Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
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Story
Willa Emma was adopted from BENCHS as a young puppy and recently returned after her owner began battling some unexpected medical issues. This decision had nothing to do with Willa Emma herself, and her family was able to give us so much helpful information about the wonderful, goofy, intelligent teenager she has grown into.
Now 6 1/2 months old, Willa Emma is very much in her teenage puppy era. She is active, incredibly smart, social, playful, and full of personality.
And we actually have a pretty good idea of what makes up this beautiful girl! Willa Emma's sister had a DNA test completed, which came back as 37% Belgian Malinois, 25% Border Collie, 16% Australian Cattle Dog, 3% German Shepherd Dog, and 17% Supermutt. While siblings can inherit different percentages of their ancestry, these results give us a pretty great glimpse into Willa Emma's family tree.
If you know herding breeds, that combination probably explains a LOT about Willa Emma.
She absolutely loves kids and has done well with children of all ages. She is still learning her manners and doesn't always understand that she can't jump up to greet them. She also takes her self-appointed herding responsibilities pretty seriously! She may gently nip at the back of someone's leg or use her body to block and redirect people. Her previous family even reported that she would sometimes body block the toddler in the home. These behaviors will need continued training and appropriate outlets as she grows.
Willa Emma also LOVES other dogs. Her family told us that she has not met a dog she didn't get along with. She loves to run, plays a great game of fetch, and would likely have a blast with another playful canine companion.
Her experience with other types of animals is more limited. She was frightened by rabbits and did not do well around them, and her family is unsure how she would respond to cats. Because we don't know how she would feel about living with a cat, a cat-free home may be the easiest fit.
Willa Emma is doing really well with potty training. When she is somewhere unfamiliar, her family recommends watching for her to start sniffing around corners, which can be her way of telling you she needs to go outside. She has also been known to pee on soft surfaces. Her previous home did not have rugs or carpeting, so moving into a carpeted home may require some additional supervision while she adjusts to a new routine. She is accustomed to going outside on a yard leash for potty breaks.
At night, Willa Emma sleeps either in her owner's bed or in her kennel. During the day, one of her favorite places to relax is perched on the back of the couch. She enjoys being near her people and being involved in whatever is happening around her.
This girl LOVES enrichment. Puzzle toys are a favorite, and she is happiest when her brain has something to work on. She still loves toys of all kinds, especially soft toys she can tear apart and anything that squeaks. Collagen chews are another favorite, although she has officially decided that Greenies are not worth her time.
Willa Emma already knows sit and stay/wait, and her family has worked on teaching her to wait for permission before eating. Sometimes she will even wait until she hears "OK" before digging into her meal. They have also started teaching her "center," where she comes back and positions herself between her person's legs. She is still working on that one, but she's beginning to understand the idea.
Her recall is also still a work in progress. Like many intelligent teenagers, sometimes she hears you perfectly well and simply has other plans! Until she has a reliable recall, she will need to remain safely leashed or contained when outside.
Willa Emma loves going places and does well in the car, although she prefers to stand for the entire adventure so she can keep an eye on everything happening around her.
She currently eats Fromm dog food and has been receiving approximately 1 1/2 cups in the morning and another 1 1/2 cups in the evening. She isn't a particularly picky eater.
Willa Emma's dream home is an active household prepared to embrace everything that comes with raising a highly intelligent herding-breed teenager. Whether her family lives in town or in the country matters much less than whether they are prepared to give her the exercise, enrichment, structure, training, and involvement she needs.
With Belgian Malinois, Border Collie, and Australian Cattle Dog making up the majority of her sister's DNA results, Willa Emma isn't the kind of dog who will be fulfilled simply hanging out at home without much to do. She needs people who are excited about having a smart, active dog and are willing to give that busy brain appropriate jobs. Walks, adventures, games of fetch, puzzle toys, positive reinforcement training, and learning new skills would all be wonderful outlets for her. As she gets older, she could also be a really fun candidate for activities like agility, scent work, obedience, or other dog sports.
Most importantly, Willa Emma is still just a puppy. She isn't expected to have everything figured out yet. She is still learning how to control her excitement, what behaviors humans appreciate, and how to put that very busy brain to good use.
Beneath all of that teenage energy is an incredibly sweet, social girl who loves people, loves kids, loves other dogs, and wants to be part of everything her family is doing. Willa Emma has already been loved very much, and now she is getting another chance to find the family who will help her grow from a goofy, brilliant teenager into the incredible adult dog we know she has the potential to become.
