Adopt

My name is Goliath!

Posted 1 day ago | Updated 1 day ago

Cared for by Ruff Start Rescue
Adoption process
1

Submit Application

2

Meet the Pet

3

Sign Adoption Contract

4

Take the Pet Home

My basic info

Breed
Australian Cattle Dog/Australian Shepherd
Color
Black - with White
Age
Adult
Size
Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg) (when grown)
Weight
Sex
Male
Pet ID
21982115

My details

Checkmark in teal circle Good with kids
Checkmark in teal circle Good with dogs
Checkmark in teal circle Good with cats
Checkmark in teal circle Spayed / Neutered
Checkmark in teal circle Housetrained

My story

Here's what the humans have to say about me:

You can fill out an adoption application online on our official website.



Goliath is one of the most striking dogs we’ve ever met in person. His shiny coat, unique coloring, and those two mesmerizing blue eyes make him an absolute showstopper—and he gets nonstop compliments wherever he goes. But Goliath isn’t just a pretty face; he genuinely  lives  to be a good boy, please his humans, and do the right thing.

He’s incredibly intelligent, highly tuned into people’s emotions and intentions, and picks up on routines and training remarkably quickly. With his smarts come both advantages and challenges: he is extremely trainable and eager to please, but he can also be a bit high-strung compared to other dogs his age. He has no naughty bone in his body, but without proper outlets for his energy and brainpower, he can become restless, showing behaviors like excessive licking, scratching, or whining.

With consistent exercise, outdoor time, and a structured routine with clear boundaries, Goliath absolutely thrives. He doesn’t require any special medications or kenneling, and his previous nervous behaviors are completely resolved. That said, he does best in a home that offers both high levels of physical activity and mental engagement, along with consistent leadership and structure to help him feel calm and secure during downtime.

Goliath is incredibly well-rounded and trustworthy. He does beautifully with people, other animals, and new situations. He kennels perfectly, rides well in the car, can be left home alone for extended periods, walks politely on leash (especially with a gentle leader), and is 100% potty trained. He knows basic commands—come, sit, down, stay—and listens reliably.

Goliath is from an Owner Surrender. If you are interested in getting to know this animal better, please fill out an adoption application. An adoption application is the best way to show your interest in an animal and is not a binding contract.

To learn more about Ruff Start’s adoption process and the care our foster animals receive, please visit our How to Adopt page.

If you are unable to adopt but want to help this animal and others in our care, you can donate   to support the medical and veterinary needs of all Ruff Start Rescue animals.  



Visit this organization's web site to see any additional information available about this pet.
December 10, 2025, 12:29 pm
Rescue

Contact info

Pet ID
21982115
Contact
Address
PO Box 129, Princeton, MN 55371

Their adoption process

1.

Submit Application

Your application simply shows that you are interested in an animal; it is not a binding contract.

2.

Meet the Pet

Your chosen animal’s foster home will reach out to you to discuss the pet you are interested in. If applicable, schedule a meet and greet!

3.

Sign Adoption Contract

An Applications team member will send the electronic adoption contract to you to be signed. They will also request adoption fee payment.

4.

Take the Pet Home

Once adoption agreement and payment are complete, you take your new pet home!

Additional adoption info

After adoption we’d love to remain a resource for you if you have questions or concerns you need help addressing with your new pet. Please reach out to us at adoptionfollowup@ruffstartrescue.org if we can be of any assistance.

Adoption application

Go meet their pets

Ruff Start Rescue is a foster-based rescue, meaning no animals are available at the Princeton, MN office for public viewing or adoption. All animals in our care reside in foster homes with few special exceptions for our adoption center animals, who are housed at our partnering facilities temporarily before adoption. To meet a Ruff Starter you may be interested in adopting, please submit an adoption application on our website.

More about this rescue

Ruff Start Rescue is a foster-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit companion animal rescue that primarily serves communities throughout the state of Minnesota, as well as states in the south with severe pet overpopulation. We rescue stray, neglected, abandoned, and surrendered dogs and cats as well as ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, and other critters. Most of our work is accomplished by a complex network of volunteers, fosters, and supporters, all of whom come together to save thousands of animals each year.

Since our inception, we’ve firmly believed that a home is usually a far more desirable environment than a shelter or a kennel for most companion animals in need of a forever family. As a result, we rely nearly exclusively on volunteers to provide foster homes for rescued pets until they find their adoptive homes. Please note: this means no animals are available at our facility for public viewing.

Each pet in our care is provided with routine vaccinations, spay/neuter procedures, microchipped, given internal and external parasite preventatives, and tested for common bloodborne pathogens such as heartworm and feline leukemia. Advanced veterinary care is provided to any animal that requires such services before adoption.

If you are interested in fostering, adopting, or volunteering, please fill out an applicable application at our website: www.ruffstartrescue.org.

Other pets at this rescue