Sophie continues to mature and blossom at her foster home. She is an extremely sweet girl who wants to share her love with everyone. Although her foster home does not have cats, Sophie has met a family member’s cat and done pretty well. She very much wanted to play with the cat and tried to encourage that play by barking and pawing. She does need an occasional reminder that cats don’t necessarily want to play with her. She has shown some mild food aggression with other dogs, but never with people and even allowed a seven-year-old girl to play with her food dish.

Sophie is fully housetrained and has had no accidents since she initially arrived at her foster home. She is crate trained, and when her family is out during the day, Sophie is perfectly content to sleep in her crate. Like all young pups, Sophie likes to chew, but as long as she has plenty of chew toys available, she is not destructive.

In a previous life, Sophie was undoubtedly a mermaid. She absolutely loves to swim and play in the water. When she is at the lake, she is always the first one to jump in and do a lap or two, and when she can’t get to the lake, she loves to just lie in her foster family’s small, plastic, kiddie pool. She also likes to go for car rides, though she tends to get excited in anticipation of fun things to come: “Are we going to the lake???”

Sophie is a happy, happy girl who loves men, women, children, strangers and other dogs. She would love cats too, if only they would be more willing to play with her. She can’t wait to meet her new, forever family so she can lavish them with collie kisses, lots of snuggling and plenty of play time.

Update May 2, 2007

Hi guys! It’s Sophie here. For some reason, I am still at my foster home. I like it here and people are very good to me, but I am really ready for my FOREVER home. I’m not getting any younger you know.

I have looked around at the other dogs on this website, and it has occurred to me that I look a little different from them. Is that why I haven’t found my forever home? If so, perhaps this will help. I consider myself to be a full blooded, tri-color, rough coated, champion Collie. However, I was born on Halloween and have been in costume ever since. My costume makes me look a little like a Greyhound or perhaps a large Jack Russell terrier. Even my foster mom is fooled. She thinks I might be part Border Collie or English Springer Spaniel. Whatever!

My foster mom says I’m “brilliant.” Modesty prevents me from commenting on this, but let’s just say foster mom is pretty astute. I am fully crate trained and have the “go potty” thing almost down pat. When I am first let out of my crate, I am full of energy and ready to rock! I love to play with toys, fetch the ball, run with the other dogs, chase the cats and play with the kids. Sometimes I jump up on people because I am just so happy to be near them. Foster mom says I shouldn’t do this, and I am getting better at staying down, but there are times when I am just so full of joy that I have to leap up and down.

I love both adults and kids (bigger ones that I can’t knock over), and I am a great playmate for other fun loving dogs. Occasionally, I get a little bossy with the other dogs, but you know how precocious youth can be. I’m not too good with cats (they just sit there and are sooooo boring that I try to nibble them into action).

So how about it? Isn’t there an active, forever family out there that wants a “collie in costume?”


New to Rescue!

Sophie is a fine-boned, four month old female, probably springer spaniel/border collie mix. She is full of energy. She currently weighs about 35 pounds, has been spayed and came to MWCR from a shelter in Wisconsin.

Sophie is a happy, fun-loving puppy with lots of energy, who loves meeting new people and making friends with other dogs. She particularly likes to play herding games with the children and resident collie at her foster home. She is very good with most children but is a little too rough-and-tumble for toddlers under five years of age. Similarly, she is a bit too boisterous for small dogs and cats, but is great with larger dogs.

Sophie is clearly a girl with lots of potential for agility training. She already loves to explore the playground equipment at her foster home: running through the tunnels, sliding down the slide and even climbing up on the swings! Agility or obstacle courses would be a great way for her new family to bond with Sophie while also working off some of that bouncing, puppy energy. She’s willing to try anything.

Sophie is making progress with her housetraining, but she is still too young and mischievous to be left alone in the house. She is also learning about crate training and her foster mom is using the crate as a housebreaking tool. She is quieter than most collies, though she will bark at strangers when they approach her house. Once they are inside, however, she is extremely friendly and welcoming.

Sophie is a very smart girl who is naturally obedient and eager to please. She already knows several commands including “sit,” “off” and “go potty.” She likes to go for walks and is working on her leash manners, although she is still at that young, excitable age where she wants to chase and explore everything she sees. She is good with grooming and loves baths and playing in the water. She also likes going for rides and is well behaved in the car.

This sweet-natured, loving little girl is looking for a lap to call her very own. As a puppy who is still learning the ropes, she would do best in a home where she is not left alone for extended periods. She will also need a fenced yard and would love to have another dog her size or older kids to play with. Sophie will make the perfect addition to an active, fun loving family who is looking for a happy puppy with lots of love to give.

Sophie is being fostered in Onalaska, Wisconsin.