Australian Shepherd Rescue Puppy Please!

Christine Hibbard, CTC, CPDT

I adopted two adult, male Aussies named Conner and Flynn from Australian Shepherd Rescue so now I’m a volunteer. A little over a week ago, I got a call from Seattle Animal Care and Control notifying me that a purebred, female Australian Shepherd puppy had been surrendered. Once the puppy’s hold period was up, I went off to evaluate her and bring her into Aussie Rescue.

I’d love to know the back story on this girl since she’s perfect, never been mistreated that I can see, and perfectly healthy (including negative fecal float). She’s up to date on shots and has a microchip. I’ve named her Maebh (pronounced may + v). This name is from an old Irish name Madb, “the cause of great joy” or “she who intoxicates.” I know she’ll probably end up with a name like Oreo, but I thought I should give her a predictive name… it’s a shot.

We all long for that herding breed puppy with an off switch… whew, and she’s got it. When she’s engaged, she’s working and when she’s not, she’s sacked out at my feet. She’s the perfect puppy at the exact wrong time for me or she’d be mine. I picked her up on Friday, May 15th and here’s what I know about her so far:

She’s been fearless from day one. When the next door neighbor started the lawn mover she shot up off the deck about two feet and when I said “what’s that?”, she whipped around for her treat, and then settled back into her beef rib bone. When I took her to the vet she was playing “what’s that” for treats as cats and dogs came in and out. Like many puppies, she shied away from collar grabs so we’ve been playing “gotcha” with treats.

• She’s crate trained and runs right in if you say “crate up” (better have a stuffed Kong in there with her though, she’s spoiled that way).
• She’s been to several puppy playgroups and her play manners with other puppies couldn’t be more perfect (not shy, wonderful solicitation, and no bullying). She’s also appropriate with adult dogs.
• She loves men, women, and children (the next door neighbor kids taught her to jump rope).
• She is NOT house trained but we’re working on it.

We’re working hard to socialize her to everything in the city; traffic, buses, escalators, elevators, skateboards, bikes, and every type of man, woman, and child imaginable. I introduced her to the UPS man who gave her treats. We followed him back to his truck and when he fired up the engine, she wanted to get in with him! She’s conditioned to the clicker and we’re working on sit, down, stay, wait, go to mat, recall (come when called), and loose leash walking.

If you’re interested in this puppy or know someone who is, please have them fill out an adoption application at Australian Shepherd Rescue. Aussie Rescue requires a veterinary reference, personal references, and a home check. Please help Maebh find her forever home!!