Australian Shepherd puppies and dogs in Chaska, Minnesota

Nova is the kind of dog who makes you feel like the most important human in the world. At just 2 years old and 31# (with a couple to spare), this Australian Shepherd mix is a bright, affectionate companion who brings equal parts joy and curiosity to every day. Her foster family calls her Wiggle Butt and Busy Bee, and both nicknames fit! She greets her people with a full‑body shimmy. She loves gathering toys in a heap or surveying her yard like the world’s most dedicated neighborhood watcher. Enthusiastic, inquisitive, attentive, silly, and undeniably loving, Nova is happiest when she’s with her person. She adores belly rubs, grooming sessions, and any adventure that lets her sniff, explore, and observe. When she’s excited, she pops up on her back feet and “dances,” pawing the air like she’s conducting her own little parade. Nova’s ideal family is active, fair, and engaged… people who enjoy regular walks, appreciate a smart dog and share her joy for life. She has a medium energy level: ready for outings, but also content to chill inside once her needs are met. She’d do well with respectful, gentle kids, and she has previously lived with both children and cats. Nova could be an only dog or share her home with a friendly pup. She will thrive with humans who provide calm leadership, clear expectations, and steady routines. She listens beautifully when spoken to with confidence, and responds best to patient people who don’t rely on loud voices. She can be shy with men at first, but kindness and gentle words earn her trust. Nova is housebroken, crate‑trained, and who loves taking in every scent and sound, though she doesn’t exactly walk on leash in a straight line yet. She’s good in the car too. Continued leash work and basic obedience classes will help her shine even brighter. Given the opportunity, she will try to keep her person all to herself, but respects boundaries when they’re consistently reinforced. If you’re looking for a devoted, smart, affectionate companion who will make every day a little more fun, Nova is ready to wiggle her way into your life. She promises to make you laugh at least 3 times a day! APPLY to adopt her at hoabcr.org/how-to-adopt. Nova is being fostered in Minnetrista, MN. Her adoption fee is $450 + MN sales tax. She is spayed, microchipped, and up to date on age-appropriate vaccines. Upon adoption, all of our dogs go to their new homes with a collar and harness, leash, starter food, blanket, favorite toys & treats. They are current on flea/tick and heartworm prevention. As a foster-based rescue, we do not have a central facility to visit. Meet and greets with specific dogs are arranged once your adoption application (not an inquiry through Petfinder) has been received, processed, and approved. We are located in Minnesota and adopt to an area 400 miles from Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Hi, my name is Splendid and I am from Arkansas! Meet the sweetest little scoop squad you’ve ever seen! This adorable Ice Cream Litter is ready to melt hearts (and maybe your couch space), and they’re looking for amazing foster homes! These pups are fun and playful, cuddly, certified wiggle experts, and masters of puppy dog eyes. They can be fostered with a sibling (double the sprinkles!) or solo if you're more of a single scoop household ;) They are Ben, Jerry, Haagen, Daz, Blue Bunny, Breyer, Splendid, Talenti and Edy!

Hi, my name is Chips Ahoy and I am from Tennessee! Hi there! I'm Chips Ahoy - though my foster family just calls me Chip or Chippy. I traveled all the way from Tennessee to Minnesota, and honestly? I love it here. I've made so many new friends - humans, dogs, and cats - and I love them all equally. I even met a bearded dragon (she was kind of weird, but I was into it). I'm a super active guy who loves to run, play, and explore, but don't worry - when I finally wear myself out, I will absolutely find you and demand a snuggle. From Chip's Dog Foster Brothers: Chip is pretty cool for a little dude. He is way smaller than us, but nobody told him that - he follows us everywhere and keeps up just fine. He's got serious energy, which we respect. He's going to do best in a home where someone (human or canine) is ready to match his enthusiasm and really play with him. He's earned our approval. From Chip's Cat Foster Brothers: Puppies. Ugh. That said, Chip is... tolerable. When he gets wound up he'll occasionally try to involve us in his chaos, but one firm swat and he gets the message and moves on. No hard feelings. We think he could absolutely live with cats - he's not malicious, just enthusiastic. Just make sure the cats in his new home have some high ground or a puppy-free zone to retreat to when the zoomies hit. From Chip's Foster Parents: Where do we even start with this guy? Chip is one of the most confident, well-rounded puppies we have ever fostered. On day one, he tackled our steep, narrow staircase without a single hesitation - something that takes most dogs days to work up to. He plays fearlessly with our big dogs, loves everyone he meets, and has never once mouthed a human, which is genuinely remarkable for a puppy his age. He's got tons of energy but is beautifully balanced - he'll run and play hard, then happily curl up independently when he's tired. He's working on potty training and is already making great progress; he's been reliably using potty pads overnight in his room. Smart, sweet, confident, and cuddly - whoever adopts Chip is getting a true gem.

