Jethro
MALE | BORN MARCH 2023 | COCKER SPANIEL
LOCATED IN AUCKLAND
Meet Jethro, a bundle of personality, charm, and cheeky smarts. This sweet boy has come a long way on his journey and adores the humans he bonds with. Once he trusts you, he’ll be your bestie and absolutely thrives on structure, boundaries, and a confident, experienced owner who can guide him. He’s made amazing progress and needs someone who understands that he has his quirks, that he’ll always be a bit of a work-in-progress, and that perfection isn’t what makes a dog special — heart is, and Jethro has plenty of that.
Because he wasn’t well socialised when he was young, Jethro is still learning about the world. New things can be overwhelming for him, and he has developed some reactivity, but ongoing training has helped him immensely. He’s doing better every day and will be ready for adoption in early 2026, once the busy holiday season has passed and he can settle into a new home at the right pace.
With dogs, Jethro is figuring it all out. He can be selective and prefers to choose his own friends, so he’s looking for a home with no other dogs. He’s not a dog-park kind of guy, but he absolutely thrives with the structure of pack walking, where expectations are clear and energy is balanced.
Jethro has medium–high energy and loves having a job to do or a structured activity to focus on, with a good sniffari on the cards for some downtimes too!
What he wants most is a home that truly understands him: someone experienced, patient, willing to continue his training, and happy to embrace his quirks as part of who he is. If you’re looking for a loyal companion with character, courage, and a whole lot of potential, Jethro might just be your perfect imperfect match.
Further Info
Good with dogs: He is learning to be friends with dogs, and can be selective with his buddies. We are looking for a home with no other dogs.
Good with cats: Not suited to a home with cats.
Good with other animals: Unknown.
Good with kids: No, they are too unpredictable for him. Will need a home with adults only.
Energy Levels: Medium - high.
Home Experience Level: Jethro needs an experienced home that can provide him with ongoing training, solid structure and boundaries.
Health: Very healthy boy
Weight: 11.6kg
Update Dec 2025: Jethro has been getting further training as he was not socialised well when young so he has a lot to learn about the world. He has become reactive to new things, but is doing much better and will be ready early 2026, as the holiday period is a bit hectic for him to be integrated into a new home.
A Note on Training and Adopting Our Dogs
Our dogs are wonderful, and we invest a great deal of time and effort into their training and preparation. However, no dog is “perfectly trained” or ready to adopt without any ongoing work.
All dogs go through normal life stages and changes — puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood, aging, moving homes, and adapting to new environments. Any of these can lead to stress, uncertainty, or moments of testing boundaries.
Because of this, ongoing training is essential. Training isn’t a one-off task; it’s a continual process that helps you understand your dog’s needs, support them through transitions, and set everyone up for long-term success.
We would expect adopters to maintain the training we’ve started and seek further guidance if needed. We’re always happy to help with information and recommendations for trainers, and provide advice during the trial and adoption process also.
Can't adopt Jethro? You can still help.
Although we charge a small adoption fee, this doesn't generally cover the costs of us getting our dogs ready for adoption. Desexing, grooms, vet care, vaccinations, registration, training and variety of other things can go into these dogs. If you'd like to help either on a one off or regular basis we would be grateful for your donation.
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