Quirk
Quirk is a 6 year old mixed breed (according to his DNA test, more than 6 breeds!) He has an endearing expression and a sweet personality. He is pretty shy with people, especially men, but clearly wants to be involved with them. His ideal home would be a quiet and patient single person who would let him snuggle on the bed and go hiking, but would not expect him to be a social butterfly with strangers. He is fine with cats with a proper introduction. Oh, and did we mention the cutest ears? Quirk is neutered and current on vaccinations.
Thomas
Thomas is a border collie/corgi mix. He is about 7 years old. He is a character but probably needs an experienced and firm home as he will push limits when permitted.
Dallas
Dallas is a 8 year old Australian Shepherd/Border Collie/Cattledog mix. He is super affectionate with his owner and likes to sleep under the covers when its cold out. Dallas tends to make questionable decisions in ambiguous situations and needs a handler with a quiet lifestyle and good management skills.
Wrigley
Wrigley is a neutered 11 year old Australian Shepherd with a tail. He's had a tough past and will need a patient person who is willing to accept his quirks. He can be very loving and is a handsome boy. He does have high anxiety and a few behaviors such as pulling on a leash and not tolerating grooming well.
Opie
Opie – DOB August 12, 2014 – Male Border Collie/Australian Shepherd mix
Opie came to HeRD from a family in Utah very skinny and heavy with attitude. This was not a good place or time in Opie’s life. He has come a long way from that situation. He has been fostered by HeRD since March 2018. He is currently living with 2 other dogs and 2 cats. Sally, our pyr/BC and he used to get into it when he first came here but they do well now. He and Jim, our BC, do well together primarily due to Jim’s absolute absence of aggression. They will chase the same ball, but defer to the one that got there first.
He loves Frisbee, chukker ball, and rope ball outside and enjoys ‘bumpy’ ball and ‘holey’ ball inside. He will do flying flips when tossed the ball inside – he is very athletic! He sometimes porpoises the ball to make it fly instead of catching it. The balls are his security blanket. If he gets upset he often gets a ball and ‘resets’ himself. He often goes to his corner by himself to decompress. He will set a ball on your chair just before you sit down. This way he gets you to get up to throw it off!
He loves going on hikes with his canine friends and people and does well when meeting other people and dogs on the trails. He has been on a number of pack walks with up to 10 other dogs and does fine – just keep moving. He does not chase horses, cows, or deer. He often accompanies Chris and the other dogs to the volunteer fire department and knows all of the guys, who play ball with him. He is not much of a barker unless there is a strange car/person, or if he wants inside. He will know that there is thunderstorm coming before the weatherman and will bark to come in, or try to escape the fenced area. If he does escape, he hasn’t run off, sticks around. It would be cruel to leave him outside in a thunderstorm. He doesn’t like gunshot or fireworks.
Opie is really smart. He will understand commands before you realize you have given one. I swear he understands conversation. He does not need a shock collar, a loud bang will get him back in no time! Ha ha! He has been through basic obedience and did very well. We feel that he has huge potential.
Opie has calmed down around his meal time. We feed our other dogs first, in a separate area, and then put Opie’s food down. If he does growl, make him back off-sit-wait, put food down, tell him ‘go eat’. His most favorite treats are lamb and cow lungs (send with you).
He has weird quirks. He doesn’t like to be told to ‘take it nicely’ for treats, for some reason that brings out anger in the guy. He may take a treat by grabbing it, but not always. He does not like to have treats from an open hand. Make a game of giving him treats by tossing them for him to catch, he seems to like that. And it keeps him away from your hands! He doesn’t like to be pointed at. He can go from being a petted dog to a growling dog in a second. Don’t pet him while he is lying down anywhere, generally does not like this, and frankly, he doesn’t even like to be looked at or acknowledged when he is lying down. He is allowed on our furniture, bed, anywhere he feels comfortable. You can sense his ‘dark’ moods even if he isn’t growling. He gets real still, his pupils get large. I will talk lightly, hey buddy! When he growls, just leave him alone. He has his dark moods usually in the evening inside of the house. He needs a dark place that you call ‘corner’ so when he does act up, tell him – ‘go to your corner’. Sometimes we distract him by asking him to get his bumpy ball and that diffuses the mood, sometimes.
When Opie is outside, you can brush him, usually. Clipping toenails is at his mood’s discretion. Sometimes good, sometimes not. We have not bathed him but he loves, loves, loves his puppy pools and water that he can flop in, usually after a good round of play. He is not a belly-rub dog, and does not like to be cuddled. You know you have his heart when he comes to you and kisses you on the lips. We have not been super strict with Opie when he jumps up to show excitement or affection because he’s not a cuddly dog, so when he does this he is showing his affection.
