Available Shelties

Ani is an OR due to an illness in the family.  She is 2 years old (DOB 4/4/24), 32 pounds, UTD, spayed, heartworm/fecal negative.

From Ani’s foster mom:  Ani has become a bouncy, lively, barky, Sheltie which is a huge change from when she first came into the program. It took her a while to adjust to her new surroundings. Inside she would hide in her crate or run away from us if we even looked at her. Outside she would stand frozen and trembling. It was weeks before we saw a tail wag and more weeks before we heard her bark. I had thought that it was nice that she was a quiet Sheltie but that is no longer true — now we’re working on “hush”! At first, we had to leash her to get her out to potty and to get her into the utility room for meals. Fortunately she appears to be leash trained. Although getting the leash on her was sometimes a challenge. It was easy enough when she was in a crate but more difficult if she was loose. She’s very good at “keep away”’ If I went one way she would go the opposite way. She would go around the kitchen island, through the living room, back around the kitchen island, etc. Needless to say, it was challenging. Her foster dad gave her a nickname, “Zoom-zoom” because of her speed and agility in evading us. Eventually, with help from our dog, Buddy, she has learned our routine and now readily comes into the utility room for meals, without being leashed . Of course I quickly shut the door so she can’t escape!  Initially I had to feed her in her crate because I would put her meal down and she just wouldn’t eat it, but she would eat it in the privacy of the crate. Now she eats with our Buddy but she seems to want me to pat her head or at least make that motion before she starts eating. Occasionally she won’t finish so I put it in her crate and she finishes there. A similar problem with treats. I would put a treat on the floor in front of her and she would look away and refuse to touch it and now she eagerly eats her treats.

The other challenge has been house training. We are now at the point where she is almost completely house trained. And, also, thanks to Buddy, she learned the routine of going out and now does so without being leashed, mostly. She is very “routine” oriented and the most recent accidents occurred when I was distracted and took care of something else when it was our typical time to go out.

She loves to be brushed. Buddy gets brushed first. Ani waits until it’s her turn then stands calmly for me to brush her. Ani is still skittish. She is also somewhat aloof but she has started coming to me occasionally for petting. I pet her and when I stop she moves closer. But, I’ve noticed that sometimes she’s looking around and I suspect that her friendliness is just a ploy to get Buddy to come and see what’s going on; that she’s just using me to get Buddy to play with her. Ani loves to play with Buddy and they have fun running through the house.

We crate her at night and she goes right in, sometimes even before we’re ready! We sometimes crate her during the day, especially if we’ll be gone for a few hours. And we crate her if we are having work done in the house. In fact we recently had repairmen going in and out and she did very well in her crate and was quiet throughout. Her crates in the bedroom and living room are her safe spots. Another safe spot is the computer desk in the kitchen, as long as no one is at the computer! That’s where she spends most of the time during the day.

Ani will need a home that is willing to be patient with her and work with her as she becomes part of her new family. I’m not sure if she’ll ever be a dog that wants to be close to you or sit next to you and cuddle. She will need a crate or a safe place. I consider her a flight risk. She still “zooms” so we’re especially careful when the front door is open. She will also need another dog to play with and to guide her in her new home. She is a beautiful Sheltie. Zoom-zoom is one of her nicknames and I’ve given her another nickname, Bonny Ani, because she is a bonny lass!

Meet Jack!

Jack is a 1.5-year-old tri-color male with endless energy and an even bigger heart. This sweet, affectionate boy will bring life and laughter to any home. His goofy movements and playful antics are guaranteed to keep a smile on your face — he truly lives life at full speed and wants you right there having fun with him!

For the first 15 months of his life, Jack lived in a loving home but received very little socialization and minimal training. The good news? He is potty-trained and does not chew inappropriate items like shoes. That said, he absolutely still has the mindset (and energy!) of a puppy.

Jack is incredibly intelligent — even for a Sheltie! He learns new commands in just minutes and gets so excited to show off what he knows that he’ll sometimes run through every trick in his repertoire without being asked. So far, he has mastered: Place, Sit, Down, Paw, Sit-Up (“pretty”…okay, handsome!), Wait, Release, Kennel for feeding, and Sit-and-Wait until released to eat. He is currently working on improving his recall. He truly wants to come when called — especially if it means playtime — but his curiosity can get the best of him. If there’s something more exciting nearby… well… squirrel! His attention span is short, but his eagerness to engage is always there.

