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My basic info
Breed
Border Collie
Color
Red/Golden/Orange/Chestnut - with White
Age
Adult
Size
Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg) (when grown)
Weight
–
Sex
Male
Pet ID
–
My details
Not good with kids
Good with dogs
Good with cats
Purebred
Needs experienced adopter
Shots current
Spayed / Neutered
Housetrained
My story
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Here's what the humans have to say about me:
Meet our favorite underdog, Parker. Parker is a 5 – 6 year old stunning red and white smooth coat Border Collie with a heart of gold, but whose life seems to have been nothing but a struggle until now. Rescued from a Utah shelter, his past is unknown…but it does not seem like it was a good one. He arrived at WBCR just a mess. We are only just starting to discover the “real” Parker and seeing a new dog emerge from his troubled history.
Parker so badly wants to be a good boy and to be loved, but unfortunately, due to inconsistency and mixed signals in his life, he is very confused and not sure how to be a good boy. He has a gentle soul as evidenced by his kindness towards cats - he lets them rub his legs, lick his face, and lay next to him. He is also very good with people he trusts. But he does not give his trust and respect easily…it must be earned! Once you earn Parker’s trust and confidence, however, you have a most loyal friend – and you get to see his goofiness and fun-loving nature! He is his foster mom’s shadow and will do anything she asks of him. Parker is starting to seek positive attention and having his ears and belly scratched are climbing to the top of his ‘favorites’ list very quickly! He is so cute when he wants attention. It seems to be a somewhat new feeling in his life and he is unsure about what to do about it, but he is overcoming his uncertainty and coming to his fosters with a huge smile and a happy tail! Parker has some issues meeting new people and will need continued work on this. He has come a long way in his foster home, but is still not always appropriate when strangers come in the house or when he meets them out and about - he gets very worried which leads to some defensiveness. He is working through this quite well and it is only a matter of time before he is comfortable with unknown people. He now meets people on the trail with no barking or defensiveness as long as they do not try to engage him. He is learning ‘social graces’ but is definitely a work in progress! He is good with other dogs he trusts as well, and lives with 3 others in his foster home, but is not very interested in other dogs and can be a bit loud and boisterous for timid dogs. He has not shown a lot of interest in toys, but is starting to think a Frisbee is pretty cool! Hikes and long walks are high on Parker’s list of favorite activities. He can go forever and is also an amazing running and biking buddy. Parker loves to go on runs, but HATES running in the rain! He will park himself and refuse to move away from home or the car if it is raining. The minute the rain stops he happily jumps up and takes off for a new running adventure. He cracks us up! He loves his outings but is really only a moderate energy guy - an hour hike and some play time in the backyard are good enough for Parker.
This clever boy has some skills to boast about, too. He is completely housetrained and cratetrained (thought he does NOT love his crate), and never chews on anything inappropriate. He is excellent in the house and can be left for up to 8 hours with no problems. He is routinely left free in his foster home with the three resident Border Collies without incident and is very content. He is familiar with the basics and his recall gets better every day. Parker will do best in a quiet, adult-only home with BC experience. Another dog would be OK if they were quiet and mellow. He needs a lot of time to bond and build confidence and definitely needs a dog savvy home where he is able to make mistakes without fear of unfair punishment as he learns his boundaries.
If you love the sweet but misunderstood dogs of the world and have time, skills, and patience to help one discover how great the world can be, Parker may be the dog you are looking for. In the right hands, he will continue to blossom, surprise, and delight us! He does need help becoming his best, but the time, love, and effort you invest in him will be rewarded by a huge smile, a happy tail, and a dog that will give you his whole heart – something he has never had a chance to do, until now.
Parker is fully vetted, neutered, and living in a loving foster home near Salt Lake City, UT.
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