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Pete, an adoptable Border Collie in Lander, WY_image-1

Pete Border Collie Lander, WY

  • Adult
  • Male
  • Medium
  • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)

About

Coat length
Medium
House-trained
Yes
Health
Vaccinations up to date, spayed / neutered.
Good in a home with
Other dogs.

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Meet Pete

This handsome, classic rough coat is Pete. He is about 1& ½ years old and as far as we can tell, he had a rough start. He was found as a stray in Idaho and never claimed. He is on the smaller side (35-40 lbs). Pete will require an experienced handler with fearful/reactive dog experience.

Pete is slow to warm up to people and dogs, although once he is willing to meet dogs, he greets them nicely. He doesn’t care to engage with other dogs after the initial sniff. It took several weeks before Pete was comfortable enough around his foster dog-siblings to play and then he will engage only one dog in play at a time and only inside. If there is a dog running loose in the backyard he has no interest. If there is a group of dogs running around or play becomes too arousing, Pete will turn into the Fun Police and shut down playtime like a grumpy old man- barking and inserting himself. He does not seem interested in toys, fetching, or tug but he LOVES using his nose. He also enjoys puzzles, chew bones, and learning tricks in addition to physical exercise like hiking, walking, running along a bike or cross-country skis. He does not show any interest in herding other than the above-mentioned, self-appointed Fun Police role.

When it comes to people, Pete is an introvert at heart. He prefers to be with the trusted inner circle and doesn’t care if he meets new people. When he must, he does not want to be petted on the head and has a large personal space bubble. It can take a few weeks for him to fully trust new people, but once he does, he is a super friendly lapdog. He has a good off switch inside the house and can settle when left alone. He enjoys being brushed.

Pete adjusts quickly when going to new outdoor places (like trails), but if there are new people involved, greeting people should be on his terms. He will bark and/or growl at people coming toward him on the trail and doesn’t always want to say hello.

Pete doesn’t seem bothered by loud noises or appliances, but also hasn’t been exposed to fireworks. When he does get scared, he likes to run behind a barrier or to his crate as his safe space and will peek out to make sure everything is ok before joining the group again.

Pete is learning basic manners and has also learned to “wait” for food and to go outside, and sometimes he will even get happy feet, prancing in place like he can’t contain himself! Pete LOVES food and will scarf it down too fast if given in a regular bowl. We recommend feeding in a muffin tin or slow feeder to slow him down. He is also protective of his food, so he will need to be fed away from other pets.

Pete is fully house trained but was an intact male until early December. When he first arrived, he was trying to mark wherever and whenever he came into a building. He has been granted increased privileges within his foster home, but under close supervision and in small increments to ensure success. In a new living scenario, we recommend introducing him to small sections of the house under close supervision. This will help to make as smooth of a transition as possible for everyone. Baby gates can be helpful for management.

Pete should live in a household where there are NO children younger than a teenager living or visiting. He has nipped out of fear when grabbed at or when he feels cornered or trapped. Since younger children can be unpredictable and don’t understand dog body language, we want to set Pete and his new family up for success!

Pete will sniff the foster cats but not chase them. There are also horses and sheep on the foster property, and he can co-mingle with them in the field, not showing any tendency toward herding. But if they come too close to the fence line, he will bark at them. Any introduction to any new animals should be made with slow, supervised introductions.

Pete would do best in an adult household who is willing to take him on walks or adventures where he won’t encounter people frequently. He can live as a solo dog or with one other dog since he prefers his people over other pets. He must go to an adopter who is willing to continue his fearful/reactive dog training for continued confidence building. This will also provide needed bonding with you as his new person so that he can look to you when he feels scared or threatened instead of reacting. Ideal setting would be on acreage since he barks incessantly outside if there are people nearby (like a suburban neighborhood typically has with neighbors sharing fence lines).

Even though Pete has some idiosyncrasies, he will make a great companion for someone who is willing to help him learn that the world isn’t as scary as he thinks! Do you love to recreate on the non-busy trails or want to pursue scent work or other dog training? Pete may be your guy!

Due to our small volunteer team, we can’t respond to inquiries to this listing. To learn more about this dog and our adoption process or to apply, visit wbcrescue.org. Thank you for considering adoption!

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Pete

Pete

  • Border Collie
  • Adult
  • Male