Riley

Bear Adopted!!

1 1/2 year old Rough Merle male

Bear is a beautiful, 18 month old, blue merle male. He came into rescue on 11/21/03 weighing only 57 pounds, and now weighs 73 pounds. He is very tall and long legged, with beautiful markings and unique eyes: one blue and one brown.

Since coming to his foster home he has learned to walk on a leash using a gentle leader. He also has learned sit, paw, down and stay, and he is house broken. Bear will bark when he is outside and the neighbors are around, but he is working on curbing this behavior. He has been tested with the agility tunnel and learned very quickly. He began by sniffing the tunnel and then went through a small, open version. Gradually the tunnel was extended and eventually he was going through the full length tunnel. He is an extremely smart boy, and would do well and have fun with agility training.

Bear is a loving guy and quite a character. He gets along great with his doggie foster brother and sister, thriving on the companionship of other dogs. He loves to retrieve rolled up socks and some balls, and he really enjoys a good belly rub! He is quite an early bird, and will try to wake you up at 7:30 AM with his lovable collie "grumble."

Bear bonds more easily with women, and has some fear issues with men. He is not afraid of the vacuum cleaner, but loud, sudden noises will startle him. When frightened he tends to bolt, and for this reason, he would do best in a household with older children. He has been known to counter surf (Hey! That's what those long legs are for!) and has chewed up the occasional coaster. He has not been crated in the house, but his foster family uses a gate from time to time if they want to keep him in certain areas. He does use a crate when traveling in the car.

Bear is still a teenager and will need additional socialization, along with obedience training and/or agility training to help him gain self confidence. He would do best with the companionship of another dog and probably needs a fenced yard to prevent him from running, if he is startled. Bear is a gentle, loving collie boy who needs a forever home that will help him to develop into a secure, confident dog. Gentle methods and loving care will help Bear to blossom into a wonderful, lifetime companion.

Bear is being fostered in Wauwatosa, WI