Xander, STAR #2131

🎾 Meet Xander – The Wiggly, Ball-Chasing Best Friend You’ve Been Waiting For!

This handsome 5-year-old Black Tri Australian Shepherd weighs about 55 pounds and is every bit as charming as he is handsome. With his soulful brown eyes and adorable freckled nose, he’s guaranteed to steal your heart.

Xander came to STAR after spending his entire life with one family. As the children grew up and life became busier, he was spending too much time in a crate, and his family made the difficult decision to give him the opportunity to find a home where he could enjoy the active life he loves.

Xander is a happy, energetic boy whose signature full-body butt wiggles are guaranteed to make you smile every day. He’s the ultimate Velcro dog, happiest when he’s by your side, whether you’re headed to the kitchen, bathroom, relaxing on the couch, or doing activities in the yard.

His favorite pastime? Ball, ball…and more ball! He’ll happily bring one over, drop it at your feet, and patiently wait for the next throw. Then he’ll do it all over again. And again. And again. If you’re looking for a fetch partner, Xander is your guy.

People are Xander’s favorite thing. He’s affectionate, eager to please, and regularly checks in with his person for reassurance and direction. He’s equally excited to meet new people and dogs, sometimes pulling enthusiastically on leash to say hello, but he responds well to redirection.

Xander enjoys the company of other dogs and would thrive with a playful canine companion who enjoys roughhousing as much as he does. Think of him as the fun-loving younger brother who’s always asking, “Want to play?” He also respects corrections from dogs who aren’t in the mood. He does want to be first – first to go out the door, first to get pets, and would like to have all the attention. He would be OK as an only dog – but only if it’s an active home with his people around.

Once playtime is over, Xander settles beautifully around the house. He’s happiest lounging nearby, preferably as close to you as possible, because if he had his way, he’d absolutely be a lap dog. He will rest his head on your feet to keep tabs on you while he naps. He’s gentle when taking treats, incredibly affectionate, and responds best to kind, consistent leadership. Beneath his playful personality is a sensitive soul who simply wants to make his people happy.

Xander loves walks, hikes, and outdoor adventures and has tackled long hikes without missing a beat. He’s still perfecting his leash manners and enjoys zigzagging to investigate every interesting smell along the way. He frequently looks to his person for guidance and isn’t bothered by passing traffic or other everyday distractions.

He’s crate trained, house trained and will happily let you know when visitors arrive with an alert bark. He does enjoy running the fence and barking at the neighbor’s dog, but it’s all excitement and an invitation to play, never aggression.

With his athleticism and intelligence, Xander would likely excel at agility, Frisbee, dock diving, or just about any activity that keeps both his mind and body engaged. He’s also completely obsessed with the water hose, making summertime play sessions equal parts exercise and bath time!

One thing to know: Xander is a champion counter surfer. If food or something interesting is within reach, he’ll happily assume you left it there just for him. Consider him your helpful reminder to keep countertops tidy!

He sleeps quietly in his crate overnight (although he’d much rather sleep closer to you) and has shown no destructive behavior in his foster home. He loves carrying toys around, tossing them into the air, catching them himself, and proudly “de-stuffing” them one squeaky toy at a time.

Xander would do best with an active family and another playful dog to help burn off his energy. He has been around children without incident. He has not been tested with cats, but while he would likely enjoy a good chase initially, his foster believes he could learn to peacefully coexist with slow, thoughtful introductions.

In return, you’ll gain a loyal, goofy, affectionate companion who wants nothing more than to be your very best friend.

Xander is being fostered just south of Austin. He came to STAR already neutered and microchipped and has since been fully vetted, brought up to date on vaccinations, and tested heartworm negative (yea! – and on preventative).

If you’re looking for a fun-loving adventure buddy with endless affection, an infectious smile, and the world’s happiest butt wiggle, Xander is ready to meet you!

Please complete an adoption application to learn more about Xander.

https://www.southtexasaussierescue.org/adopt/

IMPORTANT: We do not deliver dogs to adopters. You must be able and willing to come meet the dog in their foster home. A home visit by one of our STAR volunteers is a required part of our adoption program. Adoptions outside of Texas are rare because of these requirements. You must have a secure fence in place, and we are not fans of apartments for this breed, nor homes where the dogs will be home alone 8+ hours daily. All STAR dogs are adopted to be inside pets and family members only and all current or past pets in the home must have proof of being kept up to date on vaccinations and Heartworm prevention. The adoption fee is $300 and trust us, we spend that or much more on dogs to get them vetted – all STAR dogs will be neutered/spayed, up to date on vaccinations, microchipped, heartworm negative, and on monthly heartworm prevention. If you already have an application on file with us, you can contact us to let us know you are interested.

Xander is a beautiful black tri male with the cutest freckles.  He is 4 yrs-old and weighs 55 pounds.  His owners have a busy life with kids and activities and Xander was spending quite a bit of time alone.  They made the difficult decision to release him to STAR.  We will find him the perfect active home.  Xander will be fostered and evaluated in the Austin area and should be ready for adoption mid July.