I need to re-home my collie, Riley. Does anyone know of a GREAT family looking for a small(ish) collie? He's 50 pounds, full grown. He's about 5 years old. If you have another dog (or dogs), he needs to be the alpha. Gets along GREAT with submissive dogs, large or small. Carefully sniffs my cat and reacts to her body signals if she wants to be left alone. My white shepherd (100 pounds) does NOT have a dominant personality, and they can play all day. However, my aussie IS the alpha dog, and they draw blood when they fight for territory or 'rights'. I know I made the obligation to give him a forever home, the day I adopted him. It's been tearing at my heart for AGES to make this decision. But my shepherd is admittedly dying, and I dont think she'll make it thru the summer. And I need to keep my Mini-Aussie safe and sane ... he was my first 'child'. I've tried obedience and redirection and behavior modification, leaving one dog in and one dog out, exercise and rewards ... my dogs are my LIFE, so I've spent plenty of time with them, but I cant get Riley to fit in to our 'pack'. Riley is VERY gentle and loving in the house. His idea of heaven is being held or cuddled. He had been left outside and abused for the first 2.5 years of his life, so didnt know what 'love' was. I've had him for over 2 years, and he has changed in to a new dog. Zookeeper has seen some of the transformation. He has some bad habits. He's a collie ... collies bark. He thinks he's a goat ... he'll chew on towels, socks, clothes, linens, grass, plants, trees, plastic or paper when left with stuff within his reach, unsupervised. He's slightly food aggressive - he'll protect his food if another dog tries to approach his bowl, but doesnt have a problem with humans. (He shares toys and bones just fine. ) He's still sensitive to loud noises or new experiences, and needs patience and encouragement. Can NOT be treated with a heavy hand!! HATES thunder, fireworks, or gun shots. Loves squeaky toys, tennis balls, chasing things, patrolling the yard ... and you'll never see another field mouse, or vole. He's in PERFECT health, up to date on all shots and vaccines. I dont have children, but he's been fine around the kids he's met. He has to go to the RIGHT home, a GOOD home, so please dont just send this to anyone ... he's not an 'anyone' kind of dog. I've got plenty of pics ... I just dont know how to post them.
Aww Elims... I'm sorry that you have to find Riley another home, but I commend you on being responsible about it. Mini Me wants a dog so bad she can taste it, but we just don't have the time to devote to a dog, and it wouldn't be fair to bring one into our home right now. I'll keep my eyes open though, and I'm sure you'll find the perfect home!
Thanks ... going to try and upload some pics ... let's see if this works. I forgot to mention that he's housebroken and crate trained (crate, food, collar, leash and toys will come with), and I'm not asking for any money ... just a promise that he WILL NOT end up in a shelter!!
What a pretty dog! And he knows to stop & smell the flowers, too. Hope he finds a great home. I don't think Sheba allows dogs here.
Wow! Riley is a beautiful dog! He reminds me of the dog I had when I was around 11 or 12. I would love to have him, but my Coco is definitely the Alpha dog in our house. She tolerates Mandy but that's about as far as she goes with other dogs. And, I live way to close to the road to have another dog to watch out for when I take them out. I tuly hope that you find Riley a home that will love him and take good care of him. Good Luck!
I WONDER IF HE WOULD BE OK WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD BOY AND 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER . WE HAD A BOSTON TERRIOR HE PASSED ON . HE HAD CANCER . HE WAS FROM BOSTON RESCUE . HE WAS THE SAME WAY WHEN I GOT HIM .IT TOOK ALOT OF PRAYER AND TRAINING . JOSH WAS THE BEST DOG I EVER HAD .HE WOULD LAY AT MY FEET ,GO ON RODE TRIPS , GREAT WITH THE KIDS .A FUN GUY TO BE WITH I REALLY MISS HIM ALOT . HE TOOK REGULAR SHOWERS . HE LOVED TO LOOK GOOD . WE WOULD MAKE HIM BANDANNAS . I DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT COLLIES WHAT TYPE OF PERSONALITY DO THEY HAVE ? MY KIDS ARE VERY PLAYFULL .LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ?:lol: :lol: :lol: I ASSUME THAT RILEY IS AN INSIDE DOG RIGHT ? THATS WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR . 8) 8) 8)
Carolina Beach Girl, He's fairly sedate and quiet in the house ... prefers to snuggle up on your lap, or chew on a bone ... tho he'll chase a ball or a toy you throw for him. I'm not sure how he'd do in a 'high energy' type of situation ... he still startles easy.
riley he is such a handsome fellow ,oh well i guess i better not take him . i would love too if you thought he could handle the children .i am sure you will find someone soon . thanks !!!:lol: :lol: :lol:
No, not yet. I'm still riddled with so much guilt because I made the promise to take care of him for the rest of his life .. all of my life it has been so ingrained that pets arent disposable, you just dont give up on them ... but I just dont know what else to do. I know I SHOULD call Collie Rescue (where I got him from) and put him back 'in the system' ... but that breaks my heart. I dont know if I'd ever forgive myself. That's why I'd rather personally see him go to a good home ... so I KNOW he's ok and happy, can hear how he's doing, that he's healthy and safe.
