Adoption Status: Available to Adopt

Foster Status: In foster care

DOB:  dob 22/09/24 (11 months old)

Sex: Male

Breed: Heading dog x

Size: Medium

Fencing Requirements: Minimum 1.5m, dog-proof fencing around the home or decent farm fencing.

Hobbies: Naps in the sun, hanging out with his hoomans, playing with his doggy friends, helping you garden, getting cheek rubs, playing with his toys, learning new things, paddock zooms

Good Habits: Crate trained, house trained, knows basic manners, great recall and likes to stay close even off leash, affectionate and snuggly, great with other dogs, good with the cat, pigs, chooks, good with kids, quiet (doesn't bark apart from the odd huff), smart, loyal

Bad Habits: Helps a little too well in the garden at times (digs when he's bored)

Personality Type: Medium energy, happy, gentle, playful, affectionate, a best mate sort, soft natured

Special Requirements: None that we are aware of

Adoption Fee: $300

Ideal Home: 

Ozzy is a gorgeous, affectionate and soft natured boy. He would do best in a home that is calm and quiet. Raised voices and yell are scary for Ozzy so we think a home with a single person, couple or home with older children (15+) who are calm and gentle would be best. He has been around children of all ages but lots of yelling just doesn't work for him. He LOVES to run and play with his friends and stretch his legs so an active home or lifestyle block would be ideal for him. He's a very smart boy so a hooman who is going to work his brain as well as his legs would be ideal (think Border Collie in a Heading Dog body). He would love a home with another dog to play with as well but he has lived as an only dog previously too. Ozzy has requested that his new hoomans please make sure he has lots of teddies to pull the stuffing out of, nice comfy legs for him to rest his head on so he can stare at you adoringly, nice gentle hands to rub his cheek with and nice kind voices to speak nicely to him (and maybe lots of treats too... they're pretty yum). 

Ozzy originally came into our care as a wee baby with his brothers and sisters (our "O" Litter). He found a home with some nice hoomans but sadly, they had to make the heartbreaking decision to return him to our care due to a serious illness diagnosis in the family.

This beautiful natured, goofy young man who is just MADE to love his hooman. He loves anything that involves hanging out with his bestest friend.

Ozzy is a goofy boy who enjoys any and all social interactions - whether it's dogs or people - especially out in the paddock where he can stretch his legs and have a good run with a friend. He's a softie, so does like a human not too far away, so he's not one to simply run off and leave you behind. If you go for a walk with him off lead he'll have a fun adventure with you. He looooves toys. There may be the odd destructo kid moment occasionally but for the most part they just get carried about and played with. One of the great things about Ozzy is that he has a fabulous "off" switch. If it's time to run and play, he's all about it! But if it's time to chill, he'll chill.

He's discovered the fireplace at his foster home and loves to get involved and snuggle between you and the fire as you stack the wood , waiting patiently for that first bit of warmth.

Ozzy knows his basic manners and is learning all about not getting under his hooman's feet, how to have good manners when going up and down stairs and through gateways too.

He's a soft natured but curious and lovable chap, new things can be a little scary for him at first but with a hooman who is happy to make sure he's always given the choice to enter or leave a situation, he will continue to develop his confidence into even more of a friendly, social snugglebug. He is a lover of every dog he's met so far, initially soft and happy to take a submissive role, to initiate friendship and definitely listens to other dogs signals, backing off when told. Due to his size and natural youthful bounce, from a distance he may come across as a little big and scary so his submissive tendency is a great bonus and avoids any problems.

Ozzy is good with cats. The cat in his foster home does immediately go on the defensive with a new foster dog, standing his ground and telling them off if they look at him sideways, Ozzy listened well and gave him respect and within a few days they've become snuggle buddies. He is also good with the pigs and chickens in his foster home and has learnt to ignore them completely.

Ozzy is initially cautious of new people, sizing them up from a bit of a distance, as soon as they encourage him with a friendly hello he's in for a chin scratch and cuddle. This isn't fear, it's more like a softness, unsure of whether they are friend or foe and waiting for them to make the first move, once they signal friendly he's happy to accept them as friend. He's not a fan of raised angry voices - they are quite scary for him - so a home with hoomans who are calm and easygoing who understand the "soft" nature of a heading dog would be ideal. When visitors arrive, he likes to pretend he's a guard dog, giving a good bark when a car comes up the drive, but even if they were a burglar as long as he gets a friendly hello he's a best buddy to all. It's a nice balance to get the initial 'someone's here' with absolutely no 'protection' type tendencies.

His foster mum says: "He's an absolute softy that would make the perfect best friend for an individual, couple or small family. He loves the outdoors and would be perfect for the lifestyle block, beach, hiking, agility, nose work etc. His smarts mean he learns very quickly, a little consistency in training is all that's needed for him to understand what's needed of him."

Ozzy is crate and house trained and will happily take himself off to bed whenever he feels like it or if there's something going on that he wants to avoid. He is also kennel and run trained. He has good general manners and is good with being touched all over his body (teeth, feet etc). He's also good with food (he definitely prefers a raw diet to kibble but will eat both).