Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
Not good with kids,
Good with dogs,
House-trained,
Spayed or Neutered,
Shots are up-to-date,
Story
In Murfreesboro
Irwin is a young Australian Shepherd mix who will quickly work his way into your heart. We don’t know what the mix is, but his foster parents guess he has a little Pyrenees in him based on his paw gestures, herding style and eyes.
He’s about 3 years old (though could be younger, the vet could give a better estimate if Irwin would let them look at his teeth), and 54 lbs.
Irwin’s origins are unknown, then he spent several months at a rural shelter and was up for euthanasia when ASF stepped in and saved his life! He is very timid at first and took several weeks at his foster home to relax and start to show his personality. This is a recurring theme with him, he needs time and space to adjust to new people, places and things. Slow introductions to people and dogs will help Irwin to be successful in the long run. He also does best with some initial boundaries, stick to the butt scratches until he knows you please!
Irwin is a medium energy dog, he needs daily exercise but he’s not an overachiever. A few 15 minute play sessions or a couple miles on a walk and he’ll be good to go. Irwin’s like his foster dad, you better get all the walking in you want to do because once he gets back to the car he’s ready to go home and take a nap.
Tennis balls produce much prancing around in excitement for you to throw them in the backyard; he loves a good game of fetch. Irwin can get over excited during backyard playtimes; this is manifested in jumping and nipping (at the same time). And let me tell you this boy can JUMP. A nip on your head is easy peasy for him! He’s working on more appropriate behaviors at his foster home, but will need continued training. It’s for this reason that children should be at least 12 years old. I know he won’t bite but even at a sturdy 33 years old it’s intimidating to see him run full speed across the yard and then jump! A fenced yard would be great but must be 6 feet, a 4 foot fence won’t hold this boy.
Irwin’s most defining characteristic is that he’s a big ol’ love bug. He would like constant attention! If you’re not doing anything, you should be petting him. If you’re doing something, you should be petting him. He will use his paws to pull your hand to pets if not otherwise occupied or nudge you to remind you to keep rubbing his belly. He is never more than about 15 feet from his foster mom and loves to “go” if that means staying with his people.
While he can stay home alone (in a crate or uncrated), he would do best if not left alone for too long daily. If you do leave him, he will need a commensurate amount of time devoted to loving on him when you return. Irwin would do fine as an only dog or with a canine companion, just keep in mind it will take him a while to warm up to his new dog pal.
Irwin is working on curbing his jumping, but you should jump at the chance to meet this charming fellow!
Currently fostered in Murfreesboro, TN. There is an additional $20 microchip fee which includes registration and transfer to his new furever family.
Here is the application: https://www.australianshepherdsfurever.org/adoption-application
