Love Is…

 Helping a collie find a new home…

Collie Rescue League of New England writes:

We would like to introduce Sheena, who is ready for her new forever home.  Sheena is a beautiful 19 month old tricolor smooth collie, who weighs 61 pounds.

Sheena needs to love and be loved (even more than most dogs do). She has high potential to be someone's "best dog ever" and would love to have that quality of bond. She lights up with any attention and shares her joy enthusiastically. Sheena is a very affectionate, well-adjusted dog with a strong desire to please. She loves snuggling and is excellent at fetch. She is a very high potential dog with an exceptionally sweet disposition.

Sheena should go to a home which is committed to continuing her training. She is a very willing dog but needs people who are capable of investing in her. She came to CRLNE with "sit" and "heel". While with her foster home she has learned "down", "wait", and has developed a strong "come" in enclosed areas. She has also learned how to go up and down short flights of stairs. Next steps (here or elsewhere) should include "stay", getting into a car (she thinks she is a small puppy and waits to be lifted), and distinguishing between a bark to alert (fine) and lengthy reactions to anyone daring to walk on the road.

Sheena would enjoy a suitable dog pal (she and the foster’s dog have gotten very close) but could also live as an only dog, with enough TLC from her humans.  Sheena loves people and other animals. At a recent concert in the park, she was the belle of the ball with about 15 children of all ages. She was gentle and well-mannered but clearly overwhelmed with joy. On our drive to the park, Sheena was exuberant when she saw a child cross the sidewalk in front of us. This is a dog who LOVES children. 

She is also welcoming of attention from older people. Our foster, who does dog therapy work, says that Sheena has high potential as a family dog, a therapy dog or both. While she has not had much formal training, Sheena is eager to learn and learns quickly.

She has very good house manners. Sheena has good potential to live with cats but will need a slow introduction - while we are up to nose touches with one cat, the cats are still stressed she is here. She has puppy excitement when they are in sight even as she has learned not to whine with eagerness. It seems more like high enthusiasm for building a friendship than prey drive. Sheena is wonderful with the foster’s house dog and plays very well. While she has learned how to slip a collar, she comes up to you immediately after. A Martingale collar would be of great help to her. (all of my dogs have used one - it’s just safer)

She prefers not to be left alone but does adjust. She is not used to a crate, but she accepts a 4-foot-high gate. She does well in a car after settling down

This is what Sheena would probably say she wants:

* A home with children and adults who love dogs

* People who know how to scritch for a loooong time and do full body snuggles

* People who know I am trying to be a good dog and are gentle with me when I haven't yet figured out what you want from me, because I am still at the “teenage” stage

* A fenced yard to play in (and a live-in playmate would be great but dog visitors are also OK)

* People who will play with me (fetch and chase-“come catch me and try to get the toy I have” are 2 favorites)

* Someone who will give me canned food as a part of my meals and treats between meals

* Regular gentle brushing (Yes, I DO love this)

* Someone who wants me to hang out with them when they are doing stuff around the house

* People who will take me out for adventures

* People who will help me get more confident around scary things like thunderstorms and jumping in and out of cars.

We cannot emphasize enough that Sheena really needs to be placed with a family with children.

If you are interested in Sheena and have an approved application with us and feel you could provide that great family home for her, please contact the CRLNE Adoption Director, Dave Anderson, at <adoptiondirector@crlne.org>.   If you are interested in adopting any collie from CRLNE and don't have an application on file with us you can find the black form here at <crlne.org/adoptions>  Please fill it out and mail it