MORTY'S PICS

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Freedom Dog Rescue Adoption Process: https://freedomdogrescue.ca/adoption-process

Before applying, please read the dog’s bio carefully to ensure they are a good fit for your home and lifestyle. If you would like to proceed, you can complete our adoption application:
https://www.jotform.ca/form/21315357345248

We are a 100% volunteer-run rescue based in the Ottawa region, so we appreciate your patience and understanding throughout the process.

Suitable for which type of housing?

House
Townhome

additional to add for housing

Home with separate or far entrance from neighbours would be optimal. Can be too excited and jumpy to see new people approaching him.

Is your dog good with other dogs?

Yes

additional to add for dog interactions

Morty can be selective with other dogs and would ideally do best as the only dog in his adoptive home. However, he currently lives successfully with two large male dogs in his foster home and, with slow, controlled introductions, has settled very well with them. This means he may be able to live with another dog in the right home, but his adopters would need to be very experienced with dog introductions and confident in setting him up for success.  Morty was originally surrendered to our care due to significant leash reactivity and aggressive behaviour toward other dogs at dog parks, where the environment is less controlled and much more unpredictable. He may still pull on leash in some situations, but he has made excellent progress. He currently walks alongside another dog without pulling and is able to remain calm around dogs when his handler provides clear, confident direction.  Morty does best when his person advocates for his space and makes him feel safe and secure around other dogs. When he knows his handler is taking care of the situation, he is much less reactive and can calmly accept other dogs sharing his space. In his current foster home, he may initially want to jump toward or engage with the resident dogs, but he responds well to clear direction and has learned to disengage, settle, and sit calmly around them when asked.  If Morty is to live with another dog, his family will need to understand how to manage interactions and prevent him from feeling that he needs to correct or manage the other dog himself. Introductions should always be slow, controlled, and carefully managed, such as keeping both dogs leashed, avoiding rushed face-to-face greetings, and beginning with parallel walks before gradually allowing closer interaction.  Due to Morty's history and his previous reactions in unpredictable dog-park environments, he should not visit public off-leash dog parks. His progress shows that with the right structure, guidance, and a handler who confidently advocates for him, Morty can successfully coexist with other dogs.

Is your dog good with cats?

Untested

additional to add for cat interactions

Not lived with any. Most likely not recommended as he can play really hard and would want to chase if given the ability to

Is your dog good with kids?

Untested

additional to add for kids interaction

Not lived with any. Friendly with kids but can get excited and jumpy. He loves to hump all new people if given the chance and have taken down a kid under 10 in attempt to hump. Would recommend taller, stronger, and older kids to stand their ground if in case he wants to jump and hump

Is your dog house trained?

Yes

additional to add for house training

Morty is fully house trained.  He learned to use a bell to request to go outside in his previous home.

Is your dog crate trained?

Yes

additional to add for crate training

Crate trained and does well in crate. MAY bark for a duration of 10-15 minutes out of boredom. Sleeps in crate overnight and is good to go to his crate

Does your dog have any special needs?

Morty would be great with any strong and confident handlers that is fair. He is too friendly with new people and may pull hard and would want to hump them. He does need a confident and strong handler that can hold on to him when he pulls hard, correct bad behaviours ( disengaging with him when he grabs on the legs) and rewarding when he is calm and four paws on the ground. Morty is a dog with significant pull force so would need some one pretty strong.

Please note Freedom's Vetting team's notes:  D.o.b July  18, 2020
Has possible allergies.

Does your dog display any aggression (toys, food, people)?

None observed with people at all.

In the prior home, was told that he is not great with dogs that he doesn't know so he shouldn't go to public offleash dog parks. He does well if the other dog is respectful and he can see his handler advocating for his space with other dogs so that he doesn't feel the need to jump or lunge or correct. He currently lives with two other big male dogs and he is very playful with them.

Is your dog playful?

Can be very playful. He is pretty calm at home.

Does your dog like to snuggle?

Can be snuggly if you want. he's pretty good about keeping calm when at home.

Does your dog know basic commands? (e.g., Sit, Stay)

Morty is extremely smart!  He knows sit, sit up, spin, stay, down and whisper!  And he will give both paws.

Does your dog know any special tricks?

See above.

Does your dog like to go on walks?

Morty will need to practice leash manners as  he tends to get excited in very busy situations which can lead to barking and pulling on the leash. He would love to hump new people when given the chance and would bark and lunge with certain dogs on leash.

However, he is very food-motivated, eager to please, and responds well to positive reinforcement. With consistency, training, and patience, he has great potential to continue improving his leash manners and focus.

He is handler selective and would do very well with strong, confident and experienced handler. He currently walks very well with another dog and he is using the halti and is low reactivity to most.

Does your dog have any fears?

None observed.  His previous owner was able to bathe, brush and trim his nails.

Does your dog have any unique traits (personality or physical)?

Morty is like a mini bernese moutain dog in a border collie coat. Very sweet and very happy!

What are the first three words that come to mind when you think of your dog?

Athletic,  strong, happy

In a short paragraph, please provide any other details or a brief overview of your foster dog.

Morty is a sweet, happy, athletic, and incredibly smart 6-year-old Border Collie mix who loves his people and has a wonderfully playful personality. He is calm and affectionate at home, fully house trained, crate trained, and knows an impressive number of commands and tricks. Morty is very food-motivated and eager to please, making him a great candidate for continued positive-reinforcement training. He can become very excited when meeting new people and may pull strongly, jump, or attempt to hump, so he needs a strong, confident, experienced handler who can safely manage his strength and consistently reinforce calm behaviour. He would thrive with an experienced adopter who can provide structure, consistency, training, and plenty of mental and physical enrichment. Morty would do best as the only dog in the home and with children 12+ who are confident and able to stand their ground around his enthusiastic greetings.