Kipp
Adoption Status: Pending
Gender: Male
Breed: Miniature Australian Shepherd & Poodle Mix
Age: Est DOB: 01/2024
Weight: 37 lbs
Dog Friendly: Yes
Cat Friendly: Unknown
Kid Friendly: Unknown
House Trained: Doing great!
History: Kipp is a handsome boy reported to be a mini Aussiedoodle (may be a standard- due to him being a bit larger than a typical mini) but nonetheless, he is SO handsome. He is working hard on his trust and confidence and hopes to find a patient family of his own soon!
His photos show his leg shaved as he was in for his neuter appointment the day of his photos :)
A Note from the Foster: Kipp began the 2nd chapter of his life, at just over a year old, when he was rescued by Coco's Heart in January. The first chapter was most likely fairly traumatic for a pup growing up in conditions where we can assume that his health and happiness were not important to his irresponsible breeder (think puppy mill conditions). He wasn't exposed to the normal daily life where he was held and played with and had socialization with other people that all pups deserve, so he is more cautious of his surroundings than a typical 1 year old puppy would be. But that doesn't mean that he does not deserve to become a happy, well-loved dog, in fact, as his foster parents, we are determined to find his family that will give him patience and time to adjust so that he learns that he is safe and loved!
When Kipp arrived to rescue, he had never had a collar and leash on and had no idea how to walk outside with us for potty breaks. After the first couple attempts at getting out the door, he calmed down and has quickly learned that being on a leash outside with us for potty breaks and walks can be fun! We don't have a fenced in yard and he walks right beside us, never attempting to pull us down the street or into a snowbank. He doesn't react to other dogs or people when we encounter them on walks, but we are in a quiet neighborhood with only some construction sounds and kids playing in the distance. Kipp had never seen a toy and after the first couple of weeks discovered that he could have toys and bones and now will hijack them and take them to his crate where he can enjoy them all by himself. He looks so proud when he picks them up and proudly prances away with them, you can almost see him smiling. Kipp loves meal times and has started to dance along with our other 2 dogs when he knows that we are going to prepare his bowl. He picked up on our schedule quickly and settled into our morning and bedtime routines and seems to know what to expect which I believe helps him to feel more comfortable and safe. His safe place is his crate and he does his napping in there by choice. He is crated when we are away during the day and overnight. He doesn't usually make a peep while in his crate and sleeps through the night with no need for a middle of the night potty break. In fact, Kipp has never had an accident in his crate and has only peed a few times in the house within a month's time, which can be blamed on us for not being aware of the time and waiting a little too long for his potty break.
Kipp is still shy, but he does seek physical comfort and pets from me, but isn't quite there yet with my husband or son. He will lay on the floor in front of the couch when I'm sitting there and put his head up on the couch alerting me to the fact that he would like some pets and affection. He adjusted to the 2 other dogs in the house quickly and has recently learned that he can wrestle with them.
So what does Kipp need from his family so that he can continue to grow in trust, confidence, and happiness? He needs a patient family, probably without younger kids and not a lot of activity and noise in the house. He needs someone to be understanding when he comes out of his crate and circles the room a couple of times, but then returns to his crate without engaging directly with his people until he is more comfortable. He needs someone to be patient with him as he barks when seeing his reflection in a mirror or window or when he sees a shadow in the house that he must find suspicious. He did not use his voice for the first 3 weeks in rescue, but then found it and occasionally uses it in those circumstances. Because of this, I would be wary to have him live in an apartment or home with shared walls. This behavior will most likely improve but I would hate for that to be an issue that causes stress to a family and neighbors. He has not been a barker outside though. He also will need someone that may need to continue to explore anxiety meds (he is currently on one but that is still a work in progress because we are unsure if it is needed or if time is helping him adjust to his new and happier life).
Kipp deserves a family that will take him as he is, work with him to discover his happiness, and enjoy even the little improvements that will help Kipp grow in his confidence and happiness!
Adoption Fee: $500 + tax
Adoption Status: Is this dog available? Submitting an application is the best first step to learning if a dog is still available. There is a chance this dog could have a pending adoption when your application is submitted, however our team will offer approved applicants to be put on a waiting list for that dog. Additionally, we can make recommendations on other dogs that may be a match. Pending adoptions do not mean the adoption is finalized. Why did we implement this change? We implemented this update because, unfortunately, dogs were pending for applicants for several weeks and then the applicant would change their mind. This happens more often with puppies, as applications are submitted impulsivly more often for them. Our process is great because it takes a little time, so impulsive decisions fade. However it was unfortunate for the dogs, and the foster homes, as then the process needed to be re-started. By securing a wait-list we are able to move forward more quickly if a pending adoption falls through. This is a new process for us, so your feedback along the way is helpful! Thank you for supporting rescue and adoption!
