Available Shelties

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. 🐾

Margo is a beautiful, small, 3yr (DOB 11/4/2022) bi-blue female with some piercing, crystal blue eyes. Even though she is small, there is a lot of personality packed into this little frame.

Margo was an owner relinquishment after her extremely high herding instincts got her in trouble with some smaller animals. Her energy is high, and that is another reason she came to HSS. For the last year, she spent all her time outside, so she does have some sunburned hair on her back. Because of this, she currently has some interesting colors on her coat. Over time, the black will come back, as it already is.

Margo has been living inside (of course) and with several other shelties and collies in her foster home. She walked in, got along with all of the dogs in the home and fit in immediately. She really loves to play and is so energetic. However, don’t let her energy fool you because she will quickly be lazy with you and lie around right next to your side.

Margo is just as much of a people dog as she is a dog’s dog. She aims to please and really loves affection. After only a couple of nights in her foster home, she found her way onto the bed. She loves to cuddle and sleep close to her foster mom. She stays put all night. In the morning, she is so full of energy and ready to play, but only when you are. She doesn’t wake you up. She waits for you to get up, and then she is ready to go!

When playing with other dogs, her favorite pastime is chase and zoomies. This is when her herding instincts can really be seen. However, she does like being chased just as much as she likes being the chaser. She will run non-stop with other dogs if you let her.  She is good with all the dogs when playing; however, she does have a strong drive to play, so it could be too much for some dogs. She is not the alpha dog, but she tries to be when playing. Overall, though, she just goes with the flow. When she is playing and running at full speed, if any of them, or anything, ever gets in her way when she is running, she will fly over them in a single leap. If anyone was ever looking for an agility dog, she would be excellent. Her recall is pretty good, and her commands are not too shabby. She would fly through a course! She is also pretty good on a leash and not reactive to other dogs, people, cars or noises.

Feeding time is a breeze with her. She waits for her food and does not go after the other dog’s food if her bowl isn’t filled first. However, if she finishes first, she may attempt to “share” another dog’s food, but she is not food aggressive. In all aspects, she really is a sweet, gentle girl.

She does have issues with you touching her feet or picking her up. We are working on that, but she does yelp, spring into the air suddenly, sometimes, alligator roll and even nip at you, but she doesn’t actually hurt you. We were warned of this when she came to HSS, and it has been seen several times. Toenail trims are not easy with her. It currently requires two people. She can be picked up, but it takes her trusting you and very slow movements. She will actually climb into your lap, and sometimes from there, that is the easiest way to pick her up. She does love belly rubs, so it isn’t a matter of her not liking her belly touched. She is just very reactive to being picked up. As long as you are aware of this, it can be worked on, and it won’t be a big issue.

Margo is now looking for her furever home. A home without cats, or other small animals (i.e., rabbits), but with another energetic dog, no matter the size, is a must! Her personality changes, and she gets a little sad when she doesn’t have another dog that will play with her and try to match her energy. This little girl will bring so much joy to her new family. Will that family be yours?

Riley, along with Casey, is an OR due to his owner’s illness. He is 3 years old (DOB 5/5/22), 29 pounds (ideal weight 22-24 pounds), UTD, neutered, fecal negative. Riley has been treated for heartworms and is now, along with Casey, available for adoption.

From Riley’s foster dad: Casey and Riley are two very active dogs. They like to bark back to the dogs in the neighborhood. They like barking at the neighbor’s cats on one side and a very large dog on the other. I have since toned that back quite a bit, some barking is okay but not a lot. I started crating them at night a few days ago and they responded wonderfully: no accidents. Both boys willingly enter their crates with no problem. Their new owners must have a crate for each of them. Casey even naps in his crate when the back door is open.

They do not play fetch; just like to run around the yard chasing and wrestling each other. My boy also joins in. Casey is more of a house dog and stays near me more so than Riley. They are angels in the house. They need someone who will give them long walks. They have a bundle of energy that needs to be drained every day, and they respond well to that.

Casey, along with Riley, is an OR due to his owner’s illness.  He is 6 years old (DOB 4/20/19), 38 pounds (ideal weight 35 pounds), UTD, neutered, HW/fecal negative.

From Casey’s foster dad: Casey and Riley are two very active dogs.  They like to bark back to the dogs in the neighborhood.  They like barking at the neighbor’s cats on one side and a very large dog on the other.  I have since toned that back quite a bit, some barking is okay but not a lot.  I started crating them at night a few days ago and they responded wonderfully: no accidents.  Both boys willingly enter their crates with no problem.  Their new owners must have a crate for each of them.  Casey even naps in his crate when the back door is open.

They do not play fetch; just like to run around the yard chasing and wrestling each other.  My boy also joins in.  Casey is more of a house dog and stays near me more so than Riley.  They are angels in the house.  They need someone who will give them long walks.  They have a bundle of energy that needs to be drained every day, and they respond well to that.

Neither dog gets on the furniture. I have been off all week, and they have been my constant companions running back and forth.    They come to me when called.  They love when people come over and are super friendly.  Their new parents must provide plenty of hooves and rawhide knuckle bones to satisfy their chewing habits.

At this moment the back door is open and both dogs are lying next to me.  They are super great with my chickens and get along well with my resident dog.  They are not for an inexperienced owner; they crave leadership.