Adopt a Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler / Mixed (short coat)

Cody is about 4. Looks like a cattle dog mix, maybe some border collie, he has pretty white socks and a white beacon tail tip. But who knows. He was a "stray" and been living in Placer County, animal services. His time was up.

Obviously not a good candidate to be in the shelter. Cody freaked. He is a sensitive dog and constant barking, smell of panic and fear, the hopelessness of every day... with no one to trust Cody shut down.

He was assigned  3 handlers in his time there and became bonded with each of them. Being vested in him, Brittany, one of his handlers, brought him the 5 hours to me.
 
However when he got here, he really had no issues. Allowed me to handle him, warily, but easily. He followed me into the yard. Uncertain of all the dogs behind the fence. It's trial by fire here... sorry Cody.

Into the small chain link airlock, one gate separated him from the pack. And once the gate closed behind us, I removed his lead, opened up the gate separating us from the dogs, and he was descended upon by a pack.

Cody didn't freak, he was standoffish and air snapped, just to warn, and they gave him his space.

I watched peripherally while doing my chores, ignoring Cody, while he got the lay of the land. Inspected kennel runs with open gates, all the feeders and located the watering stations. And sniffed and was sniffed by dogs. All very appropriate.

He chilled in the big yard with the pack, and initiated play with the grumpiest of all of them! He and Dottie appear to be friends now.  He has no issues with male or female dogs, as long as they have manners, and here, they do.

Cody had been deemed unsocial with dogs at the shelter and was also said to be incredibly shy, although never aggressive with people. He flattened on leash walking by humans and other dogs.

I've observed none of this. Obviously, he was not at all comfortable in the shelter. I'm so sorry he was there for the last 4 months... he would never have shown his real self to a potential adopter while there. This was his last chance.  And this handsome boy has lots of opportunity for good placement. He is highly adoptable.

It's clear, he missed out on dog socialization early in his life. But he has very naturally fit in, and I can leave him unsupervised with the pack. He definitely prefers this to his days of being kenneled!

He's on regular on pack hikes now. OFF leash! I left a long line dragging, graduated him to a 4 foot light lead, and now, he's wearing only a collar. He comes to me on command, or by way of my coaches whistle. Very smart, obedient, and loyal.

Cody was in need of a blast off, and he gets that now, every day, for an hour or 2. He  is a joy to watch running free. I know this dog was going kennel crazy.

He's turned out to be a well balanced and normal dog, who just needed a chance.

 Photos updated at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2003324256550310.1073742537.1428374324045309&type=1&l=173a52f241

Adoption fee is $300, includes vetting, transportation, micro-chip + registration.

To download an application to meet Cody: http://cchdrescue.org/adoptionprocess.html or email: [email protected]

Central Coast Herding Dog Rescue, is a Rescue Alliance partner, a federally recognized 501(c)3 non profit organization, dedicated to finding great dogs, great homes. County of San Luis Obispo Animal Service Operating Permit #C2649. Thank you for reading about Cody, and thanks for considering rescue!