There's a lot to learn when you have a new pet. Our sister brand, The Wildest, is here to support you—with new pet checklists, virtual training, and expert guides. Sign up for free.
I found a new home! Plenty of my friends are looking for one too. Check out other pets at this shelter, or start a new search.
Find a pet to adopt
My basic info
Breed
Australian Shepherd/Border Collie
Color
Merle
Age
4 years 9 months old, Young
Size
Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg) (when grown)
Weight
–
Sex
Male
Pet ID
3095
My details
Good with kids
Good with dogs
Shots current
Spayed / Neutered
Housetrained
My story
Share
Here's what the humans have to say about me:
Meet Mac! Available in Thornton NH.
Mac is a male, neutered, 2yr old Aussie/Border Collie mix. Mac is missing an eye, but he's still the most gorgeous pup in town!
Mac came to ASF back in February, and after about a month in foster, he was adopted. Mac was returned a few weeks ago, through no fault of his own, and is now ready to meet some new friends!
Mac is looking for a family to give him all the attention and love he deserves. Mac is great with adults, children, and other dogs.
Because Mac is very intelligent, and would be considered high energy, he needs a daily walk of at least 30 minutes. He would also do well to have other dogs in the home to play with, since this helps blow off some energy. Mac is amazing on leash. He is not reactive to cars, people, or other dogs on the walk. He walks well with just his human friends, or along with other dogs. If you are a hiker, regular walker, or you like to jog and run, Mac would love to be your friend!
When Mac is with a pack of dogs in foster, he gets a little nervous taking treats, and runs off with them so that way no one steals them. That said, he takes treats very gently and he does not resource guard with the other dogs. He just wants a quiet place to enjoy his own treat. He can eat meals next to other dogs, or is comfortable being crated while he eats as well.
Sometimes Mac will be a little bit demanding for attention, so he is learning not to use his paws to tell you he wants some affection. But, he's also learned the "off" command, and will settle down for belly rubs.
We think because he only has one eye, he gets especially nervous going out at night, or when there are thunder and lightning storms. What we have done to help him: we have put out solar sensor lights for when he goes out to our dog yard at night, and when we know there will be a thunder and lightning storm, we put him in his crate, because he thinks of that as his safe space. It has a blanket over it, and then we put on a fan or some other white noise to help keep him calm. So while these behaviors are a little wacky, they can be managed.
Mac will require a few "meet & greets". In the home, he is slow to warm up to strangers. Mac responds best to "no talk, no touch, no eye contact". He does not want to be greeted - he does better if you completely ignore him, and then he will come up to greet you. After he sniffs your hands, he'd really like to get in your face - I'm not joking when I say that he likes to smell your ears, eyes, and mouth as he gets to know you. He's very gentle, and it's pretty adorable! If you have a ton of foot traffic in your home, you might not be the right fit for Mac.
And one more thing, Mac does get car sick. We are working to desensitize him. He's not fearful to get into the car, but then his stomach will regret it. Continued desensitization with short car rides on an empty stomach should help.
Mac may have had a rough start to life, but he is an absolute sweetheart. He wants nothing more than to play with some dog friends, get some love and affection from our two children (ages 4 & 6), and climb up into my or my husband's lap, even though he's too big to be considered a lap dog. With the right amount of structure and exercise, Mac would be a beautiful addition to the right family.
If you think that Mac is a good fit for your family, please fill out our application:
