Meet Brody 🐾

Brody is a 5-year-old Australian Shepherd looking for an experienced, dog savvy home where he can have the structure, space, and confident leadership he needs to thrive.

Brody has a wonderful mix of Aussie personality without being quite as high energy as you might expect from the breed. He’s perfectly happy spending a relaxing evening at home, but he’s also ready to hit the trails, run around outside, or head to the water. And if there’s a ridiculously oversized stick nearby, even better! Brody has a talent for finding the biggest, most inconvenient stick possible and proudly bringing it over in hopes that you’ll throw it into the ocean for him.

He’s also one smart cookie. Brody knows an impressive list of commands, including sit, down, place, stay, break, come, heel, back up, drop it, take it, and even “go find your ball.” He also knows a few uniquely named commands.  “cantaloupe” means to get on, in, or under something, while “onion” means spin! He can occasionally be a little willful, but he responds well to clear, consistent direction and has shown that he is very capable of learning.

Brody has previously lived with multiple dogs and generally enjoys canine companionship. He seems especially comfortable around confident, well-socialized dogs and will often follow their lead. However, he can challenge certain dogs, particularly unfamiliar or unneutered males, so introductions should be handled carefully. He has also lived successfully with a cat.

One interesting thing about Brody is how closely he seems to read his people. If you’re excited, he’s excited. If you’re ready to relax, so is he. Unfortunately, he can also pick up on nervousness and uncertainty, which can contribute to his own anxiety and reactivity. A calm, confident handler who understands canine behavior would be a great match for him.

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The Home Brody Needs

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It is very important that potential adopters understand that Brody has a history of territorial behavior and biting. He has bitten two people in separate incidents, with both bites breaking the skin and requiring 1–2 stitches. He has also has also nipped at people only in my apartment, as if herding them like sheep, causing bruising but not breaking the skin

His known triggers primarily involve people approaching or entering what he considers his territory. This has included someone entering the home while he was already worked up and a person walking past while Brody was loose outside. Knocking at the door and people entering without his owner controlling the interaction can also trigger him.

Interestingly, Brody has done well with friends and family caring for him when his owner is away and does not show food or toy aggression.

Because of his history, Brody needs an experienced adult home prepared to responsibly manage his interactions with visitors and the public while continuing to work on his behavior and training. Although he has generally done well around children, we feel an adult home would be the safest and most appropriate placement for him.

Brody may particularly benefit from a home with more space than his current apartment setting and possibly one or more compatible, well socialized dogs. He should not be allowed off leash in unsecured areas, particularly around unfamiliar people or dogs.

Brody is neutered, current on his vaccinations and veterinary care, and has no known medical conditions or medications. Once properly exercised and given a bathroom break, he can comfortably stay home alone for approximately 8–10 hours.

Brody’s owner cares about him tremendously, and this decision is being made because they recognize that Brody needs a more experienced home than they are currently able to provide. In the right hands, Brody has so much going for him, he’s smart, trained, adventurous, affectionate, funny, and eager to be part of his person’s life.

Brody isn’t a dog for every home, but for the right person who understands his challenges and is willing to provide the structure and responsible management he needs, he could be one heck of a companion.

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The animal shelter will be vetting all potential adopters, please submit an adoption application and once staff have processed the application they will be turned over to Brody's owner.