Happy Tails

Lulu (ADOPTED!) is an adorably lovable young lady, who is approximately 2 years old and weighs 36 lbs. She is friendly, but initially cautious when first meeting new people and other dogs. It takes her a few short minutes of observation, and once she knows that a person is friendly, she warms up very quickly.  She is the same when meeting new dogs. Once she knows they are ok, she becomes playful with them, and when she feels fully comfortable, she will romp and run with abandon. For a young cattle dog, Lulu seems to have moderate energy. This means she still needs approximately 40 minutes of active exercise, twice each day. This could mean playing hard and running with other dogs, or going on a jog or hike with her person.

Our girl was found as a stray, which may be some of the reason she is initially watchful in new situations, and startles easily. Lulu is incredibly observant and intelligent. Her ability to assess and make decisions about new people and animals within a few minutes is quite amazing. She wants to make friends with everyone, and once she accepts you, Lulu is soft and sweet, gazing into your eyes or crawling into your lap if she can. At the vet’s office, she was initially apprehensive, until the vet sat on the floor and spoke gently to her. She crawled into the vet’s lap, and as we chatted for several minutes, we heard Lulu softly snoring. As with nearly all cattle dogs, Lulu likes to follow her people around, and very much wants to be part of a loving family. She loves to cuddle up with people, and to give cattle dog hugs. We have not yet seen her with small children or cats.  She is great with adolescent children.

Once she is comfortable, Lulu is fairly confident. She is neither submissive or dominant, but seems to change her demeanor according to what she decides is happening at the moment. As a young dog, Lulu still needs guidance. Because she very much wants to please and do the right thing, she is very easy to work with. Lulu is just learning to play with toys, as well as the concept of sharing with other dogs. She tends to want to hog, rather than share a toy, or her chosen person. When her foster supervises and shows Lulu how to play tug with another dog, she tugs as directed, and seems to understand. The next time, when allowed to play freely, Lulu will forget about tugging and just wrinkle her nose at the other dog to tell him to surrender the toy to her. If a human intercedes, Lulu will stop immediately and look apologetic. Her foster is also teaching her the concept of sharing affection from humans, and not hogging her person when other dogs approach for a pet, too. As a super quick learner, in just a few short days, she is beginning to embrace this new way of doing things together.

Lulu rarely barks. She did let out one sharp warning bark and was super alert, when her foster dad entered the house wearing a hat and sunglasses, and she didn’t recognize him. She relaxed immediately, when he began speaking to her and removed these items.

Lulu walks nicely on leash, rides quietly in the back seat or in a crate in the car, and she is completely housebroken. She will sleep through the night in a crate, although she would prefer sleeping with her people.
 
If Lulu doesn’t get enough physical exercise or mental stimulation, she may engage in a bit of mischief, just for something to do. She may pick up random items and carry them to other parts of the house, or nibble the corners off of chewable household items. She is still young and learning.  We believe that Lulu had been left to her own devices before, and no one has worked with her. She figures things out so quickly, that we believe with consistent supervision and guidance, Lulu will be a perfect dog in a very short time.

If you are interested in meeting Lulu, please begin our pre-adoption approval process by completing our online adoption form, at http://hittgv.org/index.php/adopt.  If you have specific questions, email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (707) 583-9583. 

Holly (ADOPTED!) is a truly lovely dog, in so many ways.  She is a happy, quiet, mellow, and super sweet, 8-year old female border collie/ cattle dog mix. Holly is an all-around awesome dog, who would be the perfect companion for just about any family. She is extremely affectionate, and hasn’t met a person she doesn't love yet. She will happily sit by your side, nudging your hand to ask for more pets, please!  We have not yet seen her around cats or children.

While Holly may be 8 years old, she is NOT slowing down anytime soon. She loves going on off leash hikes with her foster family, and she is also excellent on leash for her neighborhood walks. She is extremely tolerant of all dogs, and very polite when meeting other dogs of all breeds, sizes, ages, and behavior type. She would probably prefer a home with another polite and balanced dog around her own size. Holly is also completely housebroken, and does great on car rides. As a very food and treat motivated dog, who also wants to please people, she is an easy dog to work with. Her love of food, has her tipping the scales at 49 lbs. and she would benefit from losing five to seven pounds, to ideally weigh around 43 lbs.

