Adoption Fee: $950

If you would like to apply to adopt please
download the application form.

If you would like to know more or have problems using a Microsoft Word document please email us.

NB: We do not rehome interstate or to applicants under 25. It is our policy not to rehome dogs in the Sunraysia area. As rescue groups have transported thousands of homeless dogs from Mildura and Sunraysia pounds over the last decade, we do not intend to send any back there.

Breed: Male  Blue Heeler/Labrador Retriever
DOB: 05/08/2025
Weight: 25.0 kgs
Location: Golden Square

Meet Bandit

After almost 12 weeks in foster care, we’ve had the opportunity to really get to know Bandit — his personality, his quirks, the progress he’s made and, importantly, what he needs from his future home.

Bandit is a gorgeous, clever, energetic and strong-minded young dog with plenty of personality. He’s a reasonably confident boy who can be a little cautious when meeting new people, but once he’s comfortable he’ll happily welcome them into his world. He’s an active dog who loves a good walk in nature and will happily sniff around and take in all the sights and smells. He’s currently learning how to loose-lead walk and take guidance from his handler, and he’s making great progress. Training engages both his brain and body, and a well-earned nap afterwards is often very welcome!

Bandit also loves travelling in the car. He’ll sit quietly while keeping an eye on all the exciting things happening in the world outside.
At home, sometimes he wants to be so close that you may find yourself stepping over him in the kitchen while he lies down to supervise proceedings. Other times he wants his own space. Affection is very much on Bandit’s terms — sometimes he’ll seek you out for attention and physical contact, while at other times he’ll make it clear he’d prefer to be left alone.

And no two days with Bandit are necessarily the same. One morning he may be perfectly happy with a sleep-in; another he’ll wake up ready for the day and looking for a job to do. One thing he rarely turns down, though, is a good sleep in a sunny spot.
He also has excellent hearing — so don’t be surprised if Bandit lets you know that someone three streets away has just received their Uber Eats delivery!

Life at home
Bandit benefits from routine, clear boundaries and someone who can calmly guide him when he finds it difficult to settle. He’s intelligent and has demonstrated that with consistent training and guidance he can learn new expectations and household routines.
Bedtime has been one of his biggest areas of progress. Bandit’s preference is to be extremely close to his person — ideally sharing the bed — and he has previously shown guarding behaviour around his person and the bed.

During foster care he has successfully learned that sleeping in his own bed on the bedroom floor, close to his person, is pretty nice too. His future family will need to maintain clear and consistent boundaries around sleeping arrangements and personal space.
Bandit also experiences significant separation distress and currently finds being left alone difficult. When distressed this can include destructive behaviour, including damaging doors. His future family needs to be prepared to continue working patiently on building his confidence and independence. He is not currently suited to a lifestyle where he would routinely spend extended periods home alone.

And one practical thing worth knowing before falling for that gorgeous face — Bandit sheds! His coat comes with dog hair, so his future family needs to be comfortable with regular shedding and the housekeeping that comes with it.

People
Bandit is friendly with adults and enjoys being around people.
When visitors arrive he may take a moment to assess them, but once he’s satisfied they’re friends, he’ll happily include them in the household.
Bandit has not been tested with children. Due to his size, strength and occasional puppy nipping when excited, we feel he would be best suited to an adult-only home or potentially one with dog-savvy older children.

Other animals
Dogs: Bandit is currently working on his interaction skills around other dogs. On walks and during training he currently benefits from having some distance from other dogs while he learns to remain calm, take guidance from his handler and navigate these interactions appropriately.
Whether Bandit would be best placed with another suitably matched dog is something that should be assessed individually by the rescue as part of the adoption process.

Cats and small animals: Bandit has prey drive and enthusiastically chases birds in the garden. A home with cats or small animals is therefore not recommended.

Bandit’s ideal home
Bandit would benefit from experienced dog owners — ideally people who understand working breeds and enjoy training and engaging with their dog. His ideal home would offer an active but structured lifestyle; a quiet and predictable home environment; a large, secure and fully enclosed yard; people committed to ongoing training and enrichment; and someone who understands that consistency, boundaries and learning how to switch off are just as important for Bandit as exercise and adventure.
Bandit would not be suited to apartment living, a home where he is routinely left alone for extended periods, or a home with cats or small animals.

Bandit isn’t an immediately independent, low-maintenance dog, and he’s not necessarily going to curl up for a cuddle simply because you’ve decided it’s movie night. He is very much his own character. But behind that extremely cute face is a clever young dog who has already demonstrated that he can learn and make significant progress with the right training, guidance and consistency.

For an experienced person prepared to continue that work, Bandit has the opportunity to develop into a wonderful dog with a personality every bit as memorable as his looks.

Microchip Number: 956000018362407
Source Number: RE120211
 

All our dogs are desexed, C5 vaccinated with intranasal, microchipped, wormed and flea treated. All necessary vet work such as dentals, surgery, eye treatment is also carried out. We are no longer heartworm testing as we have not had one positive test since we began in 2006. If a dog comes to us on heartworm treatment this is continued.