PUMPKIN SPICE's story

　　*BEING FOSTERED NEAR YUBA CITY, CA*

　　Pumpkin Spice is the sweetest, most adorable, loving and friendly 29 lb., and 9-10 month old package! She loves everyone she meets. Our girl looks to be mostly red heeler, and border collie. She greets her people by giving cattle dog hugs - standing on her hind legs, she gently wraps her front paws around you. Pumpkin wants to be close to people, and thinks she is a lap dog. Cuddling on the couch with someone is a favorite thing for her. She likes to rest her head on your lap or chest. At her foster home, her favorite person is a 7-year old little girl. The two of them cuddle together and jump on the backyard trampoline together.

　　As a social pup, Pumpkin also loves other dogs, being with them and playing with them. When playing, she likes to herd the other dogs around, by nudging and guiding them back. Pumpkin also learned how to jump up and down on the trampoline, and taught the other dogs how to play in it. When resting inside, she likes to be touching one of the other dogs in her foster home. If the other dogs are resting and she isnt tired, she will seek out one of her people to follow around.

　　Pumpkin is still a young pup, with some very smart and energetic herding/working breeds in her. She has plenty of youthful energy, and needs a lot of opportunity to run and play throughout the day. Also, her very observant, curious, thinking brain could use a job or just things to keep her busy. Occasionally, when inside the house and feeling playful, just for fun, Pumpkin will grab something that isnt a dog toy and run with it. If you catch her doing it and tell her drop it, she will. At this point in her life, she will need continued supervision management throughout the day.

　　Pumpkin does have her own personal likes and dislikes. Although she and her canine foster sister llke to chase squirrels in the tree, Pumpkin is afraid of rabbits. We have not yet seen her around cats, but her fear of rabbits could be an indication of how she might react. She also hates water. Pumpkin will run from the hose, and hates getting a bath. She will try to jump out of the tub.

　　Our girl does NOT have any food or resource guarding at all. However, she is a fast eater who wolfs down her food. Her fosters are using a special bowl to slow down her eating speed.

　　Pumpkin is a good watch dog. When strangers come to the house, she will bark 2-3 times to let people know. She will also place herself between strangers and her 7-year old girl. She will not, however, do this for her adult humans.

　　Her fosters are working on crate training her, and making some progress. Pumpkin sleeps in the crate at night, but needs to know that others are also there in the room. If crated at night, her crate should be in the bedroom with people and/or other dogs. If left completely alone in a crate, she will whine and may rip up her bedding. She also seems fine when left alone in the crate during the day, when in same room with another crated dog. If she is super tired after a lot of exercise, on her own, she will go into her crate to nap.

　　In the morning, when Pumpkin is let out of her crate, she is ecstatic, and the first thing she will do is greet you by wrapping her front paws around you for a cattle dog hug, before heading outside for her morning pee.

　　Since Pumpkin is still very much a puppy, who is only just learning appropriate behavior, her new adopters will need to continue to work with her. She is pretty much house trained, but sometimes when she is busy or having fun inside, and then feels like peeing, she forgets. Her fosters are also still working on leash walking. As a pup, Pumpkin still wants to chew on her leash. While Pumpkin has not yet realized that she might find food on the counter, she has been found sitting on the kitchen counter looking out the window. When playing outside with the other dogs, Pumpkin also loves to dig for fun, especially when with one of the other dogs.

　　She is also a little mouthy, and will playfully nibble at your hands and/or arms when playing with you, or to let you know she wants something you have (her toy). When told to stop nibbling, she will stop. For this reason, if in a home with children, the should be 7 years old or older, respectful of, and know their boundaries with dogs.

　　Pumpkin would do best in a home with another dog. Because she is young, very busy, and still has several issues that need work, Pumpkin is NOT for a first time dog owner, or people who are too busy to supervise and manage her activities.

　　This dog is being fostered near Yuba City, CA. If you are interested in meeting Pumpkin Spice, please begin our pre-approval process by completing our adoption form at this link: http://hittgv.org/index.php/adopt. Please download and print the form to be completed. If you have questions about this dog, call (916) ; or email us at [email protected] or leave a message at (707) .