Experienced home wanted for small Belgian-type Shepherd

Experienced training home sought for an approx 2.5yrs old bitch who has been with us for the past year. Sadly due to changes in family circumstances we are no longer able to keep all our dogs and feel that at such a young age, she deserves a new family to love her and continue with the training that we started. When she joined us she hadn't had the best start in life and was very underweight. She's microchipped, house-trained (sleeps in a crate as can chew if left unsupervised for extended periods of time) and is extremely affectionate. She will chase the barn cats but has learned to coexist with a couple of guinea pigs in a cage in the same room as her crate and finds the food more interesting than the actual piggies. She's playful, will carry a toy about when she chooses, has basic commands like sit, down and short stays and is now far more gentle taking treats, although this has taken time and patience as had been starved in previous life. She is fed raw food as recommended by a couple of trainers/behaviouralists and separately to the other dogs to remove the competition. She is kept on a lead out on walks unless in a secure/enclosed area where her recall is making great progress. We were advised that in the past she has worried sheep so we do not let her off-lead around livestock. She has anxiety around a couple of dogs here at home and looks to her humans for security and if worried will bark but responds well to a gentle "shush" or slow stroke on her head. With other dogs she should be introduced gradually and at her own pace so she's not overwhelmed but can be very playful with dogs that she's comfortable with. She's been around children here daily, but they are used to a variety of animals and respect giving them space of their own. She a young dog who can be bouncy and needs to be reminded of boundaries, so older/teen dog-savvy children only would be advisable. Ideally an experienced home with some breed knowledge would be perfect for her. Read more