I can vouch for Riley - he's a sweet dog! Handsome fellow too :-D Riley is very gentle, I spent many a weekend visiting him and he never got rough, even during play. He's never jumped up on me, nor has he ever mouthed me - some Collies can be mouthy as far as putting their mouth around your arm or hand - not Riley. As far as his barking, I've never heard him bark, unless there's someone walking down the street (and then he's doing his job) Elims other doggies were barking right along with him. While I haven't seen him with children, I would guess that he would be gentle with them as well, he doesn't seem the type who would be aggressive with any human. He has come a long way - he used to be shy - when I met him about two years ago - but never fear aggressive - by that I mean, I'd go to Elims house when she wasn't there and even on our second meeting, the first one without Elims present - he came right up for pets. The biggest shyness I saw in him was he was fearful of the door - when he came in, he wanted you to go outside and hold the door for him, rather than you hold it open from the inside, I believe he may have been caught in a door a few times as a pup and that memory stuck with him, but the past dozen times I saw him, he could have cared less which side of the door I was on - either he's gotten over it, or he decided he could trust me not to close it when he was halfway in. Yes, Riley is a goat - he likes to chew his bandana or a towel that may be laying about, BUT I'll give him credit, as soon as you say his name, he stopps immediately - of course, if you don't retrieve the item he was interested in, he'll go back to it if you divert your attention - I think its a game to him. I would take him in a heartbeat if I didn't have a really dominant male who is old. He's crate trained, housetrained (except for the material part mentioned above) he loves to play and is sort of like a 60 some-odd pound lap dog. He has no idea he's as big as he is, but IS a bit slighter than the average adult male Collie. I've never seen him bother the kittie in the least - however Elims has another doggie who tends to push the envelope a tad with the cat (not mentioning any names - lol) My nickname for him is Smiley Riley - he is always in a good mood and is just plain sweet. I think if you are looking for a Collie, or any dog and you are willing to watch that he can't get hold of the types of things mentioned that he prefers to chew, Riley would be a great dog for you. Elims is right though, because he has been abused and neglected in his past, he needs a kind and loving family who will welcome him into their home and heart. Anyway, that's my two cents - Elims, I am keeping an ear out for ya, but like you said, not just ANY home. BTW - DO NOT beat yourself up about this - with Willows condition and Bailey being so Alpha, it has got to be stressful for you. Riley is a mature adult and with your training and experience you know that while he was an adult when he went to live with you, it took him time to gain confidence in himself. YOU helped him learn he was his own dog, you did a great job with him and he gained his confidence - just as he should and he re-gained his spirit - which is not always possible with rescues that have suffered abuse - tin just hat alone, you worked a miracle for Riley - Now, he's more or less the dog he was born to be, and that turned out to be Alpha - it's not his fault, nor is it yours, it's the way it is. . .nature. . .Re-homing him IS the right move under the circumstances and no one who knows anything about rescue work or dog behavoir would EVER condem you for it. Ease up on yourself - please!
Riley did find some new owners this past weekend. We're hoping it will work out, and we pray for him constantly. A very nice woman and her son ... I think Riley will fit in perfectly with their family. I was as comfortable as I could be, letting him go ... but I was thankful that I had a friend and a fiance' here at home to give me hugs when he left.
You so did the right thing. I can't imagine how hard it had to be for you. Thank you for changing Riley's life for the better.
Thanks for the support, y'all!! I really didnt expect it ... I exptected to be lectured and frowned at for giving up one of my children ... I guess I've been giving enough of that treatment to myself! Thank you all SO much!!
I've been in touch with the new family several times. He's bonding quite nicely with 'his' new boy ... follows him everywhere and sleeps with him. He's ignoring the cats, when they want to be ignored. It's sounding like he's getting lots of love and attention. They're going to send me pictures soon.
Aww, that's nice. Sounds like things are going really well for Riley in his new home. Glad to hear it.