Best way to bond with Opie – take him places, play Frisbee and throw the ball. Treat him fairly, no head games with him. He’s been through a lot in his life. This last year has been his best year. Love him for who he is and work with his issues.
Oreo
Oreo is a 5 year old neutered male border collie. Oreo came in with some touch sensitivity, which has greatly improved. He is now a very cuddly boy, but because of this history, we are recommending no homes with children under 13. Oreo likes to fetch and would probably also be a good running buddy. He would do best in a home without cats.
Verkin
Verkin is a 6 year old Australian Shepherd. He is curretnly about 47 lbs. He will need an experienced home, but is a lovely, snuggly boy. He has plenty of energy, but can also have an off-switch. Verkin is not a candidate for a home that has children under the age of 12. Verkin tends to bother the kitties, so needs a home with no cats. He would do fabulously as an only dog or in a home with the right personality of dogs.
Yens
From Yens' current home: Yens is a 4-year old neutered border collie mix. He currently lives with other animal companions - a 7 year-old neutered Catahoula mix male and a cat.
Yens is smart and strong. He has tons of energy and needs a lot of stimulation through physical activity and problem solving. He's happiest when he's out and about in nature with a person who challenges him with tricks or tasks. His favorite game is fetch and he loves chew toys. He has never been trained to work, but demonstrates an interest and he would most enjoy a family who was dedicated to teaching him new skills. Yens is great with cats - gentle and respectful.
He is awkward with other dogs because he often tries to control them, but he can learn to be friendly with help and guidance.
Yen's greatest frustration is not getting enough exercise or attention. He is happy-go-lucky when he has enough of those things, but he is nervous and barks excessively when he does not.
Yens would be most comfortable in a home without very young kids where people are respectful of his space when he is resting.
He likes to stay close and attentive to his primary person and would like a lot of attention from an active adult.
Princess
Princess is a 1.5 year old Australian Shepherd mix. She has a gorgeous fluffy tail! Princess needs a home with no other dogs or cats. She will need to continue her obedience training and manners in her new home. She is nervous with new people, but very lovey when she warms up to someone.
Bandit
Sadie
Honey
Honey is a sweet girl. She is currently scared of leash walks so needs a patient home where she can hang out with her people and enjoy the back yard and then gradually learn that leashes are good things.
I have held off on Sadie''s bio to give her time to settle in from being a Momma to being a canine companion. I have had this pretty girl for a couple of months, long enough for her to raise her 3 babies. Sadie had a hard time learning how to become a much loved canine companion. Sadie-Rose has made huge strides....and let's face it - it ain't easy to go from being abandoned to face life on your own while expecting to becoming an everyday pet...but this pretty girl is trying. Sadie raised 3 gorgeous babies who have ALL found their forever homes and now wants a chance at finding her own special human. Sadie Rose is house trained, walks like a pro on the leash, travels in the car with no problem, loads up in the car on her own, all you have to say is "Kennel Up" and she loads like a dream...she is looking for that one in a million person that will accept her into their life and show her not all people are bad. Yes, she is timid, but that is what life has taught her. That being said, I have fostered her for the last 2 months and she has come so far. Each night when I get home from work, Sadie is there with her tail wagging and stands up on her hind legs to hug me and lay her head on my chest to experience what it is like to be loved. When it is bedtime she runs to either the mudroom or a kennel to settle in and you do not hear a peep from her until morning. I have 3 personal dogs of my own (all female) and she gets along with them perfectly. Yes, she is scared of strangers but with proper introduction she is fine - all she needs is a human with patience and understanding. I can say from 1st hand experience she is an amazing girl, the only negative is she likes to chase vehicles...but if your yard is fenced, then there is no problem - she makes ZERO attempt to escape, all she really needs is a human to love her and give her some guidance along the way.
Bandit is about 2 yrs old. We think he is a Border collie mix or possibly an English shepherd. He is a very sweet, loveable guy. He does great with all dogs. He loves people but can be a little shy at first. He adores attention and will sit right at by your side. Bandit is medium/high energy and will need some kind of activity each day. He is not good with cats. He was surrendered to a shelter in rural Utah. Before this, he was kept outside. He is working on house training and other basic skills in his foster home. He's a bit of a 'diamond in the rough' but will make a wonderful companion for someone willing to put in a little work.
Dora
From Dora's current home: We have had Dora for the last five years. She was about 4 months old when she came to us.
Dora has many very lovely qualities. She's very nurturing and always keeps an eye on her pack to make sure they are all cared for. She's been excellent with children (we have a two year old daughter), and she's very loving toward all her people.
