Toby Husky & Shepherd Mix Sparta, WI

Toby is a 2-year-old male Husky/Shepherd Mix who was one of nearly 50 dogs that were removed from a hoarding situation. The conditions of the home were unsanitary, and the dogs came to us covered in feces/urine, underweight and very scared. Toby (along with most of the dogs) is very timid and never knew anything outside of that home. Because of this, he's going to need plenty of time to settle in to any new situation. Everything is new to him...leashes, noises, new people, etc.
Toby's ideal new family would be one that has plenty of love and patience. Although his past was traumatizing, he can still have a bright future! He will benefit from structure, routine, and positive exposure to things like car rides, greeting strangers, and even affection. Toby shows trust in humans that he's familiar with, but is still insecure and will need plenty of time to really come out of his shell. His family should be incredibly understanding and dedicated. Working with a behaviorist/trainer will also be beneficial.
Toby does well on walks, and spends the whole time just soaking in the sights and sounds he's never experienced before. If he sees strangers while he's walking, he does begin to show fear. His new family should do plenty of research on what you can do to avoid Toby crossing his threshold, and how you can turn walks into a positive thing. He does walk behind you a little bit sometimes, but gains a lot more confidence the more he gets walked. He should get a walk every day to help him desensitize to the outdoor sounds. This will also help him to build trust with his humans.
Toby appears to understand potty training and waits to go potty until he's outside. That being said, until he fully trusts people, he should be kept on a long leash or tie-out when he's outside, even if he's behind a fence. The reason for this is that he's not quite ready to come to you on his own, and he will run if he feels chased. This will improve with time and when he's with a family that provides him with consistency.

Because he's so used to being around so many other dogs, we do recommend that his new household include a K9 companion. Ideally, this dog would be friendly and playful, but also not overbearing. Toby happily coexists with other dogs and actually follows their lead. Having a well-balanced, people-oriented doggy friend will most likely help Toby to improve even quicker while also allowing him to have companionship.

Toby is such a precious boy with tons of potential. He may never be the most outgoing dog, but if you have room in your heart and home to give him the life he deserves, we know he'll improve and learn to trust people again. He deserves a clean, warm home with a family that gives him attention every day.

Toby should do well around most other dogs and children that are old enough to understand and respect boundaries.

Toby's adoption fee is $150.