Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
Spayed or Neutered,
Story
Meet Dutchess – A Shy Girl with a BIG Heart! 💕
Dutchess (ACCT-A-263861) is a beautiful, 1-year-old Border Collie mix with a heart full of love just waiting for the right person to discover it! This sweet girl may be a little nervous when you first meet her, but once she realizes you’re a friend, get ready for some of the best hugs and kisses around!
Dutchess came to ACCT Philly on October 12th after spending nearly her entire life in a home. Sadly, her owner was experiencing health challenges that made it impossible to continue caring for her. Going from the comfort and familiarity of a home to a busy animal shelter has been a big adjustment for Dutchess, and she was understandably terrified when she first arrived.
In her first few days, Dutchess was overwhelmed by her new surroundings. She would freeze, tuck her tail, and shy away from unfamiliar people and movements. But underneath all that fear was an incredibly affectionate dog just waiting to feel safe again.
And what a difference a few days and some kindness have made!
Once Dutchess gets to know you, her personality absolutely blossoms! She’s become a total cuddle bug with the people she trusts. She gives the sweetest hugs, happily climbs into laps, leans into her favorite people, and generously hands out kisses. She may initially approach with a little uncertainty, but give her a few minutes, some gentle encouragement, a little baby talk, and plenty of praise, and you’ll see her start to melt into you.
Dutchess isn’t just a sweetheart—she’s a fun-loving, playful young dog, too! According to her former owner, she loves playing fetch, tug-of-war, going for walks, and spending time with her people. She’s a big fan of toys, including balls, squeaky toys, stuffed animals, ropes, and chew toys. Her previous owner described her as friendly, playful, and full of energy, and said her dream home would be with a happy family who has plenty of room for her to run and play.
She’s also showing us that she knows how to settle down! Dutchess has been spending time in an office with staff, where she’ll eventually curl up and relax with a toy or chew while her human works on the computer. She’s comfortable spending time in a crate, and her former owner reported that she was fully crate trained and housebroken, although she may have accidents if crated for too long.
As a young Border Collie mix, Dutchess will likely thrive with a family that enjoys staying active and can provide a healthy balance of physical exercise, mental enrichment, and downtime. She’s a smart, sensitive girl who will benefit from patient, positive reinforcement training that helps build her confidence.
Dutchess has participated in dog introductions and playgroups at the shelter. While she has been able to sniff and investigate other dogs, she’s generally been unsure of their attention. She’s shown discomfort by curling her lip, baring her teeth, moving away, and seeking comfort from staff when other dogs approach. These behaviors suggest that she’s not quite comfortable with canine social interactions yet. Any potential home with another dog would need thoughtful introductions and careful consideration of her comfort level.
Her former owner’s reports about cats were inconsistent, with one questionnaire describing her as getting along with cats and another reporting reactive behavior toward them. Her compatibility with cats is therefore uncertain.
Dutchess is looking for a patient, understanding family who can see past her initial shyness and appreciate the incredibly loving dog underneath. An adult-only home with adopters experienced in helping fearful dogs would be ideal. She’ll need people who understand that trust is earned, not rushed, and who will give her the time and space to adjust to a new environment at her own pace.
Fast movements, unfamiliar handling, and stressful situations can still frighten Dutchess, so gentle interactions, predictable routines, and positive reinforcement will be important as she continues building confidence.
The wonderful thing about Dutchess is that we’ve already seen how quickly she can blossom when she feels safe. In just a few short days, she’s gone from a frightened dog unsure of the world around her to a loving, affectionate companion who actively seeks out her favorite people for hugs, kisses, and reassurance.
Her former owner described her as “soft and lovely,” and we couldn’t agree more.
Dutchess doesn’t need someone to change who she is. She just needs someone willing to give her the security, patience, and love to become the happy, confident dog we know is in there.
If you’ve got a little patience, a love for affectionate dogs, and room in your heart for a sensitive soul, Dutchess might just reward you with a lifetime of the very best hugs. 💕
🎥 Watch sweet Dutchess in action:
https://youtube.com/shorts/lHSCpDRoWKE
Dutchess is at ACCT Philly, located at 111 W. Hunting Park Avenue in Philadelphia. Visit www.acctphilly.org/adopt for adoption information.
ACCT Philly is located at 111 West Hunting Park Ave in Philadelphia. We are open for adoptions 7 days a week. Please visit www.acctphilly.org/adopt for details.
If you are a rescue interested in pulling this animal, please email our lifesaving team, or visit here if you are not currently a rescue partner: https://acctphilly.org/acct-philly-love-local-partnership-program/
Confirmed placement is considered a confirmation of an actual rescue pull. Possible placement, interested parties, and other "TBD" statuses are not considered confirmed and do not indicate an animal is no longer urgent.
All animals at ACCT Philly are from Philadelphia, as the only open-intake animal shelter in Philadelphia, we are not able to accept animals from outside of Philadelphia. ACCT Philly's Pennsylvania kennel license number is 08313
