and mentally, than your average pet dog. Jax is an active boy that will need plenty of exercise in his new home, he is looking for an owner that can give him an outlet for all his energy and put him to work. Not only will Jax need his physical needs met, but to be kept mentally stimulated too, Jax needs to be kept entertained and to have a purpose, daily training and games to build his confidence, even teaching him a special job to do will help to meet Jax’s needs.

Jax is a typical shepherd, he will bark and be a little aloof with new people at first, but then quickly makes friends and is happy to interact with and be patted by new people. Jax especially loves treats and this is the way to his heart, although he does snatch, he is learning to take them gently. Jax is stressed in the shelter, he will jump up and mouth when he is frustrated and overstimulated, he lacks impulse control at times and needs a confident handler that can give boundaries. Jax is best suited to a home where everyone is over the age of 12 years old.

Jax knows his basic commands and LOVES participating in training, he lights up when he gets told he is a good boy and receives a reward, he just wants to please and gains confidence every time he is able to succeed, and problem solve. Jax becomes very overstimulated and frustrated out on walks, he is going to need ongoing training for his leash skills and would highly benefit from working with a professional trainer. Jax needs someone who is physically capable of handling a large, strong young dog, we are looking for someone that has recent experience with working line German Shepherds that understands the requirements and ongoing commitment needed to own this breed.

Jax enjoys enrichment toys, snuffle mats and especially snuffling through the grass on a treasure hunt for treats, this seems to be his favourite pastime and also a great way for him to calm down out on walks when the world becomes a little overwhelming. Jax will need slow re-integration and exposure to the outside world, after being cooped up for the last year, everything is new, exciting and a little scary, he needs to take things slow.

Jax is conflicted with other dogs; in the shelter, he has been very frustrated when he sees others and will bark and jump up, carrying on. Jax has had some positive interactions too, and has shown that when able to calm down, he can be in closer proximity to others and remain neutral. Jax will need ongoing work on his introductions to others, right now he needs to maintain a safe distance, the goal is for him to remain calm and neutral out on walks and build up to interactions overtime. For now, Jax needs to be the only dog in his new home, we would not recommend he is placed into a home with cats or other small pets.

Jax is a loyal boy that really does love engaging with people, even his most stressed moments, he will regularly check back in with his handler and can be distracted from the situation in a game or training exercise to get the focus back on his person. Despite his lack of training and lack of effort put into him, Jax’s qualities of a true working line shepherd that is committed to his human shines through, this boy has an endless amount of potential and will shine in the right hands if given the time and effort he deserves.