SYDNEY

Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler | Somers, CT

Age : 2 Years 1 MonthAdultFemaleMediumPit Bull Terrier

About

Meet SYDNEY

Sydney is a social dog who enjoys spending quality time with her people, but she's not the type of dog who's going to lay around on the couch all the time. She's a very active young girl, and with the right person and some positive reinforcement training she'll likely be a great candidate for some dog sports! While she hasn't shown much interest in toys during her time here, she does like to run-- and she already knows `sit` and `paw`. Someone who is home often and has a relationship with a positive reinforcement trainer or behaviorist would be ideal for Sydney, as she has been noted to have separation anxiety when left alone in a home. OTHER PETS: Sydney hasn't shown much interest in other dogs during her stay at TJO, but she has been playful and excited with other dogs in a foster home. She has been noted to `nip at the heels` of other dogs, so her cattle dog genetics should be taken into consideration. [Case-By-Case (Must Meet First)] NO CATS OWNER EXPERIENCE: Sydney is a fairly happy and easy-going dog, but it's important for her to get exercise and mental enrichment daily! She would be a good fit for someone who is home often and lives an active lifestyle, as she has been noted to have separation anxiety in the home and has broken out of a crate repeatedly. [First Dog / Some Experience] KIDS: Sydney is uncomfortable with some types of handling, and so would do best with kids who are old enough to understand and respect her boundaries. [12+ (Must Meet First)] ACTiVITY LEVEL: Sydney is a dog who likes to be active! She's got a lot of energy and likes to run, and with continued positive training she would likely be a good hiking companion as well. And while daily walks will be important for her, she's also the kind of dog who will need various forms of mental enrichment and games -- to make sure both her body and brain are relaxed at the end of the day. [Good Walking Buddy / Olympic Athlete] VETERINARY CARE: [Routine] LEVEL OF TRAINING NEEDED: Sydney is a fairly social dog with people, but she's still young and has only just begun her positive training journey, so she would do best learning with someone who can offer patience and confidence while she adjusts. Positive reinforcement training will help Sydney to not only learn her basic cues, but also provide a good opportunity for her to bond with her new owner. With further positive training, she could also be a candidate for other activities like flyball, agility, hiking, lure coursing, weight pulling or dock diving! [Moderate]GROOMING: Routine brushing will help to minimize shedding within the home. [Minimal]

Adoption Process
The first step is to fill out an adoption application, answering some basic questions about yourself and your household. This will help the adoption counselors facilitate the matchmaking process. Most adoptions take at least 45 minutes to one hour to complete. The Adoption Center is a busy place, so please be patient and allow yourself enough time for our process. THANK YOU! What we will need to know when you adopt a new companion: If you own your home, please bring some item of verification (tax bill, water bill, or mortgage statement.) Please also be sure to check your homeowner’s insurance policy. Some policies restrict coverage for certain dog breeds. If you DO NOT own your place of residence, please be sure the property owner will consent to have a pet on his/her property. We will verify with landlords over the phone before sending a new companion home, so please have the appropriate name and phone number available. Other pets already living with you will need to be up-to-date on vaccination. This is to decrease the risk of spreading infectious disease from one animal to another. It is important to understand that your new companion will be a member of your family. This can mean a 10-15 year commitment from you! Please bring along family members so we can make sure it will be a good match before you make a commitment. Also, if adopting a second dog, please bring your current dog with you---we can let them spend some time together and give you some suggestions on surviving the adjustment period. Please be sure you have considered the financial obligation involved in caring for a companion animal. This includes routine veterinary and emergency care, in addition to food, supplies and training. The adoption counselors can give you an idea of basic costs involved for each type of animal. Many animals adopted from shelters can require an immediate visit to the veterinarian. Because of the volume of un-vaccinated animals entering a shelter’s care, the risk of transmissible contagious diseases can be quite high. Kennel cough in dogs, and upper respiratory infections in cats are the two most common diseases that your newly adopted companion may experience. You must ask yourself if you have the financial means to care for your new friend, beyond the initial adoption costs. BEFORE YOU COMMIT!!!!! Please be honest with yourself about the actual time you have to train, groom, and exercise the companion animal you have chosen. Some things to consider: Do you work long or erratic hours? Do you like outdoor activity? Who will care for your pet while you travel? Will your pet be the appropriate size when he or she is full grown? When adopting into a home with children: Are you adopting to teach your child responsibility, or are your adopting because you have a responsible child? Are your children comfortable around the animal you’ve chosen? Will YOU still remain committed to this animal when the children lose interest? Take the time now to consider these things and find the best match for your lifestyle! We thank your for offering your home to a “pre-loved” companion. We hope he or she will be a wonderful addition to your family and your home!

Contact
Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center
(413) 781-1484
[email protected]
http://www.tjoconnoradoptioncenter.com