Teddy aka Samson Bernese Mountain Dog Salem, OR

Name: Teddy (previously Samson)
Age: Around 1yr
Gender: Male
Breed: Bernese Mt Dog / Australian Shepherd
Weight: 65lbs
Estimated adult/healthy weight: 65-70lbs

-Good with-
Dogs: Slow to warm up and can be nervous at first, but good with good natured dogs that wont let his nerves annoy them/irritate them. He would be just fine in a home without other dogs, though.
Cats: Unknown.
Kids: He would do best in a home with older kids, probably 14+
House trained: Yes
Crate trained: Yes
Leash trained: Yes
Basic commands known: Kennel, place, sit, yes, no, lay down
Likes car rides: Yes
Loves to cuddle: Yes
Likes to play? (People/dogs): Yes, after he warms up.
Best personality trait: Underneath fear and nerves, hes a very sweet boy that wants to work for and make his human happy.

Needs to work on: Confidence, boundaries, and basic training. He needs a strong, kind leader in the home who will give him the confidence he needs to succeed and excel. Without a confident leader, Teddy has the tendency to feel like he needs to protect what is his. He has shown guarding behaviors in foster as well and will guard his person from other dogs if hes allowed to. He requires a strong willingness to say no and to maintain firm boundaries that he is the dog and that means the human makes decisions, not him. When these boundaries are in place, hes a lovely member of the household. Affectionate, calm, and sweet. When there are no boundaries, he gets insecure and is at risk of nipping/snapping. He has had two sessions with a trainer who has given him a work plan and the adopter would have access to free follow-up group classes.

Family requirements (note if the dog needs a fence, other dogs in the home, kids/no kids, breed experience, high/low activity, etc): He would do best in a home with older kids, probably 14+. He is nervous around men so it will take work and a warm-up period but he has gotten used to and learned to trust his male foster. He would like a yard, but hes not a particularly active or high energy guy. He likes a couple walks and then hes good to chill.

Other info?: Teddy is a wonderful dog when he has structure and appropriate leadership. He would benefit from ongoing training, and would love to go home with someone who is interested in dog training. I think doing something like agility with him might be a good bond-builder, as well as a confidence builder. He is NOT the kind of dog you can leash up and take to the Saturday market, or overwhelming places with a lot of strangers and strange dogs. He prefers time spent with his people in quieter places, like parks, or hiking.