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**Please read the full bio for Cooper ** Meet Cooper. Isn't he handsome? The pictures are great but honestly don't do him justice of just how handsome he is. He is 60 pounds of smushy gray fur with a white-tipped tail, paws, & belly. He has the cutest little underbite. Cooper is looking for his forever home - one who is dedicated to just Cooper as he needs to be the only pet in the home. Cooper is housetrained & crate trained - he enjoys a treat-filled kong or bone while chilling on his bed. Recently he hasn't needed to be crated (his foster mom does remove things that would be tempting to chew in his space). He is a smart boy - in his first home, he completed quite a bit of training. He can sit, leave it, lay down, recall, & stay! He is a strong boy & needs an experienced handler that will work on his manners & leash skills. In his original home, Cooper lived with 10 & 12 year-old boys from the time he was 8 weeks old until he was 11 months old & he loved them very much. He is both active AND chill - he likes to lie down beside you as well as run & do the zoomies in the yard. Chasing a ball or stick is his favorite pastime. When he is done, he’s ready to lounge. A DNA test was done which says he is a mixture of Labrador Retriever, American Staffordshire Terrier, hound, & Chinese Shar Pei.
If Cooper is so amazing, why was he returned to the rescue? Cooper was loved & cared for from the time he is adopted at 8 weeks of age until he had to return to the rescue at 11 months of age. He was adopted into a home with a 2 year-old dog who was also a Pawfect Match dog. She loved him as a puppy, but gradually indicated that she no longer wanted another dog to live with her, as she would prefer to be the queen of the castle. They both had high energy play styles & a few play sessions became too escalated & difficult to break up, with neither dog relenting. Cooper didn't take kindly to being told no by her, & continued to assert himself. She then didn't take kindly to being ignored. It caused a stressful situation for both dogs. Because of this, we have decided Cooper needs to be the only pet in a furever home.

Cooper needs to know he has a place to be calm & that no other dogs might get in his business.  He is not going to be a candidate for a dog park or doggie daycare. It would put him an unpredictable situation, undoing the confidence, training, & self control that are important to his success.