Meet Slade: Part Red Heeler, Part Chaos, Possibly Part Coyote

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Slade is a one-year-old, 40-pound red heeler mix—possibly with a little coyote somewhere in the family tree. His birthday is sometime in October, so we celebrate it on Halloween. It feels appropriate.

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He is neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. He does not currently have an established veterinarian, but he has been examined multiple times in the past and has been considered healthy.

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Slade is one of the most interesting dogs I have ever met. He is intelligent, energetic, stubborn, affectionate, and fully committed to making sure nobody becomes too comfortable. He loves digging, rolling around in the grass, running outside, and performing unauthorized investigations of sandals and blankets.

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My wife and I rescued Slade when he was approximately four months old. We were told he was only one month old, but we later realized the people we received him from were likely operating a puppy mill. We believe he may have been mistreated during those first few months, particularly by young children, and those experiences appear to have affected his behavior.

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Slade deserves more time, exercise, structure, and training than I am currently able to give him. My wife is pregnant, and because of Slade’s behavioral history, I am not comfortable having him around a newborn. This is an extremely difficult decision, but finding an appropriate home is the responsible choice.

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The Good

Slade is very intelligent and responds well to me when he receives consistent attention. He knows:

• Sit

• Lie down

• Stay while waiting for food

• Paw

• Jump

• Give kisses

 

He also understands more conversational language than I would have expected from a dog and often responds appropriately without being given a formal command. For example, he will sit automatically when he wants a door opened. I have also begun working with him on hand signals.

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Slade has never shown resource guarding toward me. He has even eaten from the same bowl as my poodle without an issue. He has also never had a problem with me handling him.

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He currently lives successfully with my poodle, but he is reactive toward unfamiliar dogs. Any future dog introductions would need to be gradual and handled by an experienced person, with no guarantee that he can safely live with every dog.

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He has never lived with cats, livestock, small animals, or any dogs other than my poodle, so his behavior around them is unknown.

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Slade loves car rides. He will initially try to lick the driver, because apparently personal space is merely a suggestion, but he eventually settles down and falls asleep.

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He also loves showers and is completely obsessed with water. His excessive interest in drinking water has been discussed with veterinarians multiple times, and no medical explanation has been found.

 

He has otherwise been considered healthy. His water access may still need to be monitored because moderation is not currently part of his skill set.

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The Difficult Parts

I need to be completely transparent: Slade is not an easy dog and is not suitable for an inexperienced owner.

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He is reactive and aggressive toward unfamiliar dogs. Although he currently gets along with my poodle, careful introductions, professional guidance, and ongoing management would be necessary around other animals.

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He is also reactive toward young children, particularly children younger than approximately seven. He should not be placed in a home with babies or young children.

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Slade barks when strangers enter the home and can become overstimulated around visitors. During a party, after he had been forcefully given anxiety medication and was eating, a friend attempted to pet him. Slade bit the friend on the face and caused a minor cut. No medical treatment was required beyond a bandage, and authorities were not contacted.

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This was still a bite, and any potential adopter must understand that Slade has a bite history. His aggression has not yet been formally evaluated by a veterinarian, professional trainer, or veterinary behaviorist.

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He appears to have some separation anxiety. When he was younger, he attempted to escape his crate and learned how to open simple crate doors. When left unattended outside of the crate, he scavenges and may tear apart items such as sandals or blankets as though he is hunting them.

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He is currently crated whenever nobody is home and spends a significant amount of time in the crate. He would benefit greatly from a home that can gradually provide him with more supervised activity, mental stimulation, exercise, and structured training.

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He is not fully comfortable with nail trims. Vet visits are also difficult when he and I are separated, and he has previously required medication for those situations.

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He pulls on the leash and tends to circle around me within approximately a ten-foot radius while walking. He currently uses a retractable leash, but a future owner may want to transition him to more secure walking equipment and structured leash training.

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What Slade Needs

• An experienced adult owner

• Preferably a professional trainer or someone familiar with reactive working breeds

• No babies or young children

• A securely fenced yard

• No unfamiliar dogs without careful, controlled introductions

• Caution around cats, livestock, and small animals because his behavior with them is unknown

• Consistent obedience, crate, leash, and impulse-control training

• Regular physical exercise and mental stimulation

• Careful management around visitors

• Someone prepared to work with a veterinary professional or qualified behavior specialist

• A secure crate that he cannot easily open

• Substantial daily time, supervision, patience, and effort

 

Slade is not a “plug-and-play” family dog. He is closer to a long-term renovation project with teeth. He may do best with someone who understands heelers, reactive dogs, or working breeds and can give him a real job and routine.

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Items That Can Go With Him

• His collar

• Vest

• Retractable leash

• Dog shoes

• Clothing

• Other available personal items

 

He currently eats dry dog kibble mixed with water, generally provided as one large daily portion. His feeding routine could be discussed and adjusted with a veterinarian based on his future activity level and needs.

 

Adoption Requirements

I will require:

• A phone conversation before placement

I reserve the right to decline any placement that does not appear safe for Slade, the household, or the surrounding community.

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Location and Transportation

I am located near Pittsfield, Maine, and I am willing to transport Slade within approximately 50 miles.

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There is no adoption fee. I am also willing to take him back if the placement does not work out, provided I am contacted rather than having him surrendered or transferred elsewhere.

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My priority is finding a safe and responsible home that understands exactly what Slade needs. I do not want him neglected, repeatedly rehomed, placed around young children, or put into a situation where he could injure someone.

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Slade is difficult, brilliant, frustrating, funny, and deeply loved. With the right person, professional guidance, structure, and serious commitment, I believe he has a real chance to become the dog he was supposed to be.

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Email gavinthomas17@gmail.com