Keller (ADOPTED!) is the sweetest, calmest, best natured, middle aged gentleman, who melts the heart of everyone who meets him. He weighs 45 lbs. and we estimate that he is around 8 years old. Although Keller is blind, we have no hesitation in saying that he would make someone a perfect companion. He is great with everyone he meets and loves to be petted, and touched. Keller is a very quiet, happy, easy going dog. He enjoys hanging with people and will come when you call him. As a cattle dog, he is incredibly smart and adapts to new situations and routines quickly. Keller also likes to keep himself busy, and is a very curious, thinking guy. On nice days he loves being out in the yard exploring and sniffing, or contentedly enjoying a chew toy, or just napping. At night, he sleeps quietly in his crate.
Keller has good hearing. He knows his name and the sound of his foster mom's voice, and he will come right to her when she calls him. He is good with and enjoys the company of other friendly, polite dogs. If a dog rudely gets into his face or is too physically pushy or playful with him, he will try to turn away and growl his protest. Keller is fine with cats and children who are calm and respectful him.
As we watch Keller each day, we realize how extremely well he has learned to cope with and work around his blindness. Using his hearing, senses of smell and feel, he is an expert explorer, and enjoys the same activities as sighted dogs. We have much to admire and learn from his steady and determined 'can do' attitude. It only took Keller a few days to learn the flat portion of the yard at his foster home, and feel comfortable. Soon after conquering it, he managed to work his way through a barricade of chairs meant to discourage him from using the steps up the steep hill. His foster mom began finding him near the top of the hill sniffing and wandering through the flowers and shrubs.
As a cattle dog, Keller loves to have a ball to play with! If he drops or misplaces it, he will find it by smell and using his nose to feel for it. We placed a broken tennis ball on a metal peg of the door of his outdoor 'cabana' to prevent him from walking into it and possibly poking his eye, when the door was open. The tennis ball went missing from the peg several times, and we realized that when he discovered the ball at nose height, he was removing it from the peg to play with it. His other pleasures are chew toys, such as bully sticks, Kongs filled with peanut butter or other tasty treats; and just relaxing with and getting attention from his people.
Keller enjoys walks and the smells of new areas. He also rides nicely in a car. A calm, loving home with a yard would be ideal for him. He would benefit from having another friendly easy going dog in his household, to be a buddy, who might help guide him on walks and in new situations.
If you If you are interested in meeting Keller, please begin by completing our adoption form, by clicking on the "Adopt" option, above, near the top of our home page, or use this link http://hittgv.org/index.php/adopt. Please download and print the form to be completed. If you have questions, email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or leave a message at (707) 583-9583.
