BREED: Shepherd/Heeler
GENDER: Female
AGE: 1 year old
SIZE/WEIGHT: Approx 35lbs
HISTORY: Came from a hoarding situation in Saskatchewan, and has been in foster care since May 15. Most likely born inside the pen about 1.5-2 years ago, and only ever socialized with other hoarded dogs, with no human touch. Hoarding is not the typical feral dog situation – no aggression, just total fear of everything.
TEMPERAMENT: Very submissive, but starting to show interest/curiosity in being near people. (Yay!) She does not bark unless she is speaking directly to her foster.
PERSONALITY: She is a happy girl who enjoys sitting and watching you do yard work from her pen. Foster managed to get a collar on her, but still will not voluntarily let anyone put a leash on her, or eat from human hand. She has now identified with foster’s family and dogs as Halo’s own “pack”, and when she escaped recently, she did not run, but would pace outside her enclosure barking at foster. She would follow foster and other dogs around when went for a walk in the mornings. She came back into her enclosure the second day – loves sardines. She also lets foster know when she is feeling outside her comfort zone and will run to have space between people.
HOW IS DOG WITH SMALL DOGS: Good
HOW IS DOG WITH CATS: Good
HOW IS DOG WITH CHILDREN: Timid and keeps her distance. Does not want to interact. Not a good choice of dog for children. Visiting children would be good though, since the most socialization the better.
PETS NEEDS/BEHAVIOURAL INFO: Halo is partially feral. She was moreso when arrived into our foster program last year. She needs quiet environment with at least one balanced playful young dog her size or larger. She needs socialization around humans, as well as dogs that can show her “normal” dog behaviours. Halo needs an adopter who is aware Halo is not your average pet dog, but one that needs human help with positive reinforcement to move towards becoming balanced. Halo would take a while to become comfortable in a new environment with new people, so adopter would need to understand not to take personally, but instead, be willing and wanting to help a dog that needs them to learn to become balanced and less fearful as time goes on.
BEST MATCH: An adopter who realizes to her background of never having lived outside of a pen in a hoarding environment, Halo is not a normal “feral” situation. She will need extensive socialization at her own pace and having seen her progress so far, we know that in due time Halo will come around, just takes time. She just needs a chance. She has adapted easily to a collar, but is still not leash trained because any pressure on her neck causes her to react as if she is being strangled. Once she trusts enough to come to a human, initial leash work would begin by her dragging around a leash until you could pick it up and walk slowly without any tension. Adopter needs to have patience and understand Halo’s limitations due to her upbringing as a puppy in an isolated, penned in area with other feral dogs left on their own. Good fenced yard is necessary. Responsible pet owners. Adopter with compassion, patience and can take the time to hand feed. A doggie door would be ideal so she can come and go from outside to inside.
FAVORITE THINGS: At the moment Halo’s favourite things are sardines and treats, a good bone to chew on, a raised bed in the sun, her foster brothers and sisters (one of them is Oliver the cat), and people that approach very slowly. She is happy to communicate with her current foster in the evenings when it is just the two of them.
GENDER: Female
AGE: 1 year old
SIZE/WEIGHT: Approx 35lbs
HISTORY: Came from a hoarding situation in Saskatchewan, and has been in foster care since May 15. Most likely born inside the pen about 1.5-2 years ago, and only ever socialized with other hoarded dogs, with no human touch. Hoarding is not the typical feral dog situation – no aggression, just total fear of everything.
TEMPERAMENT: Very submissive, but starting to show interest/curiosity in being near people. (Yay!) She does not bark unless she is speaking directly to her foster.
PERSONALITY: She is a happy girl who enjoys sitting and watching you do yard work from her pen. Foster managed to get a collar on her, but still will not voluntarily let anyone put a leash on her, or eat from human hand. She has now identified with foster’s family and dogs as Halo’s own “pack”, and when she escaped recently, she did not run, but would pace outside her enclosure barking at foster. She would follow foster and other dogs around when went for a walk in the mornings. She came back into her enclosure the second day – loves sardines. She also lets foster know when she is feeling outside her comfort zone and will run to have space between people.
HOW IS DOG WITH SMALL DOGS: Good
HOW IS DOG WITH CATS: Good
HOW IS DOG WITH CHILDREN: Timid and keeps her distance. Does not want to interact. Not a good choice of dog for children. Visiting children would be good though, since the most socialization the better.
PETS NEEDS/BEHAVIOURAL INFO: Halo is partially feral. She was moreso when arrived into our foster program last year. She needs quiet environment with at least one balanced playful young dog her size or larger. She needs socialization around humans, as well as dogs that can show her “normal” dog behaviours. Halo needs an adopter who is aware Halo is not your average pet dog, but one that needs human help with positive reinforcement to move towards becoming balanced. Halo would take a while to become comfortable in a new environment with new people, so adopter would need to understand not to take personally, but instead, be willing and wanting to help a dog that needs them to learn to become balanced and less fearful as time goes on.
BEST MATCH: An adopter who realizes to her background of never having lived outside of a pen in a hoarding environment, Halo is not a normal “feral” situation. She will need extensive socialization at her own pace and having seen her progress so far, we know that in due time Halo will come around, just takes time. She just needs a chance. She has adapted easily to a collar, but is still not leash trained because any pressure on her neck causes her to react as if she is being strangled. Once she trusts enough to come to a human, initial leash work would begin by her dragging around a leash until you could pick it up and walk slowly without any tension. Adopter needs to have patience and understand Halo’s limitations due to her upbringing as a puppy in an isolated, penned in area with other feral dogs left on their own. Good fenced yard is necessary. Responsible pet owners. Adopter with compassion, patience and can take the time to hand feed. A doggie door would be ideal so she can come and go from outside to inside.
FAVORITE THINGS: At the moment Halo’s favourite things are sardines and treats, a good bone to chew on, a raised bed in the sun, her foster brothers and sisters (one of them is Oliver the cat), and people that approach very slowly. She is happy to communicate with her current foster in the evenings when it is just the two of them.