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?
SELECTIVE

Additional to add for dog interactions:
Morty can be selective with other dogs and would do best as the only dog in his adoptive home. He can potentially live with another dog if his family is VERY experienced to introduce him to other dogs and setting him up for success in sharing his space with other dogs (i.e. not letting him correct the other dogs when they are too much). He has shown a dislike for some larger male dogs and can become reactive on leash, including barking and lunging.

That said, his current foster has carefully introduced him to resident dogs (large breed male dogs), and while Morty may initially want to jump or engage with them, he responds well to clear direction and has learned to disengage, settle, and sit calmly around them when asked. He does best when his handler confidently advocates for his space and provides clear, consistent guidance.

Due to his history and interactions with unfamiliar dogs, Morty should not visit public off-leash dog parks. Any introductions to other dogs should be slow, controlled, and carefully managed—for example, keeping both dogs leashed, avoiding rushed face-to-face greetings, and starting with parallel walks before allowing closer interaction.

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 has taken down a kid under 10 in an attempt to hump. Would recommend taller, stronger, and older kids to stand their ground 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 are 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 reward him when he is calm and has four paws on the ground. Morty is a dog with significant pull force, so he would need someone 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.

With other dogs, he can be a little much, especially on leash — he can lunge and bark.

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 off-leash 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.

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 a strong, confident, and experienced handler.

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 Mountain 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.