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Dakota is an ABCA-registered purebred smooth-coated border from working stockdog lines, born in March 2020. He is being fostered in Savoy, Illinois.  He is a striking tall, dark and handsome 46-pound dog with erect ears and a gaze radiating intelligence, intensity and anticipation of the next thing to do. He is sweet and outgoing and very busy: he will need to have a job or an otherwise consistently very active life-style. He is not suited to life as simply a family companion - he will need to have consistent focused activity to be happy (and for his person to be happy!). If you are looking for a dog to cuddle by the fire or share Netflix binge-watching, this is not your dog!

Dakota was purchased as a puppy and raised in a loving home with consistent veterinary care and all preventative medications but, as a maturing puppy, he became too much dog for his home situation. Recognizing that his needs were not being met, his devoted person sought help from Come Bye Border Collie Rescue in finding him a home where his energy and focus could be indulged and celebrated. Dakota grew up with children, a cat and another small dog (a peke-a-poo) in the household, with which he played appropriately. He had free access to a yard with an invisible fence and reportedly did well and respected the boundaries of the yard. He went for leash walks in the neighborhood and played fetch in the yard as well as playing in the house with the other dog but this was not enough physical and mental release for him. His previous owner notes that his favorite game is chasing the water hose.

Dakota is a cheerful, playful dog, very smart and a good ‘problem-solver’. Like all dogs, it is important for his person to shape his ‘solutions’ into desirable rather than undesirable behaviors – this is especially true for Dakota because he learns so quickly and readily adopts as permanent those behaviors that get him what he wants, whether that is attention, food, a toy, or, most commonly, just something to do. This also makes him a great prospect for many different dog sports or other occupations.

Dakota is very good at meeting new dogs and readily invites them to play with a series of play bows. He does play vigorously and tends to herd other dogs by ‘cutting them off at the pass’ when playing chase. He also loves to present his toys to other dogs to invite chase or tug and stays very even-keel even when the other dog gets ramped up. He is very tolerant of another dog’s arousal and stays calm but will stand his ground if the other dog doesn’t dial it back, then yield if the other dog doesn’t. He has boundless energy for play that will transfer well to a job. He is good at entertaining himself with toys for a while but that does not meet his needs for physical and mental exercise.

Dakota likes all kinds of toys and loves ice. It is his delight to find that the outside water bowl has frozen – he picks it up like a weighted Frisbee and carries it until it yields for him the prize of a frozen water disc, which he alternatingly licks/chews, tries to toss it for himself or works to engage his person in icy disc-throwing. Dakota, like all the other dogs, holds that the concept of inside versus outside toys is just a figment of his foster mom’s imagination so, in cold weather, the house door gets closed until the water bowl status is addressed!

Dakota is highly food- and toy-motivated. He is SUPER keen to learn and INCREDIBLY focused on his task when working or learning. He has a good nose and enjoys working scent, again showing tremendous focus and virtually no distractibility when working. He is confidently curious when encountering new situations unless he is working, then he is for the most part blind to anything other than his work. He does not seem to be bothered by noise or motion and, unlike many border collies, is not overly triggered by sudden movement. When walking on a leash, he will acknowledge people or animals but is not highly stimulated by them. He is social and will generally greet people with a polite hello – he will sometimes jump up but is learning to keep ‘four on the floor’ when meeting others. He does well on leash once his walk has started but is working on not pulling initially.

Dakota is solidly housebroken and will potty readily on- or off-lead (in the yard or on walks). He enjoys attention, especially belly rubs, but is usually too busy to pause for long snuggles. He has been very well-mannered in the house and has a good off-switch – he tours the inside of the house, deciding on a toy with which to retire to a dog bed, then curls up and gums the toy, watching the household activities. If another active dog is out, Dakota will not settle unless the other dog does. He is crate-trained and sleeps in a crate at night – he has learned to happily enter his crate when asked and to politely leave the crate when released. Other than a little whining when he needs to go out to potty, he is quiet in the crate unless another dog is doing something exciting and then he will bark. In the yard, he is quiet and has been completely respectful of a 5-foot fence. Dakota travels well and will jump up directly into his crate in the car. He rides quietly and shows no motion sickness. He arrives ready to take in a new adventure.

This is a tremendous opportunity for someone looking for a performance/working dog: a purebred border collie puppy who has a good health foundation and basic housebreaking and manners training that is otherwise is a clean slate but primed for learning and doing! With high drive, intense focus and great trainability, Dakota is an excellent prospect for SAR or a wide range of active dog sports/activities. All that, and a dog that is livable in the house and good with children, cats and small dogs! If not for already having a 7mo border collie puppy in training for SAR, Dakota would be adopted by his foster but he has far too much potential to be relegated to a second-fiddle position. Don’t miss this chance for the dog of your dreams!

If you have any questions about Dakota, please contact Marcie at ridgway@illinois.edu

For additional information on our adoption application process and for an online application, go to the Adoption Info page on our website at www.comebyebcrescue.org.