The issue we are having is that she started attacking our other female terrier/chihuahua mix shortly before our daughter was born. We have been keeping the dogs separated for the last 3 years. In that time, Dora has lived peacefully with as many as 4 male dogs, all of various breeds, sizes, and ages. While on walks around our neighborhood, Dora is not aggressive when encountering other dogs. In fact, she prefers to avoid other dogs that she meets when we're out and about. She is crate trained, does very well on a leash, and has had some basic obedience training. She has never been exposed to cats so we don't know how she would do with them. She is up to date on all shots, has no known health issues, and just had a dental at the end of February. We think she would do very well in a home as an only dog or with male dogs only.
Dexter
Luna
Luna is a 4 month old great pyrenees mix puppy.
Note: Dexter will only be available to a very experienced/committed home or at a later date.
Hi, my name is Dexter. I am an aussie/border collie mix about a year old. I’m very high energy and currently weigh about 47lbs but am working on gaining some weight. Because I’m a very rambunctious dog I’m not a good match for families with younger kids or senior folks. I get along with other dogs (am currently living with 7 others) but am still working on learning better dog manners. I do like to play with other dogs, with toys (the more the better) and especially love chew toys and tug toys. I even try to play with the cats, and am friendly with them. When I accidentally got in the chicken coop I didn’t bother them, but their poop sure smelled delicious. I am house trained and love to ride in the car. I am cautious when in a new environment or when I meet new people. I like people a lot, but when I’m in a store I like the people who ignore me or stick out a hand for me to sniff best! I get a little worried when people are excited to see me or call me, and curve around them. I am a good boy when going places, and sit or lie down while my people are looking at items in a store. I don’t bark when I see other dogs or people I don’t know. I like to nip at ankles once in a while but am doing a lot better. I love the outdoors and walk pretty well on a leash wearing a harness. I pull a bit but not all the time. I have learned a lot about people things vs dog things and mostly leave people things alone. Except for house slippers and dirty laundry, which are still difficult to resist. I’m a very smart boy and have learned to sit, not use my mouth all the time, not to be scared of my people, play fetch, and I have a great recall. I have also learned how to exit the yard by crawling out under the fence. I'm also an expert jumper. I do very well with clicker training. I’m not afraid of loud noises or thunderstorms. I’m still working on barking less, because I love it but my people do not as much. I also have separation anxiety and yet have to learn how to be home alone without freaking out and destroying things. I’m not crate trained. I have some touch sensitivity and don't enjoy being brushed. I have my own collection of detangle products at my foster home which I’m very proud of. I just wish they came with better smells, like dead squirrel or fresh poo instead of rosemary and lavender. People do have strange taste for sure...
Lulu
Haley
McLeod
Howie
Finley
Layla
Haley is a 6 year old Black and White Australian Shepherd mix.
McLeod is a 6 year old Black and White Australian Shepherd mix.
Lulu is a 4 month old Great Pyrenees mix.
Layla is a 4 month old Great Pyrenees mix.
LaVerne
Murdock
Meet Murdock: ~40 pound 2 year old cattle dog that enjoys walks, playing with dogs, sleeping at your feet and rolling around with his toys! He is doing great learning manners around the house, is treat motivated and has good recall. Due to a luxating patella (a knee cap that slips out of place) and being on the mellow side he is probably best suited for a home that is not expecting the typical physical activity levels of a cattle dog. He would probably enjoy a family that would rather go on the occasional short hike, prefers walks, low impact activities and teaching him new tricks! Murdock prefers a home without cats.
Howie is a 1.5 year old Australian Shepherd mix (perhaps with Standard Collie). Poor Howie! He has been bounced around a lot in his short life and wants his forever home. He is a sweetheart that enjoys attention from people. He is good with most dogs but has not been tested with cats. Howie is a big boy who should weigh about 50-60 lbs when he is at his ideal weight (he is on the thin side currently). Howie will need to continue his obedience training in his new home.
LaVerne is a 4 month old great pyrenees mix puppy.
Finley is a 3 year old neutered male Australian Shepherd/Border Collie type mix. He is a fun guy who likes hiking. He does not care for crates, kids, cats, or too much pressure. He loves sleeping on the bed, lots of attention, frisbees and fetch. In a relaxed, active home he will excell and show off his funny disposition.
Benji
Benji is a 4 year old Australian Cattledog. He is a little shy at first, but very sweet. He has been in a home with children and seems fine with them. He is good with other dogs. This dog is full of potential.
Baby
Baby is a 12 year old Australian Cattledog mix. She is described as sweet and kind. This would be a great dog for someone looking for a mellow companion. Baby is also good with other dogs.