She has so much love to give! Her fosters adore her, and said that if they didn’t have a house full of dogs already, Holly would be their dog in a heartbeat!

Holly has had a full wellness check-up from the vet, and is a healthy girl. She was previously spayed, is up to date on vaccines, is heartworm negative. If you are interested in meeting Holly, please begin our pre-adoption approval process by completing our online adoption form, at http://hittgv.org/index.php/adopt

Jack (ADOPTED!)   is a playful pup, who wants people of his own, more than anything. At approximately 15 months old, he is full grown, weighing 53 lbs. Based on past experience, we feel sure he is a Labrador mix. However, when it comes to personality, Jack is all cattle dog/heeler and all boy! Having the classic cattle dog personality, Jack needs people who truly know and appreciate this breed. His zest for life and loving personality make him the best companion. His foster mom says that Jack is just a sweetheart. With the right people, who have breed experience, and can spend the quality time to teach him, he will become a perfect dog.

Jack craves human attention and love. He is big on cuddling with people and wants to be a lap dog. His 12 year old, human, foster sister lets Jack climb onto the sofa with her. He will happily lay alongside her for as long as she is there. If he cannot join you in a chair or sofa, he is happy laying at your feet. If you sit on the floor, he will crawl in your lap. And, he loves to have his chest/belly rubbed. He will close his eyes, and place his paws on your arm to tell you to keep going.

As a moderate energy guy, Jack is a wonderful companion, who will hang out quietly with you for long periods of time, inside or outside. Jack is a typical smart, bubbly, enthusiastic cattle dog teenager. He needs active exercise each day. Two 30 to 60 minute sessions of all out playing or running, will keep him calm and happy the rest of the time. His playfulness comes out in bursts of energy. Jack will suddenly decide to run around, act silly, sometimes knocking into things. Running around the other day, he didn't know there was a bench on the other side of a picnic table, and ran into it at full speed. He just shook it off and continued running again.

He adores playing with other dogs. If he is given a proper, formal introduction to other dogs, he meets well and will try to play with them in no time.  Jack is a very quiet boy. The only time he will bark is when he is stressed, or upset. He rides very nicely in the car. He sits quietly and looks out the window. On leash, Jack also walks right with you. He doesn't pull. He is completely housebroken, and will go out to do his business right after he eats. Although he doesn't like being isolated or left alone, and will protest with two barks, he seems to settle after that. When his fosters leave him for two hours, all has been fine when they return and he welcomes them back with excited body wags and almost bowl them over, as he tries to rub up on them.

Although Jack loves children, he should not be in a home with small children, who he could knock over, and because of his current tendency to be mouthy and nippy, when he tries to make something happen. He should probably not be in a home with a cat or rabbit. His fosters have a rabbit and when he sees it he fixates on it, barks at it, tries to make it run so he can chase it.

Jack is a very bright, loving, and eager pup, who needs to make up for lost time to learn how to be polite. Spending much of his puppyhood in a shelter with no one teaching him social skills, Jack came to us not knowing what manners are. Although he loves playing with other dogs, he needs more guidance in learning how to meet, and to understand that sometimes he needs to show a little restraint when wanting to play with other dogs. He His fosters are teaching him about appropriate behavior in a home, and when playing with others. Jack is a very smart, thinking dog, who learns quickly. He learned, after just one time, that his foster mom didn't want him to follow her in the bathroom. The next time she went in, he stood outside and waited and didn't come in.  

Having typical cattle dog traits of being a smart, thinking guy, who knows what he wants, Jack can be insistent. He communicates in the only way he knows how - he will get mouthy, trying to pull you by the hand or arm, to insist on playing. He doesn't have any meanness in him, he just didn't know any better. His fosters are using a firm No, and turning away from him, or a time-out, until he is calm. When the situation passes, he is rewarded for his calm, good behavior; and he is beginning to learn. Our boy needs adopters who will continue to work with him in this way. We are seeking calm, and experienced cattle dog people, who can spend the time with him on basic obedience, moderate his mouthy tendencies, and continue his  education in different situations. Having another playful dog, his size, with the same play style, would be ideal.  

If you are interested in meeting Jack, please begin our pre-adoption approval process by completing our online adoption form, at http://hittgv.org/index.php/adopt.  If you have specific questions, email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us at (707) 583-9583. 

