Ajax came to BRLA as an owner surrender with estimated birthday of February 2021.
Ajax is a small handsome boy. He is good on leash and minds his own business around other dogs. He does not really want to play with others, but is tolerant in public. Since his arrival January 2023 he has been working with TeamBRLA and can navigates the world without a ruckus and has opened up to our volunteers. His indifference to other dogs makes Ajax our go to social tester to help fearful dogs. We are starting to see the playful side of Ajax. He loves jolly balls and has a special rock that he is obsessed with. He walks well on leash and knows his basic commands.
His original family had to take in an elderly family member that is allergic to dogs. Ajax was very close to the teenage son that is on the spectrum. The family shared that Ajax had a bad experience at a grooming facility which can make him snappy to items approaching his face or head. We have since discovered he can also be snappy when someone touches his feet.
Ajax needs to build his confidence to be able to trust and lose his desire to snap in protest.
An adult only home with experience working with fear reactive (moves forward not retreating) dogs like Ajax. Considering his history of snapping he needs a very strong assertive leader, in an adult only home, that will replace his tentative ways with relaxed and trusting behavior.
Ajax was able to spend some months in a home environment. He blossomed and lost his reactive to having his face and feet touched. But he became overly attached to his human and did not want to be left alone. He was destructive when she had to go to work. Crating became problematic as he resisted being crated by snapping again. His reactivity and potential to bite is a response to being asked to do something he does not want to do. He ended up coming back to BRLA to find a home where someone was around more than not so he would not have to be confined. We think another dog, one that is balanced might unlock some true joy in Ajax and show him a more enjoyable life as well.
He is a special case, needing someone who is not only fearless but able to establish boundaries and leadership to help Ajax just be a dog and live with trust and respect and lose the need for angry outbursts. He is amazing potential in the perfect set up.
THE BEST HOME FOR AJAX SHOULD
