JASPER*

Jasper is a highly trainable, people-social dog who enjoys playing with ball toys, going for walks, hikes or jogs, positive reinforcement training, and figuring out how to get his food out of treat-dispensing toys. Because he is a bit uncertain or selective about other dogs, the shelter environment has been pretty hard on him. To help with that, Jasper has been spending time in a foster home during the night and comes to the Shelter during the day - hoping to meet his adoptive family soon! His foster reports: Jasper has been a perfect guest, no accidents in the house, slept through the whole night. Jasper is highly motivated by tennis balls and LOVES fetch. Playing fetch can be used in training moving forward as a reinforcement for behaviors we want to encourage. He responds to sit and down cues to earn treats. Sometimes Jasper has big feelings about other dogs, primarily when he is on leash or behind barriers. This is common for adolescent, energetic dogs that may enjoy playing with other dogs but easily become frustrated when they cannot access them the way that they want. A home with another dog MAY be a fit in Jasper's next home after a meet and greet. He does enjoy playing with well-matched dogs as well as going for walks with dogs he's gotten to know. We highly recommend a few weeks of decompression once he's in a new home - a period where his schedule is pretty consistent, he isn't taken to new places or introduced to new people or pets every day. He needs some time to settle and bond with a new family, through consistency, puzzle feeding, regular exercise, and positive reinforcement training. The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation is now offering “Pawsitivity Bucks” with every dog adoption. This $200 training voucher is a way for newly adopted canines and their guardians to connect with local positive reinforcement based behavior consultants and get their relationship started off on the right paw! Jasper's adoption fee has been sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation's Leave No One Behind fund- a fund that draws adopter's eyes towards animals that have been waiting a little bit longer than average for the right adopters to come along and bring them home. Please note: Our Santa Cruz location’s Shelter hours are 11-6pm, 7 days a week! Although clients can walk through and see any animals in their kennels during open hours, we end “meet and greets” (aka meeting an animal out of the kennel) at 4:30pm every day. If you’d like to meet an animal out of the kennel, please arrive before 4:00pm to allow for time to discuss individual animals and meet them.

Jasper is a highly trainable, people-social dog who enjoys playing with ball toys, going for walks, hikes or jogs, positive reinforcement training, and figuring out how to get his food out of treat-dispensing toys. Because he is a bit uncertain or selective about other dogs, the shelter environment has been pretty hard on him. To help with that, Jasper has been spending time in a foster home during the night and comes to the Shelter during the day - hoping to meet his adoptive family soon! His foster reports: Jasper has been a perfect guest, no accidents in the house, slept through the whole night. Jasper is highly motivated by tennis balls and LOVES fetch. Playing fetch can be used in training moving forward as a reinforcement for behaviors we want to encourage. He responds to sit and down cues to earn treats. Sometimes Jasper has big feelings about other dogs, primarily when he is on leash or behind barriers. This is common for adolescent, energetic dogs that may enjoy playing with other dogs but easily become frustrated w

Jasper is a highly trainable, people-social dog who enjoys playing with ball toys, going for walks, hikes or jogs, positive reinforcement training, and figuring out how to get his food out of treat-dispensing toys. Because he is a bit uncertain or selective about other dogs, the shelter environment has been pretty hard on him. To help with that, Jasper has been spending time in a foster home during the night and comes to the Shelter during the day - hoping to meet his adoptive family soon! His foster reports: Jasper has been a perfect guest, no accidents in the house, slept through the whole night. Jasper is highly motivated by tennis balls and LOVES fetch. Playing fetch can be used in training moving forward as a reinforcement for behaviors we want to encourage. He responds to sit and down cues to earn treats. Sometimes Jasper has big feelings about other dogs, primarily when he is on leash or behind barriers. This is common for adolescent, energetic dogs that may enjoy playing with other dogs but easily become frustrated when they cannot access them the way that they want. A home with another dog MAY be a fit in Jasper's next home after a meet and greet. He does enjoy playing with well-matched dogs as well as going for walks with dogs he's gotten to know. We highly recommend a few weeks of decompression once he's in a new home - a period where his schedule is pretty consistent, he isn't taken to new places or intro