Hi, my name is Nutter Butter and I am from Tennessee! Hi there! I'm Nutter Butter — though my foster family calls me Nutter or their little Nutty Buddy. I made a big journey from Tennessee to Minnesota, and I am absolutely living my best life here. I've made so many friends - humans, dogs, and cats - and honestly, humans might be my very favorite. I also met a bearded dragon (still processing that one). I love to play and run around, but if I'm being honest, cuddling is really my thing. I will find a lap and I will claim it. Fair warning. From Nutter's Dog Foster Brothers: Nutter is a good little guy. He's small but he keeps up with us pretty well — he just plays more gently than some puppies we've hung out with. He's more of a lover than a fighter. He's going to do great in a home where he gets plenty of attention and affection, and a playmate wouldn't hurt either. From Nutter's Cat Foster Brothers: Puppies... ugh. But Nutter is... honestly not bad. He gets curious and playful, but one swat and he moves right along - no drama. We think he could live with cats just fine, as long as the cats have somewhere to escape to when puppy energy strikes. Which it will. Because puppy. From Nutter's Foster Parents: Nutter Butter is an absolute sweetheart. He mastered our steep, narrow staircase quickly - it just took him a tiny bit longer than his fearless brother, which honestly makes us love him even more. He plays happily with our big dogs but is gentler about it, and he has never once mouthed a human, which is remarkable for his age. What really sets Nutter apart is how deeply people-oriented he is - this boy loves his humans with his whole heart and will cuddle up any chance he gets. He's working on potty training and already doing great, reliably using his potty pads overnight. Oh, and we'd be remiss not to mention - his brindle coloring is absolutely stunning. Sweet, gorgeous, gentle, and cuddly - Nutter Butter is a total gem, and whoever adopts him is going to feel like the luckiest person alive.

Hi! My name is Frecks, and I'm from Missouri! Frecks is a loving, and playful dog. He enjoys playing with his toys and can keep himself quite entertained. He is kennel trained and can be left in his kennel with no accidents overnight. He also enjoys snuggling. Frecks is doing better on his walks. He does great with children any age, currently lives with a 10 and 12 year old. Gets along well with his fur foster brothers. His mindful of our elderly dog and provides him space but will jump right in and play with our other dog that’s 2.

