Border Collie puppies and dogs in Mankato, Minnesota

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.

Hi! I'm Anabelle. I'm a 9 year old Border Collie Black Lab mix. She is a gentle and loving dog who likes to be around people. Anabelle loves to go on walks and be outside. She is afraid of storms and the sound of shooting guns and will want to be inside if either of those occur. She is great with kids and people and when properly and slowly introduced to dogs she is fine. She is looking for a loving home where she can get the attention she deserves! This pet is microchipped, spayed/neutered & up to date on vaccinations. The adoption fee is $250. If you are interested in learning more, please e-mail adoptions.protectingpaws@gmail.com

Hello! My name is Tommy! I am about 1.5 years old. I look like I could be a border collie staffy mix, but I’m not 100% sure what breeds are in my doggie family tree. What I can tell you: I’m a perfect medium sized guy with a massive zest for life! I give every activity 110% Walks? Love them! Zoomies in the yard? Yes please! Food, YAS! Cuddles- here I come!!!! I currently live with 3 dogs and I’ve lived well with cats. I get along with all types of dogs, I really love to play and romp around with canine friends. I walk well on a leash, I am crate trained, and now, with my new structure and I am potty trained too! My foster mom is so happy with how easy I am to train, I really just want to make my humans happy. I am a bit of a ladies man and I love all kids! Sometimes it takes me just a little bit to warm up to some men, but treats helps me know he is ok. My ideal home will be with someone who is willing to continue and likes training - I promise I make it fun because I like to learn and work. I also thrive with structure and will make a perfect running or hiking buddy. And after a fun day, I am ready to snuggle and watch sports or Hallmark! I am a very sweet boy is loves life and is excited to be your new bestie! Come meet me and you will love me! If you would like to meet Tommy, please visit spotslaststop.org and fill out an application.

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.

Are you looking for a perfect senior pup to give a loving final home to? This old girl is a heart stopper- Daisy is sweet, funny, loving, easy going and still enjoys play. Daisy found her self in rescue after her life timer owner lost her home. Daisy grew up as a house dog in the country so the city sounds are new but Daisy is adjusting! She enjoys hanging out, taking walks and chasing a light laser. She currently lives with a mellow dog and 2 cats. Daisy is looking for a calm, loving home that will give this old gal a soft place to land in her finale years. Put in an application and meet this sweet girl- your heart will melt! If you would like to meet Daisy, please visit spotslaststop.org and fill out an application.

Meet Otis, one of our incredible Parvo Puppy Survivors! Otis is an incredibly handsome Heeler mix, although we cannot say for certain exactly what breeds make up his family tree. He was one of a litter of 11 puppies who came to BENCHS from another shelter, expecting their next big adventure to be finding families of their own. Instead, these little puppies suddenly found themselves in the fight of their lives when the litter became sick with parvovirus. Otis fought hard, he BEAT PARVO, and now you would never know what he has been through! He is healthy, thriving, growing, and becoming more fun and silly by the day. After everything these puppies went through, getting to watch their personalities emerge and seeing them simply enjoy being puppies has been incredibly special. Otis currently lives with several of his siblings and has never gone a day of his life without other dogs around him. He has grown up eating, sleeping, playing, wrestling, exploring, and learning alongside his canine family, giving him tons of early experience socializing and communicating with other puppies. Now that he is healthy and feeling great, Otis is becoming a joyful, goofy little guy who is ready to take on the world. Our best guess is that Otis and his siblings have some Heeler, or Australian Cattle Dog, in their family tree. Heelers are intelligent, energetic, loyal working dogs that tend to thrive when they have opportunities to use both their bodies and their brains. They can make incredible companions for families who enjoy staying active, training, exploring, and including their dogs in their adventures. Otis is looking for an active indoor home that is ready for all of the fun, work, learning, and laughter that comes along with raising a smart, energetic puppy. Potential adopters should also understand that herding breeds can sometimes bring their working instincts into family life. Chasing, circling, and nipping at heels can emerge as these puppies grow, particularly around small children who are running, squealing, and playing. These behaviors do not necessarily mean a dog is being aggressive. They can simply be an extension of the instincts these dogs were bred for, but they can still be overwhelming for very young children and require consistent training and appropriate outlets. Because Otis is still a young puppy and we do not yet know how strongly those instincts will develop as he matures, families with very small children should carefully consider whether an energetic herding breed puppy is the right fit for their household. Otis has already faced something enormous in his very short life, and he came out on the other side. Now he is healthy, happy, wonderfully silly, and ready for the next chapter. This time, we hope his biggest challenges involve learning his manners, figuring out where his family hides the treats, and deciding which spot on the couch belongs to him. Come meet Otis at BENCHS and help us give another one of our Parvo Puppy Survivors the happy ending he fought so hard for! BENCHS puppy adoption fees are $500 plus tax. Otis’s adoption fee includes his neuter, microchip, dewormer, flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, distemper boosters, Bordetella vaccination, and rabies vaccination. Our puppies also head home with a gallon bag of food, a leash, collar, harness, tote bag, blanket, toys, and some other little freebies to help make the transition into their new home a little easier. Otis’s adoption also includes a professional family photo to capture the beginning of his new life with the people lucky enough to call him theirs!

