Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
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Story
Meet Kali! Kali is a 6 year old, 30 pound, AKC Mini Red Tri American Shepherd.
From her owner/foster:
Kali is our sweet little firecracker who will fiercely love you but takes a little bit of time to warm up. Herding dogs (as a blanket statement) were bred to serve their farmer and protect their herd. Kali fits this more traditional mold by showing loyalty, intelligence, and instinct to protect. She is unbelievably sweet and lives for cuddles on the couch, neck scratches and even LOVES the bath, yes you read that correctly. She treats it like a trip to the spa!
She is also our protector and barks when cars pull up or new people arrive to the house. She also responds well to calling her in and she has a great recall! She loves exploring, playing with the other dogs (good with kitties too) and being with her people.
When Kali sees something new in her environment (cars in the driveway, new people) her first thought is fear which triggers an immediate reaction which for Kali is almost always an alarm bark and running 10-15 away so she can assess. You can almost see her brain shutting off and her body giving in to sheer instinct. Because of this, Kali doesn't do well with any strong discipline, but she is very receptive to a calm and slight correction. She bonds well with humans, and I find that if she is on a leash, she feels safe and is easy to work with. Kali will want to choose flight every time, but because I cannot trust the variables in situations, I can't say with certainty that she would NEVER choose fight. There has never been a time that I have been fearful of Kali, but unfortunately when dogs feel afraid, and their bodies move faster than their brains can keep up there is always a chance something might happen.
Kali would do well in a home that had other dogs, but because of her sensitivity I would not place her in a home with young children. We have worked with this girl a lot over the years and have found a routine that keeps her feeling safe and happy. A big part of this is being able to manage her environment, keep the unknown variables to a minimum and give her support and confidence when she's met with something new.
Our home is busy, and I think she would do better in a home where there are not constant visitors. I have no issues as Kali, at heart, is a lovebug and I know how to treat her to build her confidence. She loves quiet attention, walks, and lots of naps. She is quite low maintenance as she is not super energetic and is happy to hang at home and go for walks every now and then. She is not very toy motivated but loves her food!
With the right home, and enough time, I am confident she will bond with her new human, and I also believe she will ultimately be a happier dog. I love all my dogs, but I am realistic about recognizing that our environment is not always the best fit for some personalities.
The Details:
Good With Dogs: Yes
Good With Cats: Yes
Good With Kids: No
Fence: No
All of our dogs live in foster homes with volunteers.
Is Kali right for you? You can find our application at www.aussierescuemn.com. We need an approved application on file to set up a meeting with a dog you may be interested in. We pride ourselves on matches that are awesome for both the dog and your family. Aussie Rescue of MN is here for support, advice and as a safety net for our dogs for the rest of their lives.
