Dog Needs a Good Home

N Hilltop Rd near Highway 2, Columbia Falls MT

Description

I hate to do this… but we need to find a new home for Nova. He is about 9 months old (born Oct 2021) and currently weighs about 60 pounds. He is a pretty big dog but not huge. He's a mut. We were told part border collie, but I don't see it. We named him Nova. We got him at the shelter in Thompson Falls in January ($300 to adopt him). He's had all of his shots and we got him fixed. He also had a really wrinkly face as a pup and his eyelids were a little turned in, so we had the vet do corrective surgery ($700). Other than that, he seems to be a very healthy dog. He is very friendly and likes companionship. He's crate trained in the house, and doesn't wander much outside. He sits on command. And he responds to our universal command for "stop doing whatever you're doing" which is "OFF!" He is not too bright, comes most of the time when I call, but has not been leash trained because we don't take him out anywhere. He is a bit of a chewer, but he's still a puppy even though he's getting big. We give him toys and he'll chew on blocks of firewood out in the yard. He doesn't bark much. He rarely barks outside unless he wants let in, and only barks inside when he is in his crate and asks to be let out to play or potty. He likes being close to his people. The reason he cannot stay at our home is because he is just way to rough with our kids (ages 8 down to 2). He knocks them over and gets on top of them. He has never deliberately hurt the kids or anyone and is not mean at all. He just plays way too rough. Sometimes jumps up on them. Inadvertently scratches them. Gets a bit mouthy and slobbers all over them. Has never bitten or acted like he might bite them. He just gets really excited when the kids play and he wants to play, and he gets more wound up when the kids get animated or start running around. He stops when I tell him to stop. But he doesn't stop when the kids say stop... he actually gets even more wound up when they yell at him or run away from him. I feel like I have to be present and he can't run around alone with the kids. The kids are scared to go out in the yard when he's out there. So he's in a crate in the house when the kids play in the yard. And if we got a dog house I would feel like I need to tie him up when the kids are out. It would be no life for him while our kids grow up (the youngest is 2). And our kids would like a dog they can play with. He has not been around other dogs much, but has been submissive to the neighbors' dogs. We have an old border collie who is not long for this world and sleeps most of the time. We hoped that they would companions for now, but he also wants to play pretty rough with her. We have 2 cats. He gives the older cat a wide birth because she gives him a little attitude and he is submissive. The other cat does not give him attitude, and he's picked her up in his mouth and packed her around and slobbered all over her. So he'll probably be OK in a home with other animals, as long as they set the boundaries. He would probably be happy and do well in a home with adults or older children, but not little kids. $100 adoption fee. We are just west of Columbia Falls, not far from the Blue Moon. I could meet you anywhere in the valley.