Athletic doesn’t begin to describe Jack. He is lightning-fast, agile, and seemingly part superhero. If something is in his way, he’ll go around it — or clear it in a single bound. He loves to run, play chase (preferably being chased!), and fetch toys. He doesn’t stay still for long. The only times he truly powers down are at mealtime and bedtime. And bedtime is impressive — one minute he’s bouncing around, the next he’s fast asleep. When he wakes up? Full battery restored. No coffee required!

Because of his high energy level, Jack will thrive in a home that:

1. Is ready for true puppy-level energy.
2. Has another young, playful dog who can keep up with him.
3. Can provide mental stimulation and ideally a “job,” such as agility or another dog sport.

Jack does best when he’s busy. If he becomes bored and doesn’t have an outlet for his energy, he may entertain himself in ways you might not appreciate — much like a busy toddler. He will happily pester another dog to play, so his canine companion should be tolerant and confident — the type who can say “not now” without being upset by an enthusiastic little brother. He respects confident, balanced dogs, but we are looking for a home where the resident dog won’t be overwhelmed by his persistent play invitations.

In his foster home, Jack is doing wonderfully in a structured, controlled environment. Outside the home, he is still building confidence. New people and new places make him nervous, though he has shown no aggression whatsoever. He simply hasn’t had much exposure to the world beyond his home until recently. With patience, continued socialization, and positive experiences, we believe his confidence will grow beautifully.

He walks on leash but may pull when outside familiar areas. He does not attempt to slip out of his collar, but if he were to get loose, he may run — so a secure environment and continued training are important. As he gains confidence and consistency, we expect continued improvement.

Jack is also continuing to work on a couple of behavioral areas. At mealtime, he can occasionally become protective of his food around other dogs. “Food aggression” feels like too strong a term, as this behavior is inconsistent and has been limited to brief growling or posturing during feeding. He takes treats gently, has shown no issues receiving treats alongside other dogs, and allows his foster mom to touch his bowl or interrupt him while eating without concern. He is very food-motivated and eager to be first in line, which may contribute to some competitive behavior in a multi-dog household. With clear structure and established boundaries — which are already in place in his foster home — he is learning that he does not need to compete. Continued consistency and proper feeding management will help reinforce these good habits.

Jack is potty-trained and has been neutered since coming into rescue; however, he does occasionally have small “excited tinkles.” This typically happens when he becomes overstimulated and is then touched or greeted. It almost seems to surprise him as much as anyone! This is something his future family should be aware of, but with maturity, confidence-building, and continued routine, we fully expect this behavior to improve over time.

Jack is a brilliant, athletic, loving young dog who just needs the right home to help him channel his energy and continue learning about the world. With structure, activity, and companionship, he will be an incredibly fun, loyal, and devoted companion.

If you’re ready for a smart, sporty, affectionate sidekick who will keep you active and laughing every day, Jack might just be your perfect match. 🐾

Riley is an OR due to his owner’s illness.  He is 4 years old (DOB 5/5/22), 28 pounds (ideal weight 22-24 pounds), UTD, neutered, heartworm/fecal negative.

From Riley’s foster dad:  Riley is a very well-behaved dog and would shine in any home.  He loves meeting people and other dogs.  He doesn’t like fireworks but tolerates it well.  He is steady at the front door when people or delivery drivers come by and adores the mail lady.  He comes when called, loves being brushed and playing in the hose spray or sprinkler.  Groomers love him and he even likes going to the vet.

Riley is house trained and sleeps in a kennel at night.  I just say kennel and he goes in and lays down.  A kennel is highly recommended.  He rarely misses a chance to follow me outside and likes going places in the car.  I think he could even live in a home with a cat.

He would do well with or without another dog as it is the human who is most important to him.

Casey is an OR due to his owner’s illness.  He is 7 years old (DOB 4/20/19), 45 pounds (ideal weight 35 pounds), UTD, neutered, HW/fecal negative.

From Casey’s foster dad:  Casey is very well-behaved and would shine in any home.  He loves meeting people and other dogs.  He doesn’t like fireworks but tolerates it well.  He doesn’t have any issues and is steady at the front door when people or delivery drivers come by.  He adores the mail lady.  He comes when called and loves being brushed.  He tends to stay close to me in the house.  Groomers love him.  He loves going places in the car, even to the vet clinic.

Casey is house trained and sleeps in a kennel at night.  I mention the word kennel, and he goes in and lays down.  A kennel is highly recommended.  I think he would be fine in a home with a cat.  At four o’clock Casey will stare at me and if it gets too late will give a soft woof letting me know it is supper time.

He would do well with or without another dog as it is the human who is most important to him.