Jax

Jax is a stunning 4-year-old German Shepherd who has come a long way from his fearful beginnings. With the help of his dedicated foster carer, Jax has blossomed into a loving, playful companion who’s ready to find a forever home that understands his journey and is committed to continuing his growth.

Jax was never socialised with the outside world before coming into our care, he was extremely fearful of people and was overwhelmed by the world around him. Jax has made incredible progress in foster care; once he feels safe, he is affectionate and goofy, seeking pats and cuddles. Jax has made progress meeting new people out and about, he can be a little wary at first, but with his handler advocating for him and reassuring him, Jax is able to make friends and warms up.

Jax thrives with routine and structure; a controlled, predictable environment will set Jax up for success. Jax is crate trained, this is his safe place, he will take himself off to bed when he is overwhelmed or unsure. Jax’s new family must be willing to have a crate set up for him in his new home, his training and confidence building has been centered around this.

Jax has been living in a fairly quiet suburb, his foster home doesn’t have many people visiting; to Jax, it is predictable and safe. Jax wouldn’t cope living in inner suburbia where he may encounter a trigger at every turn, he can also still be sensitive to some loud noises. A quiet home with adults only, and not too many visitors would be best suited for Jax.

Jax is looking for an active human experienced with German Shepherds and nervous dogs, he will need a handler that can provide him guidance through strong leadership, someone willing to put in the time and effort to ensure Jax feels safe. We know with the correct structure and boundaries in place, that Jax can be an amazing dog; we are looking for someone who will continue his training and socialisation long-term. Jax’s foster carer, who is a qualified dog trainer, will provide ongoing support to Jax and his new human.

Jax loves structured play such as tug, training sessions and mental stimulation games, he is highly intelligent and learns quickly. Jax has learned his basic commands and is eager to please, he has been working on his reactivity and does well with structured walks kept to 20 minutes or so. Jax is alert and observant; and while he is still working on his confidence around other dogs and new environments, he has shown he can learn and adapt with the right support.

Jax no longer barks at other dogs from a distance out on walks, he is still learning to be comfortable with dogs in a closer proximity when out and about. In a very controlled setting, Jax has been able to interact with other dogs and even play, however he becomes overwhelmed and overstimulated easily, and needs to work on his interactions with others long-term with the help of a trainer. For now, Jax needs to be the only pet in his new home.

Jax has come so far from the terrified dog we first met, watching him learn to play with toys, accept pats and even cuddle up on the couch are all heartwarming milestones we were never sure Jax would reach, but he has done extremely well and continues to improve. Jax’s foster carer adores him and would do anything for her special boy, but the reality is, he can’t stay long-term, other dogs need her too. Jax needs to transition into his own home and begin the next chapter with a wonderful new human to be his friend, his teacher, his protector and most importantly, his companion.

We are looking for someone very special for Jax, we want to set him up for success and will be ensuring his new family fits his criteria perfectly. Please, if you have the experience and ability to take in a dog that has had an extremely hard start, and have the time, patience and dedication that a dog like Jax needs, we want to hear from you!