Full of love and looking for understanding

If you have ever been at cross-purposes with someone, you know how being misunderstood can affect your behaviour. Dear Charlie is a loving boy who is in need of people who can read his cues and set him up for success. Charlie is house trained, travels well in the car, loves a cuddle and enjoys his daily walks. He is currently a mostly outside dog with indoor access in the evenings and overnight, but he would love to spend more time inside with his family.

A somewhat anxious but friendly boy, Charlie can be a bit jumpy with people and is not always sure where to direct his energy, which makes him a great candidate for puzzle feeders and toys that give him mental stimulation and help him build his confidence. Charlie can be possessive of his food and sometimes of his preferred person. These behaviours can be reduced with some further training and routines that help Charlie understand what is expected of him. He is desperate to please and can be quite sensitive, so calm leadership rather than strong authority will give Charlie what he needs to thrive. Charlie has spent some time around a cat with no problem. He can be uncomfortable with other dogs and his current owners report that he can be quite growly and defensive around fellow canines when out on his walks. However, a member of the Vic Dog Rescue crew has spent some time walking Charlie and found him responsive to their directions once he threw off his initial excitement. With rewards-based training and consistency, we think Charlie has all the foundations to be a great outdoor citizen, although he may never want to be besties with other pups.

Charlie is looking for a family with or without older children who are keen to include him in their lives, and can work in sync to set up routines that he can rely on. Positive reinforcement and training sessions will help Charlie and his new family bond, while also giving him ways to release his energy and learn new skills. He will do best as a single pet, although with slow introductions, he may be able to cohabit with a cat. Charlie is fine on his own from time to time with outdoor sheltered access, but we want him to be welcomed inside in his new house when the pack is home. More than anything, this pup needs an environment in which he can both bond with his people and relax in the household rhythms. If you have a Charlie-fit household, he would love to hear from you.