Meet Boone, one of our incredible Parvo Puppy Survivors! Boone is one seriously handsome Heeler mix, although we cannot say for certain exactly what breeds make up his family tree. He was one of a litter of 11 puppies who came to BENCHS from another shelter, ready to begin the next chapter of their lives. Instead, shortly after arriving, these little puppies found themselves facing a battle none of us saw coming when the litter became sick with parvovirus. Boone fought, he survived, and he BEAT PARVO! Today, those scary days are behind him. Boone is healthy, thriving, growing, and becoming more fun and silly with every passing day. After everything this litter went through, watching Boone run around, wrestle with his siblings, explore, and cause all of the normal puppy mischief feels pretty incredible. Boone currently lives with several of his siblings and has never gone a single day of his life without the companionship of other dogs. He has grown up eating, sleeping, playing, wrestling, and learning alongside his canine family, giving him tons of early experience socializing and communicating with other puppies. As he continues to grow and gain confidence, we are getting to see more and more of Boone’s personality. He is playful, curious, goofy, joyful, and very ready to see what the rest of the world has to offer. Our best guess is that Boone and his siblings have some Heeler, or Australian Cattle Dog, in their family tree. Heelers are incredibly intelligent, energetic, loyal working dogs. They were bred to stay busy, think independently, and work alongside their people, so they often thrive in active homes that can provide plenty of exercise, mental enrichment, training, structure, and adventure. Boone is looking for an active indoor home that is excited about raising a smart, energetic puppy and continuing his training and socialization as he grows. Potential adopters should also understand that herding breeds can sometimes bring their natural working instincts into family life. Chasing, circling, and nipping at heels can emerge as puppies mature, particularly around small children who are running, squealing, or playing. These behaviors do not necessarily mean a dog is being aggressive. They can simply be an extension of the instincts these dogs were bred for, but they can still be overwhelming for very young children and require consistent training and appropriate outlets. Because Boone is still a young puppy and we do not yet know how strongly those instincts will develop as he matures, families with very small children should carefully consider whether an energetic herding breed puppy is the right fit for their household. Boone has already had to be much braver than any puppy should have to be. He fought through parvo, recovered, and came out on the other side with an entire lifetime still waiting for him. Now we want his biggest adventures to be learning new things, exploring new places, finding his favorite toys, getting into a little harmless puppy trouble, and growing up surrounded by a family who absolutely adores him. Come meet Boone at BENCHS and help us give another one of our Parvo Puppy Survivors the happy ending he fought so hard for! BENCHS puppy adoption fees are $500 plus tax. Boone’s adoption fee includes his neuter, microchip, dewormer, flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, distemper boosters, Bordetella vaccination, and rabies vaccination. Our puppies also head home with a gallon bag of food, a leash, collar, harness, tote bag, blanket, toys, and some other little freebies to help them settle into their new homes. Boone’s adoption also includes a professional family photo to capture the beginning of his new life with the people lucky enough to call him theirs!

Meet Brownie, one of our incredible Parvo Puppy Survivors! Brownie is an incredibly handsome Heeler mix, although we cannot say for certain exactly what breeds make up his family tree. He was one of a litter of 11 puppies who came to BENCHS from another shelter, ready to grow up and begin searching for families of their own. Instead, shortly after arriving, these babies found themselves facing a battle none of us expected when the litter became sick with parvovirus. Brownie fought hard, he BEAT PARVO, and now those scary days are behind him! Today, Brownie is healthy, thriving, growing, and getting sillier by the day. After spending so much time worrying about whether these puppies were going to be okay, there is something incredibly special about watching them run around, play, cause a little puppy chaos, and simply get to enjoy being puppies again. Brownie currently lives with several of his siblings and has never gone a single day of his life without the companionship of other dogs. He has grown up eating, sleeping, wrestling, playing, exploring, and learning alongside his canine family. That has given him tons of early experience socializing and communicating with other puppies. As the weeks go by, more and more of Brownie’s personality continues to emerge, and he is becoming such a fun, silly, joyful little puppy who is ready to take on the world. Our best guess is that Brownie and his siblings have some Heeler, or Australian Cattle Dog, in their family tree. Heelers are intelligent, energetic, loyal working dogs that were bred to stay busy and use both their bodies and their brains. They tend to thrive in active homes where they receive plenty of exercise, enrichment, training, structure, and opportunities to be included in family life. Brownie is looking for an active indoor home that is excited about raising a smart, energetic puppy and continuing his training and socialization as he grows. Potential adopters should also understand that herding breeds can sometimes bring their natural working instincts into family life. Chasing, circling, and nipping at heels can emerge as they mature, especially around small children who are running, squealing, or playing. These behaviors do not necessarily mean a dog is being aggressive. They can simply be an extension of the instincts these dogs were bred for, but they can still be overwhelming for very young children and require consistent training and appropriate outlets. Because Brownie is still a young puppy and we do not yet know how strongly those instincts will develop, families with very small children should carefully consider whether an energetic herding breed puppy is the right fit for their household. Brownie has already overcome something enormous in his short life. He fought through parvo, recovered, and came out the other side ready to LIVE. Now we want the rest of his story to be filled with adventures, training, toys, treats, muddy paws, ridiculous puppy antics, and a family who gets to watch this special little survivor grow up. Come meet Brownie at BENCHS and help us give another one of our Parvo Puppy Survivors the happy ending he fought so hard for! BENCHS puppy adoption fees are $500 plus tax. Brownie’s adoption fee includes his neuter, microchip, dewormer, flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, distemper boosters, Bordetella vaccination, and rabies vaccination. Our puppies also head home with a gallon bag of food, a leash, collar, harness, tote bag, blanket, toys, and some other little freebies to help them settle into their new homes. Brownie’s adoption also includes a professional family photo to capture the beginning of his new life with the people lucky enough to call him theirs!