RJ (formerly Angus) is a young dog still displaying a good deal of puppy behavior.  He was found stray and is being fostered in a home near Round Rock, TX, for the Williamson County Animal Shelter. Click here to see the link to his record at their website. The phone number for the shelter is 512-943-3322 if you need additional information on the adoption process.

Here is what his foster mom says about him:

In addition to being handsome Angus (now known as R.J.) is sweet, affectionate, super smart, food motivated, and athletic. He loves to be near his people including on their laps or on the couch next to them. R.J. has great recall. He is kennel trained, and appears to be house broken, but we take him outside frequently. He was thought to be a border collie mix because of his black and white coloring but Wisdom Panel determined he’s German Shepherd/Great Pyrenees.

R.J. is about 1 year old and weighs 52 lbs. but is still very much a puppy. He has the puppy mouthiness at times but can be redirected easily with a treat or a toy. He loves to run and play fetch or, roll around with our “collie ball” in the backyard. He plays by himself with his favorite stuffed otter and has mastered one of our dog puzzles in no time. He knows basic commands of sit & down and is working on wait and spin. There are no issues with baths, brushing or touching his feet. Leash walking is getting better and at times he walks on a loose leash but it’s a work in progress. True to apparently being a herding breed he is on high alert when out on walks.

R.J. has many great qualities, and we see him becoming a better house guest daily. He does have a few issues, but he responds well to positive reinforcement and counter conditioning. He was found as a stray on a very busy road. He’s leery of meeting new people but can be won over if that person has treats and tosses him a few. Once he sees he’ll get treats he moves closer and starts to take treats from their hand and wants to be petted.

He will need to be introduced to new people and places slowly to make sure he has positive experiences. He does tend to resource guard food and treats when the resident dog is nearby. We toss him a treat, so he’s distracted if we go to pick up one of his high valued chew bones.

R.J.’s best forever home would be one that has experience with high energy dogs, understands t he needs of a shy dog and is not away from home for long periods of time. The home should have a large, fenced area for him to run and no young children. R.J. is not the kind of dog that would do well in an apartment or in a home where he’s kenneled for hours. He may do the best as an only dog. He has not been tested with children and has only been tested with our resident senior female border collie. He very curious about her but doesn’t respect her corrections and doesn’t seem to understand dog communication.

The best home for this sweet boy is with someone experienced and willing to spend the time training him, so he can conquer is fears of the unknown. A home with older children and where he’s not left alone for long periods of time. He needs someone that treats him with the kindness and patience he deserves to blossom. He has so much potential to become a wonderful companion and friend.

If you are interested in knowing more about RJ, please contact his foster mom, Rhoda, at schularick.r@gmail.com.

Please note:  RJ has not been around children of any age enough for a determination to be made about how he gets along with children.