About Billy

Billy is a bright, energetic young dog with a whole lot of love to give. In his previous home, Billy was described as calm and cuddly indoors, happily lounging on the couch with his person, he is currently finding the shelter environment overwhelming.Billy is food motivated, loves his toys (especially soft squeaky ones and the ball), and has a solid foundation in training - he knows "sit," "shake," and can hand target. While he's a smart cookie, Billy can get over-aroused easily, especially with handling or on walks where he tends to pull and stay hyper-vigilant. This boy is still learning to navigate the world and can display conflicting behaviours around other dogs - showing both social interest and signs of fear, insecurity & frustration. His presentation suggests he's under-socialised, with interactions driven by curiosity mixed with fear or anxiety. He was able to meet the neighbours female German Shepherd dog in his previous home, and they became best mates and enjoyed spending the day playing in the yard with her.Due to a lack of early life experiences and a suspected stressful previous environment, Billy has been diagnosed with generalised anxiety and is currently on daily medication (Trazodone) to support his emotional wellbeing.Billy would thrive in a home that understands anxious dogs and is willing to continue working on his confidence and impulse control using positive reinforcement. While he may not be a candidate for dog parks just yet, he could potentially build relationships with calm, friendly dogs like he did with his old pal Zia.If you're patient, consistent, and ready to help this loyal young guy bloom, Billy could be the perfect new companion for you.