Axl

Meet Axl !! We took in this awesome puppy and his brother Slash from a crowded shelter. They are both awesome dogs that are super loyal and very smart. (Slash has been adopted) Axl is an approx 11 month old, male, Doberman mix. He has a docked tail and natural ears. Potential mixed with German Shepherd but we are unsure. He weighs 59 pounds. He has been neutered, is up to date on vaccines and microchipped. He is Heartworm negative and on monthly preventatives. Axl is a shy boy at first and then he’s your best friend. If you know the Doberman breed you know they are extremely loyal and loving dogs. He is all about you. He can be pushy with wanting to be near you, jump on you or trying to crawl up in your lap. He really needs a firm consistent owner to show him how to channel all that into positive behaviors. He’s so smart and eager to please. We’ve found that he thrives with a fenced yard. His foster doesn’t have a fence so it’s been challenging to meet his energy needs so he can focus on training. He spent a week with a fenced yard recently and after a day of adjustment he really started to show improvement with everything. He’s still a puppy that needs guidance and training. He will thrive with routine and both mental and physical exercise in his new home. He definitely needs an understanding owner as he takes awhile to adjust to new surroundings and his training will temporarily regress until he gets comfortable. He is crate trained but will potty in the crate for the first day or two while adjusting and then he stops. He’s great on car rides and seems to enjoy them. He’s decent on the leash but will pull at times. He loves toys and is very toy motivated. He definitely needs to go on daily walks. It really stimulates his brain and helps him behave so much better. Axl is a bit of an oddball with his potty training. We think he’s a shy pooper lol. He will hold it and hold it and then poop in his crate until he feels safe to poop outside. It’s harder to give him “privacy” when there’s no fence and you have to keep him on the leash. With a fenced yard and a little patience from you he figures it out quickly. He is great with other dogs and would do well with another dog in the home to show him the ropes. He is a bit hyper and pushy with his play so another dog to match or at least tolerate his energy would be best. He is also a bit of a humper with the ladies. He was recently neutered so we expect that to fade away as his hormones change. He is fostered with a cat and isn’t aggressive but doesn’t respect their boundaries. He annoys the cats and despite swats and hisses he hasn’t learned to stop. If you have cats you’ll need to be very proactive with training him regarding what is and isn’t appropriate around them. He’s not trying to hurt them but does not know how to properly interact with them. Axl isn’t fostered with kids currently. He’s a super sweet and loving boy so we suspect he would do great but maybe not with smaller kids. He’s big and still jumps up on people and doesn’t always realize his size. Temperament wise he would likely do well, training wise he is a bit too much for small kids currently. He has not shown any aggression over food, treats or toys toward other animals or humans. He LOVES toys, especially soft toys and tennis balls. He really loves anything you’ll do with him. Playtime, training, cuddles. He’s a loyal boy ready to please his new best friend. Axl has a high energy level. He needs both mental and physical exercise several times a day, every single day. He needs you to engage with him in games, training or activities that keep his mind and body active. Without this he can easily become frustrated with pent up energy and start showing negative behaviors. If you’re not serious about giving him the exercise he needs please pick a lower energy dog. Overall this guy has so much potential. He just needs the right owner to guide him and show him how to be his best self. He’s going to make someone the most loyal companion. ??Vet and home checks required. ??Fenced yard preferred Located in Hampton VA. (He will need to be adopted within a 2 hour drive radius) ?These dogs are banned from almost all rentals (to include most vacation rentals). Do not apply to adopt if you have not called and verified with your landlord that you can own one. ? ??Please message [email protected] directly with questions or to get an application. ??