Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
Good with kids,
Good with dogs,
Good with cats,
House-trained,
Spayed or Neutered,
Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Dakota is fostered in Zeeland, MI
Meet Dakota! She is a stunning 1.5-year-old, 34-pound red merle Border Collie is basically a little tornado of brains, kisses, energy, and pure devotion! She and Utah were both surrendered when their former owners moved back to Ireland and were unable to take them with.
Dakota has massive herding instincts and a personality to match. She is incredibly smart (she learned the doggy door on day one in her foster home) and she is always ready to learn, play, explore, or get into a little harmless mischief. She is also extremely food motivated, which makes her eager to please and a great candidate for continued training. She has discovered the joy of counter surfing, so her future family will want to help her learn that countertops are, in fact, not buffets.
Then there's Dakota's love language: You! She is an enthusiastic, affectionate, slightly ridiculous lover who would happily spend the entire day pressed against you if you let her. She wants to nuzzle you, kiss you, be petted, and generally make sure you know that you are her favorite person. She is not a “I'll hang out quietly across the room” kind of dog. Dakota is a full-contact, Velcro-style best friend who wants to be involved in whatever you're doing.
Her energy level is unmatched, so she is looking for an active family who will give her plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation. She loves toys, happily plays fetch, and would thrive with someone who enjoys training, hiking, adventures, games, or simply keeping an energetic dog busy. She would not be a great match for someone looking for a low-energy couch potato who is content to entertain herself.
Dakota is very well socialized and has been wonderful with people, kids, and her surroundings. She is also fantastic with children. Her foster home has three young kids, including a baby, and she has been incredibly sweet, patient, and appropriate with all of them. She is happy to share her space with her tiny humans. Dakota is also surprisingly quiet! Despite all that Border Collie energy, we've rarely heard her bark in her foster home.
Dakota is accustomed to living with other dogs and has lived with another dog her entire life. She can show some possessiveness around other dogs, particularly around valued items, but she responds well to correction and listens to her foster family's commands. Her foster family has been able to successfully redirect her, and her future family should continue working on this behavior with consistency and positive training. She would also be perfectly happy as the only dog, where she could soak up all the attention for herself!
Dakota has free range of her foster family's entire yard and has shown no tendency to run off. She is happiest when she has room to move, things to investigate, and people to hang out with. If left alone for long periods, she may have an occasional accident in the house, so a family with a reasonable schedule and the ability to give her regular breaks would be ideal.
Above all, Dakota is smart, affectionate, playful, energetic, well socialized, and SO ready to have a person of her own. She has a huge personality and an even bigger heart. She isn't looking for a family who simply wants a dog — she's looking for a family who wants a best friend, adventure buddy, personal shadow, fetch partner, and professional snuggler all rolled into one. If you're ready for a dog who will keep you moving, keep you laughing, and make sure you never feel unloved again, Dakota would love to meet you!
Dakota is spayed, microchipped, up-to-date on all vaccinations, and receives monthly flea, tick, and heartworm prevention. She does require a committed adopter who is willing to devote 1 - 2 hours of mental and physical stimulation per day.
NOTE: All of our dogs live in foster homes with volunteers so we need an approved application on file to set up a meet with a dog you might have an interest in. Please visit our website for more information on our adoption process, our adoption fees and a link to our adoption application. We pride ourselves on matches that work for both the dog and your family. MASR is here for your support, advice and safety net for our dogs for the remainder of their lives. www.MidwestAustralianShepherdRescue.org
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