Cody (Conrad)

DOB: 12/7/19 Approx Weight: 38 Lbs,
Adoption Fee: $200 includes 2 week trial to ensure everyone's happiness.
Cody is a Border Collie/Australian Cattle dog mix and is almost five years old. A very loyal dog, he is also very smart, and he wants to please his people (he does have a goofy side too). He went through D.O.G. Obedience training in September, and knows sit, down, come, stay, place, and spin. He is housebroken, and also crate trained but is very good when left alone having the run of the house. Being a Border Collie mix, he is also very active and needs an owner to work/play with him often. He loves walks and gets along well with other dogs. However, he is anxious around new people and because of his anxiety, he tends to nip at new people. We had a behaviorist/trainer work with him a few months ago and she indicated that he is not aggressive and is adoptable. This is her recommendation:
Cody - Nice dog! a little anxious but a super smart dog that wants to please, needs a strong confident home and handler that gives him clear and consistent direction. Having a consistent routine and a lot of constructive exercise will help with the built up energy that creates anxiety. Reading his body language and understanding what you are seeing is extremely important, stay calm, don't yell, step in and redirect when you see ears forward, eyes making a hard stare and stiff body posture. Give a small verbal correction and move him to break the eye contact. Don't let him give a hard stare!
Ask people not to make direct eye contact, don't move in on him fast, allow him to go to the people and the people not come at him directly and come over the top of him to pet, they can step to his side, allow him to sniff and get attention if he wants - respect the dog
Work on teaching the "Look" command - make sure he is making contact with you when you mark and reward the behavior- if you need to lure him into looking at you, take the treat from his nose to yours- make a straight line - stand normal when doing this do not bend down to his level. Keep working on fun productive training sessions through the day to work him mentally
Management of his behavior is a must, keep him on his leash whenever new people are around. I feel an activity where he can use mental and physical energy would be a great idea. He's a very smart dog!
He will need an experienced home that understands body language, is active and has the time and commitment level to put into his behavior for sure (emphasis added).
His foster has been working on his anxiety and he's met new people. After offering him a treat, they were able to pet him and he calmed down. One person even sat on the ground with him after petting him for several minutes and he loved it. I found this in an article about Border Collies: Border Collies are often praised for their intelligence and work ethic but are also incredibly sensitive to their surroundings and human emotions. These dogs form strong bonds with their owners and quickly pick up on emotional cues, making them responsive and intuitive companions. Border Collies can become stressed in chaotic environments, so they thrive in homes where they can enjoy structured activities and mental stimulation.
He should have a fenced in backyard because he really likes to explore and run round. He would be a wonderful addition to a home where he can thrive and be active. Please, no homes with small children .
Cody was adopted as a puppy from Furry Kids' Refuge and was returned for npping a family member. Due to the family having active children and a busy household he was returned.
Cody has been neutered, microchipped, and heartworm tested negative and vaccinated. If you are interested in meeting/adopting one of them just fill out a application at www.furrykidsrefuge.org, click on the 'Adopt A Dog' icon and a dedicated volunteer will be in touch.