He has spent almost 1,000 days in an RSPCA kennel after being rescued from a 'filthy' and 'hazardous' home when he was just days old.
Two-year-old Eric was rescued alongside his seven siblings in October 2019 and has been waiting around for his original owner to be brought to justice ever since.
The poor pooch has missed out on his entire puppyhood - but has learnt some necessary skills while staying at the RSPCA's Birmingham Animal Centre.
A statement reads: "He was just a little pup, days old and all he knows is life in our kennels.
"Unfortunately, Eric is living proof of how long it can take to get justice, his court case dragged on for so long and Eric was stuck here with us throughout that period.
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"He is a perfect example of how important early exposure to "real life" is during a dog's early developmental stage."
However, the Dutch shepherd is now ready to move in with a new owner who has the time an patience to teach him everything he needs to know.
"We're having to look for a very particular home where he can learn about life and develop his skills at a very slow pace," the statement adds.
"Although Eric has come so far in his ongoing training and has shown us how clever and responsive he is to known and trusted handlers, we will need to start from scratch with potential adopters to help him develop the strength of bond he has with our team.
"We're looking for adopters who have breed experience or experience of living with and supporting under socialised dogs, who have the time to make multiple visits and can spend quality time getting to know Eric and building a bond with him."
Eric can be intense and impulsive when faced with unpredictable situations - causing him to become really anxious.
"He responds by barking and lunging on then lead towards the unpredictable stimulus," the statement adds.
There are many situations Eric has found unpredictable. Unfamiliar people, moving vehicles and noisy machinery.
"His handlers have made huge strides in giving Eric experiences and tools to help him cope with these situations around our centre, but in reality he is still in a highly controlled environment.
"Everything about life in a household and outside our kennel environment will be new to Eric."
As he has never lived in a home before, he needs to be placed into an adult-only home with no existing pets. His owner also needs to be at home most of the day.
Eric has always been unsure around other dogs and is fully muzzled trained as a result.
The statement adds: "We have seen Eric grow in front of our eyes and our kennel team adores him.
"He's still a cheeky pup and he can mouth strongly when over excited, frustrated or anxious, but our dedicated team have worked out some very effective ways of helping him to be calm.
"He loves to be tucked into his bed at the end of the day with his favourite chew.
"Eric has a lot of energy and responds really well to training, which is why we're looking for someone who can provide activities for his brain as well as his body.
"Our team will fill you in on all the things Eric loves doing, and will help you identify more."
If you're interested in rehoming Eric, or any other dogs in at the RSPCA's Birmingham Animal Centre, complete an application form and email it to birmac@rspca.org.uk.
Do you have a dog story to share? Email paige.freshwater@reachplc.com.
