Rufus – 6 month old male Shepherd Cross

Rufus is a 6 month old male Shepherd cross.

Rufus and his siblings were born in the shelter when a heavily pregnant Shepherd cross was brought in after being found as a stray. Just days later she gave birth to five gorgeous puppies, Rufus, Ringo, Rider, Riley and Ruby.

Unfortunately, despite the whirlwind of interest Rufus initially received, we’re still looking for the perfect home.

Rufus turns heads both online and in-person because he is drop dead gorgeous, no argument. He is growing into a beautiful young dog and his handsome colouring and special two-tone eyes are really quite unique.

However, as has always been the case within his litter, Rufus is shy, whilst his other siblings are much more confident and outgoing. Rufus is a typical rescue who needs some continued confidence building to help him feel reassured, and this is still a work in progress.

He is amazing in the home, but on walks he struggles and gets scared quickly. Remember, he’s still only a puppy, so this has plenty of room to improve with time.

Although he’s overwhelmed with walks at the moment, Rufus loves spending time in secure fields and out in the garden. Rufus likes to stay close to his family, and he also responds to his name already so recall is controlled environments is progressing nicely!

He’s already shown interest in agility and picks up new things, commands and direction really quickly! He has so far learned sit, spin, twist and down, and is currently learning through, and middle.

He’s evidently very smart and highly trainable, and he also enjoys mental enrichment such as puzzle toys, shredding cardboard, opening boxes and scatter feeding.

Rufus is a very friendly, affectionate and loyal boy. He has bonded really nicely with his foster family and loves being smothered with kisses, cuddles and snuggles. He is generally quite confident around new people, but is a bit wary around new dogs and needs some reassurance before quickly coming round to the idea of making a new friend.

However, with dogs he knows well he is wonderful and adores their company. He is playful, energetic and learns a lot from being in their presence. We definitely think there would be a lot of benefits to Rufus living with a balanced resident dog, and he would really enjoy the company.

Since he arrived in the UK, Rufus has lived alongside a toddler and has been fantastic with him. He has more recently started to show more rough and tumble/boisterous play, but that’s to be expected as he grows into adolescence.

That said though he is still very well behaved and good company to children, and would be great for a family with kids, especially those who are used to living with dogs.

Rufus does show some signs of separation anxiety and does need a little more practice being left alone. He can be left for a couple of hours with the two resident dogs he lives with at the moment, but has very occasionally become a bit stressed during that time and chewed something up.

This has been rare though, and he has been adjusting to time spent alone well. However, in a home without other dogs this could easily regress.

With continued training and socialisation Rufus is going to make a wonderful companion. He’s a sociable, friendly pup with a great nature, but he does need a patient, understanding and committed approach to help him reach his full potential. He will be a brilliant walking partner and pub dog in time, and he travels well in the car too.

He’s looking for a home outside of the city surrounded by more calm areas, as a busy, urban location would be far too scary and overwhelming for him right now.

He would prefer a home with another dog, and could happily live with children. He does also need a home with access to a garden and with a family who have plenty of time and willingness to dedicate to a puppy.

Rufus is currently based in Surrey and has a clean bill of health. He is ready to meet his forever family.

• How big? Medium-Large as adult
• How old? Puppy (DOB 17.02.24)
• Male or female? Male
• Living with kids? I can live with children
• Living with dogs? I can live with other dogs
• Resident dog required? Yes/Preferred
• Living with cats? I’ve not been tested with cats
• Where can I live? I’d like an active home outside of the city with a garden
• Where am I from? Cyprus, now being fostered in Surrey (Cyprus adoption fee applies)