Carl’s (ADOPTED!)  fosters named this good hearted boy, Carl, after the "Good Dog, Carl," children’s books. Our boy has an Australian Cattle Dog’s stocky shape and build, with the coloring and head of a German Shepherd. He weighs 56 lbs. and is 18 to 20 months old. Carl has the cattle dog desire to be with his people, and is a gentle soul. He does NOT have the pushy or willfulness of a cattle dog. He is just a happy, bouncy, playful boy, who wants to please and be with his people, and to be everyone’s friend - all humans, dogs and cats.

When meeting and playing with other dogs, he is very respectful, yet also playful. He plays well with all dogs, including dominant, bossy females. He wants the cats to play and at his foster home to play with him, and does play bows to them. If a cat doesn’t want to play, Carl is NOT pushy, and he will respectfully go away. If cats run, he will playfully chase and gently play tag with them. Carl enjoys and is good with the small children he has met. However, because of his jumping and exuberant zoomies, especially in the house, he can easily accidentally knock down people who are unstable on their feet, including children.

Carl is a moderate energy dog, who is quiet 80% of the time - relaxing with you around the house, or self entertaining with his squeaky toys. As a young dog, he does need daily exercise, to actively run around for a half hour or more, at least twice a day. This can be running/jogging, throwing the ball for him, or some other active tongue hanging out exercise. This will keep him more relaxed when inside, but won’t stop his spontaneous bursts of happy energy, when he thinks something thrilling is about to happen.

Our boy does have puppy-like personality. When he thinks something fun or really good is about to happen, like getting a treat or going for a walk, he can’t contain his excitement. He gets the zoomies and races around the house in glee. He sometimes leaps straight up, with all paws in the air, like a giant Jack Russell terrier. During these times, you just need to wait for him to calm down, and then reward the good behavior. He will calm in about 5-6 minutes. Carl also has a cattle dog’s sense of humor. When he can’t wait to go outside or to do something fun, he will often use his nose to push you from behind, to make you go faster. Other times he will use his front paw and poke you to hurry up.

Carl loves squeaky, plush toys. He flings and plays with his favorite toys.  He should not be given rawhide and hard chew toys or bones. Carl is a hard chewer and will try to devour chew toys and rawhides in seconds, breaking them into large chunks that he can swallow.

Carl is completely house broken. He enjoys car rides. On leash, he walks nicely with you and does not pull. He may only pull a bit, if he sees a squirrel or another dog he wants to meet. Carl does NOT like going into a crate, and will become very anxious and stressed in a crate. He is so good in the house, that he doesn’t need to be crated.

Carl is a very quiet boy. He has a high pitched cattle dog stress bark when frustrated or upset. His big dog bark has only been heard a couple of times when he heard another dog barking.

Carl is a very smart guy. He is naturally well behaved in the house and a wonderful inside family dog. We believe he was previously an outside dog and never learned that he shouldn’t jump up on people, or that paws should not be on the kitchen or dining table. He is learning quickly and follows the rules at his foster home, but will need continued work. Currently, he knows Sit and Leave It.

Carl sleeps in the bedroom with his fosters. If he needs to go out in the middle of the night, he will gently nudge them with his nose, lick their hand, or put his paw up on the mattress to let them know to let him out. He will also let them know this way, when it’s time to get up, too.  

Carl is a very healthy, happy, playful boy. He has tested heartworm negative in three recent tests conducted by U.C. Davis, and at the Davis Small Animal Clinic. When we first rescued Carl in mid-March, he tested positive for heartworm. On the confirming test, before the U.C. Davis specialist was to begin his heartworm injection treatment, Carl’s test result was negative. Treatment was postponed and we ordered two more tests, which were also negative. The U.C. Davis veterinary faculty unanimously agreed that we should presume that Carl does not currently have heartworm, and continue with regular monthly heartworm prevention pills, and re-test him in 6-months to re-reconfirm. Our hope is that he remains negative, but should he test positive and require treatment, it will be covered by HITTGV with the funds we raised for his treatment, when his initial tests were heartworm positive. If treatment is necessary, as a young and otherwise very healthy dog, he should make a full recovery and be able to live a very full and normal life afterwards.

If you are interested in meeting Carl, please begin our pre-adoption approval process by complete our online adoption form, at http://hittgv.org/index.php/adopt.  If you have specific questions, email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us at (707) 583-9583.