Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
Good with kids,
Good with dogs,
Story
Nova, 3.5 months (estimated DOB June 2026), female, Black Mouth Cur mix, estimated to be a large dog when full grown. She is in a foster home in Houston, Texas.
Nova has all the fun of a puppy without making you feel like you’re supervising a tiny tornado 24/7 :) She was rescued from the county shelter where she was at risk of euthanasia in Houston. She was not feeling great which is why she was at risk. She went immediately to the vet where she had some skin infections and hookworms. Both have been treated and she is doing wonderful. You will notice her hair is still making a comeback on certain parts of her body, but she is medically cleared and ready for adoption!
Nova is already showing an impressive combination of confidence, independence, intelligence, affection, and self-control. She is the kind of puppy who can enjoy a good play session, settle afterward, entertain herself with a toy, and then quietly observe what everyone else is doing. In other words, she has the fun puppy personality without needing to be the center of attention every second of the day.
Nova is gentle, confident, and respectful with dogs of all sizes. She has interacted with dogs ranging from puppies her own size all the way up to a Great Dane, and she has done wonderfully with everyone. She enjoys playing but understands when another dog is finished and appropriately backs off. She has shown no concerning behaviors when meeting or interacting with other dogs.
Nova enjoys canine companionship, but she is also independent enough that she does not appear to require another dog in her future home.
Nova has also been around cats and has been remarkably respectful of their boundaries.
If a cat is unsure about her, Nova doesn't insist on making friends. She gives the cat space and allows the cat to decide whether or not to approach.
What About Kids?
Nova has not yet been directly evaluated around children, so her behavior with kids is currently unknown. Because she is still so young and has not been tested with children, we aren't making a specific age recommendation at this time.
Like any puppy, she will need appropriate supervision, positive experiences, and guidance as she continues learning about the world.
Smart Girl!
Nova has an impressive training foundation for such a young puppy. She already knows:
Name • Sit • Wait • Stay • Drop It • Come • Heel
She walks nicely on leash and is learning to heel. Even when other dogs are creating distractions around her, Nova can disengage and come when called without needing a treat. She's also highly food motivated, which should make continued positive-reinforcement training a lot of fun.
House & Crate Training
Nova is mostly potty trained with occasional puppy accidents. She sometimes lets her foster mom know when she needs to go outside. She is also crate trained and settles beautifully in her crate.
For such a young puppy, Nova is surprisingly well regulated. She absolutely enjoys playing, especially with other dogs and her toys, but she settles easily afterward. She doesn't seem to need constant entertainment or attention to be happy. She loves toys and will happily play tug with another dog or settle down with a chew toy by herself.
Nova is an excellent traveler. In the car, she settles down and sleeps calmly—even when the other dogs around her are being chaotic. Nova is confident without being pushy. She loves her people but doesn't feel the need to be glued to them.
When meeting strangers, she often watches how the dogs around her respond first rather than immediately rushing into the interaction. She's curious, observant, and thoughtful about new situations.
And when something interesting is happening around her? She can simply sit back and take it all in.
What Kind of Home Does Nova Need?
Nova could potentially fit into many different homes. She would be a wonderful match for someone who wants a smart, confident puppy and is excited to continue building on the excellent foundation her foster family has started.
She has demonstrated that she can live comfortably around dogs of dramatically different sizes and has been respectful with cats. She enjoys having canine friends but doesn't appear to need another dog in the home.
Most importantly, her adopter needs to remember that Nova is still a baby. Her current accomplishments are impressive, but she will still need continued potty training, socialization, puppy supervision, positive-reinforcement training, appropriate exercise, and plenty of opportunities to learn.
The Nova Difference
What makes Nova special isn't simply the list of commands she already knows.
It's how easy she is to live with.
She can play hard and then settle. She can entertain herself. She can calmly ride in the car. She respects other dogs' boundaries. She gives cats space. She doesn't demand constant attention. And she's already learning to listen to her people even when exciting things are happening around her.
Please note our process starts with an application. If we think you might be a good fit, we will reach out to coordinate a phone interview. This is followed by a video call with the foster home. Virtual home visit, personal and vet reference checks are required to complete the process. Transport is included in our adoption donation.
***Listed BREED and AGE - We are taking our best guess & recommendations from our veterinarian on age, breed and size when fully grown. We rarely know a dog's exact age nor are we able to tell the true or full breed mix of dogs as our information is limited most of the time. ***
Interested in applying to adopt? Fill out an adoption application at the link below!
https://new.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/PRP/Dog