About Me:
Hi there! My name is Arlo. I am an 8-year-old heading dog looking for a slower, steady pace of life. Our family adopted me from the SPCA 3 months ago. Because of this, my early history is a bit of a mystery, but my current owners say I am simply such a great dog. I am fully desexed, microchipped, and currently registered with the Waimakariri District Council.

I am incredibly loyal, intelligent, and focused. I am well past the chaotic puppy phase, making me a beautifully well-mannered companion around the house. In fact, most of the time, I will only come inside when I am explicitly told I can! I sleep soundly in my crate at night. I also know all my manners: I sit, shake hands, drop, and will even “speak” on command when at home. On my walks, my sit and come commands are excellent, and my recall is very good.

Please note: My name was changed when I was adopted 3 months ago. For my own stability and comfort, my owners request that my new family keeps my name the same.

Kids & Other Animals:
I absolutely love children! I live with two kids aged 7 and 11, and I have been fantastic with all the visiting children who have smothered me with affection. I am very gentle and well-behaved around them.
When it comes to other animals, I am perfectly fine walking past horses, sheep, ducks, and birds without a worry. I don’t react at all when walking past houses with barking dogs, and I have had good interactions with smaller dogs.

Why We Are Rehoming:
When we adopted him, we planned to give him all the time and focus he deserved. However, our circumstances have unexpectedly changed. My partner recently secured a new job requiring 12–13 hour workdays, which we never anticipated. With these intense hours, we simply cannot provide the daily companionship and stimulation a heading dog needs to thrive. It is a massive shame to be rehoming him, but we love him dearly and know this selfless choice is what is best for him.

Ideal Home & Walk Rules:
I am looking for a quiet retirement home, ideally on a lifestyle block or a rural property in Canterbury where I can hang out with my humans and stretch my legs in a secure yard. Because of my age, I am strictly not available to go to a working farm as a working dog—I am too old for heavy stock pressure and deserve to just be a cherished family pet.

While I am a fantastic companion, I do require an owner who understands breed boundaries. I need to be a lead-only dog when out in public spaces and am not a candidate for off-lead dog parks. I had one stressful incident with another dog recently where I became reactive. Because my full history before the SPCA is unknown, I simply need a responsible owner who is happy to stick to on-lead walks, quiet trail strolls, or pacing around private property. I promise to reward your diligence with absolute loyalty and affection!

Note from current owners:
We are fully committed to finding him the right fit and will require a property and reference check to ensure his next home is a great match. We will coordinate with the new owner to officially transfer his microchip details via the NZ Companion Animal Register (NZCAR) and update his registration details with the Waimakariri District Council.

Bonus: We have purchased high-quality gear for him over the last 3 months (including a secure run, bedding, and harness etc) that we are very happy to sell to his new adopters to help him settle in with familiar items.

There is a $100 adoption fee to ensure a committed, loving home, and we are happy to negotiate a fair price if you would also like to purchase his high-quality gear (secure run, bedding, and harness etc).