Theodore Akbash & Maremma Sheepdog Mix Bellingham, WA

~~THIS IS A COURTEY POST. THIS DOG IS **NOT** IN THE CARE OF THE ALTERNATIVE HUMANE SOCIETY. PLEASE REACH OUT TO HIS OWNER DIRECTLY AT eglansct@gmail.com THANK YOU~~

Meet Theodore, he's a 3 year old Akbash Maremma Guardian dog. He is a super sweet, loving, silly goofball looking for his forever home and is potty trained and knows basic commands.

Sadly, Theodore suffered some trauma at 7 months old when he witnessed me get attacked by a much larger dog. I held him back, keeping him safe, but ever since then he has been wary of other dogs and any introductions must be made under close supervision with no food of any kind present. Due to this, he would be best if he was the only dog in the home.

Theodore is pretty good with cats and has even been known to try to play with them.

Also, Theodore is extremely leash reactive due to his previous experience so a backyard with a fence is a priority. He needs somewhere he can run around and get out his energy.

Theodore is currently underweight due to our financial situation. I have had to skip meals for myself to be able to try and feed him, yet I cannot afford all the food he needs. He is currently needing 6 cups a day. He is very protective of his food and now resource guards his toys as well.

Theodore does extremely well with people but he does jump a lot so his ideal home would not have little children.

It's important to note that he is a working guardian breed, so he needs a lot of mental stimulation. Before he was reactive and our financial crisis occurred, he received daily training and long walks, dog park fun at least three times a week, and stimulated play time. He is very active, both mentally and physically, but more so mentally.

Theodore loves to observe his surroundings and is happy watching out the windows. He is also extremely affectionate and loves to get head pets. He also loves getting his belly brushed! He has a behavior where he will boop his nose to you which sometimes results in a head butt lol, but it was something we did all the time when he was a puppy where I bumped my nose into his, and it is now a sign of affection.

He runs like a goofball, a mix between galloping and jumping, sometimes even tripping on his own legs. He's super smart and always wanting to learn new things and even if he doesn't show it, he's always listening! He's loved to cuddle, but on his own terms and he follows me around everywhere! He likes to sleep on the bed but if he gets too hot he moves to the floor.

Theodore is a diamond in the rough but if someone will just grab the polishing rag and make him shine, his sparkle will never fail to light your way. He is a super, loving, smart, attentive dog and deserves the best. It breaks my heart to have to rehome him, but he needs someone who has the time to be with and train him. He needs someone who has the ability to play with him and accommodate his physical and mental needs and be able to always feed him!