You can fill out an adoption application online on our official website. Thank you for stopping by to see me!  Please fill out an application to set up  a private meeting.  Dove is an adorable, intelligent, and deeply observant 4-year-old Mini Australian Shepherd who truly embodies so many of the traits people love about Aussies. She takes her role as household “supervisor” very seriously—always watching, learning, and keeping an eye on both her people and her dog friends.   Dove came from a small backyard breeder, and because of her past, the world can still feel overwhelming and unfamiliar. She is a more sensitive, fearful dog who will need a very patient and understanding home—but despite her challenges, Dove is genuinely a  happy  girl. Her little tail is almost always wagging, and she clearly finds joy in being part of a home and a routine. While she may not show affection in traditional ways, Dove bonds deeply in her own quiet way. She likes to stay within eyesight of her person, wags when spoken to, and settles nearby just to be close. Her love is subtle, gentle, and incredibly special.   Dove absolutely adores small dogs and will require another small, confident dog in her home. She looks to them for comfort and companionship and truly lights up around them, often adjusting her energy to match theirs in a very sweet, intuitive way.   Because of her sensitive nature, Dove can feel overwhelmed in loud or busy environments and will thrive in a calm, structured home that understands and respects her boundaries.   She is still learning that she is safe, and her adopter will need to meet her where she is without rushing the process. Human touch is still very scary for her, and she is not currently able to be handled, though she has made small, meaningful progress. Because of this, she is a high flight risk and will need extremely secure handling and containment. A secure, fenced yard is strongly preferred, as leash work is currently very challenging for her.   Dove also cannot do stairs or jumping, so a single-level home where she can move around comfortably or a home where stairs are not required to go in and out would be beneficial. Due to her handling sensitivities and current setup, she is not yet potty trained and will need continued patience and support in this area. She also shows signs of kennel trauma and cannot be crated or confined, but she does very well when left loose in the home and typically settles quickly to rest.   Despite everything, Dove is incredibly smart, curious, and playful. Her little brain is always working, and she loves toys, puzzles, and especially “collecting” treasures around the house—anything from socks to towels to boxes. Her adopter should be prepared for a bit of dog-proofing to keep her safe and set up for success.   Medically, Dove has a fat sensitivity and will need to remain on a prescription low-fat diet long-term, along with using a slow feeder bowl.   Dove will be a great companion for someone who understands and is willing to give her the time and space she needs, she is truly something special. Watching her slowly build trust, feel safe, and begin to experience life with confidence is an incredibly rewarding journey.   If you have the patience, heart, and environment Dove needs, she will absolutely be worth it!   Please note that some of our dogs are obtained from shelters, surrendered to our care, or released from breeders. Each animal's bio is based on our experience of the animal within our care, an educated guess based on physical characteristics, temperament and information shared. Each dog receives basic grooming when coming into rescue, but for some dogs they have not received grooming attention until recently and grooming may be required shortly after adoption. This will be at the adopter’s expense, so we encourage you to research the breed and be prepared for grooming expenses. Underdog cannot guarantee hypoallergenic or non-shedding qualities of any dogs in our rescue. Some of the animals come from situations where they are lacking experience in a home and confidence in humans. In turn, they require another companion dog and/or a fenced in yard in their forever home in order for them to feel safe. If you are interested in a particular dog whose bio states those needs and do not currently have them, please understand that your home might not be the right fit. Please use the filter on our Adoptable Dogs page to find the perfect match for your home.   ***Be sure to check your spam/junk folder as sometimes our emails end up there*** Visit this organization's web site to see any additional information available about this pet.If you have other questions about me you can email Underdog Rescue at <inquiries@underdogrescuemn.com> ADOPTION EVENTS:      Adoption events are updated at the top of each dogs animals' as their foster home signs up. Check back for updates on which events they will be attending. If an event is not listed within their bio above, the animal is not planning to attend.  Please understand that all of our pets are in volunteer foster homes and sometimes "life" happens and the foster family cannot make it to their scheduled adoption event. If you are traveling from a far distance to meet a specific animal, please understand we cannot guarantee event attendance. We recommend filling out an application and we will set up a private appointment. Private appointments are only scheduled after an application is submitted and approved. ADOPTION PROCEDURE: The first step in our process is to complete an online adoption application on our website: http://www.underdogrescuemn.com/adoptionprocess/   Note: In most circumstances Underdog Rescue will only adopt within 60 miles of Minneapolis, MN.  All of our foster animals can be seen by appointment with an approved adoption application. Contact us at http://www.underdogrescuemn.com/contact-us/ if you have further questions. FOSTER CARE: All of our animals are fostered in individual homes or doggie daycare facilities. While they are in our care, they are part of our families and given lots of love. We work on training, crate-training and socialization prior to adoption, but each bio is written by the foster as they see them, in their home. Each animal's behavior is evaluated and we have a sense of its temperament and personality, but it cannot be guaranteed. We look for adopters who will give each animal the wonderful life and permanent home that he or she deserves in time and with patience.  If you have an interest and ability to be a foster home, please visit our website  www.underdogrescuemn.com/foster-applications  and fill out a foster application. NUTRITION: Nutrition is vital to the rehabilitation and life-long health of our pets.  All of our foster animals are fed a premium diet such as NutriSource, Canidae, Orijen, Nature's Variety, Fromm, Pure Vita, Stella and Chewy's, Primal, or balanced raw diet.  All adopters are required to continue providing premium diets for the life of the animal. YOU CAN HELP: Not able to foster or adopt right now? Please consider sponsoring an Underdog. Your donation will help us buy dog food and pay for medical costs. Visit this link  www.underdogrescuemn.com/donate   to donate.  (Please note: A Paypal account is not necessary to use Paypal. When you get to the Paypal page, just use the link to the left of their login to make your donation via Paypal without an account.) April 14, 2026, 10:09 am