Cojak German Shepherd Dog Young Male for sale in Richland, Washington

$250

Cojak's story
Smart and drop-dead gorgeous, Cojak has the potential to be an astounding companion if you have the leadership skill, commitment to training and breed experience necessary to bring out the best in him. But Cojak is also intense and powerful dog, he'd too much dog for his current family and has got himself into trouble, and he's not a dog for the faint-hearted.
HISTORY
Born on November 2, 2014, Cojak was the product of an unplanned breeding between two purebred German Shepherds. The puppies weren't welcome, and the breeder wasted no time in unloading them. Cojak was less than six weeks old when he went home to his current family, missing crucial weeks of socialization with his litter mates.
His people had previously owned a laid-back Great Dane, and were unprepared for Cojak's energy and intensity. By six months of age he'd learned all the basic training commands, but when away from home he was a lunging, cussing lunatic. They signed up for a puppy class in an effort to socialize him, but he was so disruptive that the trainer kicked him out. His people took him home, did their research, and trained him themselves as best they could. Unfortunately they didn't have the experience to channel his drive effectively, and they couldn't afford to send him away for professional training.
On Memorial Day the family went out, and the front door failed to latch properly behind them. Cojak pushed out and lay on the porch waiting for them. Some children walked past on the sidewalk, Cojak rushed at them to warn them off his property (which has no front fence), and in the ensuing chaos one child was bruised and another bitten. They were not seriously injured and their parents are not pressing charges, but Cojak's people have recognized that they cannot provide the environment and training he needs to be a safe, reliable canine citizen.
SOCIALIZATION
With people he knows - his family and regular visitors - Cojak is affectionate, goofy and playful. There are three children in the home, and the youngest was a baby when Cojak joined the family, so they have grown up together. He is particularly attached to the 10-year-old.
When he has to interact with people he doesn't know, Cojak can be scary. Usually when visitors come he is put away in a run. If he is loose when a stranger arrives, he has a loud, intimidating bark, and he'll get up close and threaten to bite. If you ignore this behavior. he backs off and tries to figure out what's wrong with you. It's then not difficult for someone who is relaxed and confident to win him over with treats.
Cojak's owner takes him for an on-leash run around the neighborhood most days. At those times he ignores passing humans and barking dogs. When he accompanies his family on camping trips he's kept on a tie-out, and then he will bark to warn off campers in neighboring sites, but once he's made his point he settles down.
We have not tested Cojak with another dog. However, he currently lives with a femaie bull terrier mix and gets on well with her, and he has never displayed aggression toward other dogs. For a while his family had a kitten. It smacked him once for getting too close, and after that he ignored it. He often sticks his nose into an open cage inhabited by two guinea pigs, and has never displayed anything but friendly curiosity.
TEMPERAMENT
Cojak is an energetic, playful guy. With his doggy companion he loves to play tug, tag and keep-away, as well as rolling around on the grass mouthing each other and wrestling. He loves toys, enjoys going for walks, and LOVES swimming. He'll play fetch, although he hasn't really learned to retrieve to hand.
He is very affectionate, and will come up and ask for loving and tummy rubs. He is gentle with his people, especially the children. When he isn't running and playing, he loves to just hang out with his family and take life easy.
Despite this boy's history of aggressive behavior, we don't consider him inherently aggressive. We absolutely don't believe it would be right to euthanize him - but that's what could happen if he isn't safely rehomed within a very limited time frame. In our opinion, Cojak needs a strong, dedicated human leader, working with an experienced trainer, to build his confidence, define clear boundaries, and give him a job.
Because Cojak can be intimidating and because of his history, he must be placed in an adult-only home. He will do best if he can spend most of his time alongside his human. He needs a good exercise workout every day, and will probably do best in a home where there is a fenced yard.
TRAINING
Cojak hasn't had much formal training. He learned the basics - come, sit, down, stay, walking on a leash - as a puppy. Most of his training since then has focused on teaching him to behave appropriately around people he meets when out on leash. However he is clearly very smart, he's food-motivated, and he wants to please. We don't believe there are many limits to what this boy could learn.
His house manners are excellent. He's calm, doesn't get underfoot, is reliably house-trained and crate-trained. His only bad habit is that he might sneak particularly tasty leftovers that are left out on the counters.
HEALTH
Cojak has been sterilized, fully vaccinated, microchipped, and treated for internal and external parasites. He's received regular care from a licensed veterinarian all his life, and his veterinary records will be provided at the time of adoption.
ADOPTION
Cojak's adoption fee is $250. For more pictures and updates about him, see his album on our Facebook page at /pg/HearthfireAnimalRescueTeam/photos/?tab=album&album_id=045
If you are interested in adopting Cojak, please email HearthfireART@gmail.com and request an adoption application. Our application process includes an online background check, vet interview, landlord/property manager interview (if in rental property), and interviews with personal references, other adults living on the property, and the applicant. Depending on various factors we may require a home check. This process usually takes about one week to complete.
Please note that HART does not have a facility. Our dogs are in foster homes or still living with their releasing owners. A meeting will be arranged after your adoption application has been approved.
Most of our dogs are located in the Tri-Cities, Washington area, and as needed we will transport them anywhere within the Pacific Northwest, at the adopter's expense. We do not ship our dogs via a third party; they are handed directly from a HART representative to the adopter.


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