01-06-24 Sparky is a very intelligent boy who arrived with us over a year ago initially but has been returned as the home was not the right fit.
Sparky needs an experienced and active, adult only home where he will get the right training, exercise, and mental stimulation that he needs.
He is very loyal, loving and obedient to people he loves, but can be worried in new scenarios, particularly with big loud vehicles like tractors or lorries.
Sparky is a super star and is super eager to learn new tricks.
Sparky can guard things he deems valuable, especially things involving food, like food puzzles. This is easily managed here, and I think could be easily managed in a home with people who are clued up and confident. Mistakes happen as we are only human, but as Sparky is so smart I think using the "trade" game will be super useful. We have started working on a "trade" here at the rescue, and also started working on teaching him "bed!" So that if any mistakes happen in the home and he has something he shouldn't, he knows that if drops the item and goes to his 'place'(bed), he will get an even tastier reward. Sparky is muzzle trained and happily wears his muzzle, so that the first period in a home you can safely figure out his behaviours and how to manage him.
Baby gates will also be your best friend in terms of management. Sparky has an amazing group of staff who give him so much through the days and work *so* hard with him at the centre, but we all have many other dogs to look after too, so it's hard to really meet all of his needs. His favourite staff member has just bought some equipment to start scent work with him, follow for updates on that!
Sparky knows: sit, wait, back(of kennel), heel, lay down, and many more tricks! Sparky meets other dogs fine, can be a little over excitable, but is generally good as gold, though to manage the guarding we think he'd be most successful as an only dog in the home. He cannot live with cats. He'd make a super companion for someone who loves long hikes!  

21-06-24 UPDATE
The weather is absolutely fantastic today so Sparky and myself have been out enjoying the sun - it’s not often we see it here at the rescue!
It’s a joy to spend time with Sparky, what a superstar this boy is! Sparky enjoyed some time in the yard while it was hot and when it got a bit cooler we headed out on a nice walk.
Sparky walks really well on lead, so taking him out was a pleasure. He loves getting out and about and you can see just how happy he is to get that little bit of freedom away from rescue life.
This chap has a fantastic character and is an absolute pleasure to work with, he is bubbly, active and super intelligent. As the weather was still nice we had a play date with his good friend Bennett, the pointer, and they played and ran around amazingly together. I have very high hopes and a lot of faith in this chap to become a fantastic companion for the right person he just needs to be given the chance to do so!

 

 

31-07-24 UPDATE

I cannot believe the bestest boy Sparky is still in kennels! The last few months I have really gotten close with sparky and what a pleasure it has been. Since working with him he has really shown me what a special boy he is. He is the most sociable dog I have ever met. I can yard him with any kennel and even take him to multiple dog play dates and he is just perfect with bigger and smaller dogs. He absolutely loves active breeds and plays so well with them. One of them is Walter the husky and the video shows how well mannered he can be. As sparky has had issues with food in the past I've been working with him so it is easier to manage. His training has gone well. Now I tell him to sit, down, I put the food bowl in front of him and tell him to wait until I give him his release command. I can now walk quite a distance away, close the kennel gate and he will just keep eye contact with me just waiting for the release command. As he's had issues with food in the past, his new family will need to continue this discipline and the advice given during the adoption process - doing so will set Sparky up for success and a long and happy life in his forever home. Sparky is just incredibly smart and picks up new commands super quick so it shouldn’t take long for him to settle into a routine with his new family. If you are experienced with high energy bigger dogs then sparky is the boy you are looking for! Please give him the chance to progress to the next chapter in his life and find his forever and loving new family. 

 

01-06-24 Sparky is a very intelligent boy who arrived with us over a year ago initially but has been returned as the home was not the right fit.
Sparky needs an experienced and active, adult only home where he will get the right training, exercise, and mental stimulation that he needs.
He is very loyal, loving and obedient to people he loves, but can be worried in new scenarios, particularly with big loud vehicles like tractors or lorries.
Sparky is a super star and is super eager to learn new tricks.
Sparky can guard things he deems valuable, especially things involving food, like food puzzles. This is easily managed here, and I think could be easily managed in a home with people who are clued up and confident. Mistakes happen as we are only human, but as Sparky is so smart I think using the "trade" game will be super useful. We have started working on a "trade" here at the rescue, and also started working on teaching him "bed!" So that if any mistakes happen in the home and he has something he shouldn't, he knows that if drops the item and goes to his 'place'(bed), he will get an even tastier reward. Sparky is muzzle trained and happily wears his muzzle, so that the first period in a home you can safely figure out his behaviours and how to manage him.
Baby gates will also be your best friend in terms of management. Sparky has an amazing group of staff who give him so much through the days and work *so* hard with him at the centre, but we all have many other dogs to look after too, so it's hard to really meet all of his needs. His favourite staff member has just bought some equipment to start scent work with him, follow for updates on that!
Sparky knows: sit, wait, back(of kennel), heel, lay down, and many more tricks! Sparky meets other dogs fine, can be a little over excitable, but is generally good as gold, though to manage the guarding we think he'd be most successful as an only dog in the home. He cannot live with cats. He'd make a super companion for someone who loves long hikes!  

21-06-24 UPDATE
The weather is absolutely fantastic today so Sparky and myself have been out enjoying the sun - it’s not often we see it here at the rescue!
It’s a joy to spend time with Sparky, what a superstar this boy is! Sparky enjoyed some time in the yard while it was hot and when it got a bit cooler we headed out on a nice walk.
Sparky walks really well on lead, so taking him out was a pleasure. He loves getting out and about and you can see just how happy he is to get that little bit of freedom away from rescue life.
This chap has a fantastic character and is an absolute pleasure to work with, he is bubbly, active and super intelligent. As the weather was still nice we had a play date with his good friend Bennett, the pointer, and they played and ran around amazingly together. I have very high hopes and a lot of faith in this chap to become a fantastic companion for the right person he just needs to be given the chance to do so!

 

 

31-07-24 UPDATE

I cannot believe the bestest boy Sparky is still in kennels! The last few months I have really gotten close with sparky and what a pleasure it has been. Since working with him he has really shown me what a special boy he is. He is the most sociable dog I have ever met. I can yard him with any kennel and even take him to multiple dog play dates and he is just perfect with bigger and smaller dogs. He absolutely loves active breeds and plays so well with them. One of them is Walter the husky and the video shows how well mannered he can be. As sparky has had issues with food in the past I've been working with him so it is easier to manage. His training has gone well. Now I tell him to sit, down, I put the food bowl in front of him and tell him to wait until I give him his release command. I can now walk quite a distance away, close the kennel gate and he will just keep eye contact with me just waiting for the release command. As he's had issues with food in the past, his new family will need to continue this discipline and the advice given during the adoption process - doing so will set Sparky up for success and a long and happy life in his forever home. Sparky is just incredibly smart and picks up new commands super quick so it shouldn’t take long for him to settle into a routine with his new family. If you are experienced with high energy bigger dogs then sparky is the boy you are looking for! Please give him the chance to progress to the next chapter in his life and find his forever and loving new family.