Vespa Australian Cattle Dog / Blue Heeler Fargo, ND

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Name: Vespa
Size: Medium range: 26-60 lbs
Adoption Donation:$250 (applicable sales tax included).Adoption fees may be paid by cash or check.
Other:Spayed Female, Vaccinations current, Microchip, NO apartments, NO Cats, Older/considerate children only

Vespa is a quick little girl, easy to fall in love with

Foster Home Feedback

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NO apartments, NO Cats, Older/considerate children only

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Vespa came into the rescue after being on the run for a period of time, because of this she may be a flight risk until she is comfortable in her new home. She should always be on leash when outside the house and not unsupervised in a fenced yard.

9/9/24 Temporary Care Feedback: I got to hang out with Ms. Vespa this summer and she was absolutely delightful! Vespa spent a few weekends in a house with two adults and another dog and she settled right in. Her nerves calmed with treats and fetch (she will drop the ball in your hand and play all night) and she was content and comfortable with the people in our house very quickly.

Vespa was playful with our resident dog, who can have some anxiety around new dogs. Vespa did a great job reading his cues and would give him space if needed. When they were both in a playful mood, they joined forces to tear apart soft toys and try to catch squirrels in the yard. If our older dog needed quiet time, Vespa was content to curl up on the couch next to us. She loves morning snuggles and was happy at the foot of the bed all night.

Vespa did have words to say whenever someone new came by. She has a protective streak, but she is all bark, no bite. Vespa is such a sweet girl with the silkiest coat. Once you have her trust, you're in her heart forever.

06/17/2024 Foster Feedback: Vespa the cattle dog has enjoyed over three months in my care. She's such an easy dog. Vespa has been working on her leash walking daily and has made so many strides. She can be strong, but has made the connection that if she pulls too hard, I will stop and wait her out. Vespa can quickly redirect and is making progress towards loose leash walking.
We have also been working on socialization with humans. When people come over, or we go to someone's house, Vespa will bark out of uncertainty. As long as the new human has some treats to toss her way, Vespa will calm down. She shows curiosity with new people, but may keep her distance at first.
As always, Vespa is very dog friendly. She can read the cues of other dogs well and will play as little or as much as they allow. She tends to show increased confidence with playful dog. If a dog would rather just coexist, Vespa will happily settle for a round of fetch.
Every morning and evening, Vespa looks forward to snuggling with her humans. She is truly an easy, trainable dog. Her intelligence will astound you. She is a cattle dog through and through and will reward you with her loyalty!

03/24/2024 Foster Feedback: Vespa has been in my care for about a month now. She's continuing to come out of her shell and flourish in a home. Vespa can be so goofy and loves to play with toys. She's still a number one fan of fetch and enjoys running around the yard with my dog.
I have tried many kenneling techniques with Vespa, but she really doesn't do well in her kennel. I now allow Vespa to free roam my house for the time I am gone which is up to 8 hours. She does wonderful! She rests for most of the day and spends a little time enjoying the views through the window. She's much happier free roaming so an adopter that is willing to allow her to stay out when they're gone is best for her. I also feel that she will do better having a dog buddy around as she seems to enjoy my dog's presence during the day when I'm gone and will even mirror what he is doing (sleeping, looking out window, etc).
Vespa doesn't seem to have a ton of leash walking experience so we are spending time working on leash training and not pulling on the leash. She does have a prey drive with squirrels and bunnies so an adopter comfortable with a stronger dog who needs continued leash training would be best. Thankfully, this girl is highly trainable and wants to work and learn new things!
To speak to her flight risk tendencies- this is simply a precaution as if Vespa were to feel frightened she may bolt. I kept Vespa leashed in my yard when I first got her even though I have a tall secure privacy fence. As I started to trust her, I was able to drop the leash, and now she can just go out like an other dog. I don't leave her out there unsupervised, but that is because she'd rather follow me back in after doing her job. Additionally, being more mindful when leaving the home is really the only accommodation I have to make with Vespa.
For anyone out there with heeler or herding dog experience, Vespa is the perfect mixture of what makes these herding dogs so special! I absolutely adore her and can't wait to share all the great things that make Vespa the wonderful dog that she is.

2/28/24 Foster Feedback: If you're reading this, then Vespa's beautiful red speckled coat probably caught your eye. Vespa is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.

She just wants to find her person/people to create an unbreakable bond with. She can be shy at first, but warms up very quickly! Vespa loves nothing more than to follow me around the house and keep me company while I'm getting ready for work, cooking dinner, and relaxing on the couch. She sleeps through the night on a dog bed next to me, but would be just as happy to sleep in bed with you if you would let her. Vespa is a gentle soul that just wants to share her love with others. She has a generally very calm demeanor when I'm home with her.

Vespa is not a big fan of her kennel and is learning how to calm down in it. She just recently joined my household so this is a work in progress, but I do work a typical 8 hour day, so she is getting lots of exposure and practice with this. I wouldn't recommend leaving her to free roam right away until she's had ample time to understand your routines.

Vespa knows many tricks including: sit, stay, shake, come, and down. She is completely potty trained. Vespa is a huge fan of my resident dog and enjoys running around the yard with him. My dog can be pretty dominant and Vespa takes his cues well. She is a master at fetch and will retrieve and drop the ball in your lap all day if you will let her.

Vespa's forever person/family can look forward to having a dog who is obedient, loyal, friendly, and smart!
To view additional dogs available for adoption, please see our website: www.4luvofdog.org