PLEASE DO NOT APPLY UNLESS YOU MEET ALL KODA’S REQUIREMENTS

Koda is just the sweetest boy you ever will meet!

Sometimes he is aloof and serious, or happy to chill at your feet all day rather than zoomies and mischief that the breed is known for. However, give him a ball to play with (especially one that squeaks) and you get a whole different dog!  Playtime brings him completely out of his shell, his energy levels go through the roof and he can’t keep the smile off his face! He will even throw it to you to join in the fun!

He loves walks and trips to the beach and he walks like a dream, requiring very little lead pressure if he starts to pull. He luuurves his humans!   He trusts and bonds quickly, losing his initial shyness within hours.  He will follow you everywhere and likes to be close to you at all times, but he also likes his personal space and doesn’t like to be mollycoddled.  He often chooses to lay his head on your lap but equally might want to sit by your feet where he can feel safe.  He is particularly fond of sharing the bed and will sleep at your feet all night, waking you in the morning with a full-on bed bath!

Koda suffers mild separation anxiety but can be left alone during the day if he is allowed somewhere he can watch for your return, ideally with access inside the home. With this in mind, he would suit a family where someone is home more often than not so that he can relax knowing you are home safe. He can be nervous in the dark due to having Polar (Star) cataracts (see medical notes below), so would need to be an inside dog at night.

He is very affectionate and loves to please. He will work for all kinds of rewards – tennis ball, food, pats and praise – which makes it very easy to train him.  He loves it when he gets something right but he is very unsure of himself so regular training is a must to increase his confidence.  He learns very quickly (especially if food is on the cards) and responds well to voice commands once he is in a settled environment.

Koda can be a little highly-strung, occasionally shutting down temporarily in new situations.  He is initially head-shy and fast movements spook him, so he often overreacts by flinching, jumping, and bolting out from under your feet.  There have been reported isolated incidents in the past where he has nipped when overwhelmed but this was likely due to a sudden movement that he did not have time to assess.  This has not reoccurred now he is settled in a home environment and has learned more appropriate behaviours.

Unfortunately he marks regularly when in a new environment but this soon stops once he is settled. Koda can be a bit of a resource guarder and can get carried away when playing (his foster sister doesn’t appreciate him sitting on her face!) which can lead to tensions.  Therefore he would be better suited to an only-dog home where he doesn’t have to share and playtime can be just you and him.  Any other dog will need to be confident but chilled while Koda learns how to play and share nicely.

Like most huskies, he can be very boisterous.  He sometimes gets carried away so any children will need to be older so he doesn’t get into trouble.  He has a very high prey drive which combined with his poor eyesight means he is unsuitable to be let off-lead or around small animals.

He likes a routine and boundaries with regular positive reinforcement.  Once he is familiar with his routine, his anxiety drops so he needs a calm, consistent handler who can read when he is getting overwhelmed and intervene before it escalates.  Koda is still learning the most appropriate ways to respond to situations so patience and understanding is essential, as well as a willingness to continue training.

This boy is looking for a family who will provide him with a safe environment where he can blossom into the cheeky redhead he is!

Koda is not suitable for apartment or farm living, and is not available for interstate adoption.  A home with Husky experience is preferred.

Medical notes:

Koda has been diagnosed as having Posterior Polar Cataracts in both eyes.  This is not affecting his vision at the moment and no special treatment is required.   The prognosis for Koda is good, however there is the possibility that he may suffer some vision impairment in the future so this condition will need to be monitored.  The good news is that polar cataracts rarely cause blindness, progression is usually slow and should there be any vision loss, dogs don’t rely nearly as much on their eyesight as their sense of smell and hearing and generally adapt very well.

Microchip # 953010000389709

Adoption Fee: $450