POLLYWOG (AKA Polly) is a darling and small 5-month-old girlie who weighs about 20 pounds.  She is a gentle pup, but don’t let her demure looks fool you: she can turn on the border collie drive when she sees something that catches her interest like cattle, sheep, ducks, and the other dogs in her foster home.  This girl needs something to do.  Polly was with her litter for a longer time than is usual, so she is a little shy with people and still looks to other dogs for confidence and comfort. She goes to work with her foster dad every day, as she continues to need support in meeting new people and being without the dogs at home.  And she loves learning new things, and finds treats and toys very motivating.  She is also learning the beginning “games” taught in nose work, which increases her confidence and focus.  Polly is crate-trained and is almost 100% housebroken.

CARTER is a 1-to-2-year old sweetheart, who loves to follow his foster dad around the property when doing farm chores, or to watch the sun set in the evening.  He is active, yet calm & seems to have had some training in his previous life.  Picked up as a stray, Carter hasn’t “told” us his story, but we can infer that he was loved & cared for in his previous life.  He moved into his foster home as if he had lived there his whole life, showing good manners in the house & getting along with all of the dogs & other animals that live there.  Carter doesn’t know anything about toys, or doing fun things like chasing a ball or tugging, or romping with the other dogs.  He is content to be with his foster mom & dad, yet he is comfortable at home without them.  If you are looking for as easy-going, gentle young border collie–who knew such a dog existed?–then you might be interested in making Carter your new best friend.  He is housebroken & rides nicely in a crate for traveling, but he sleeps in a dog bed at night–yep, right next to his foster mom & dad’s bed.  

WindSock (f) goes by her nickname “Windy,” especially as she really wants to be someone’s best friend. She is kind & kissy, just an all-around nice girl. She has the potential to be whatever you want her to be because she seems to have a high desire to please. Once she grows up to her full size, she shows promise as a sports dog &/or hiking buddy. Windy’s coat appears almost black, but is actually a deep, deep red. Her coat is short, & she has white tips on her toes & tail. She can get a little overly excited about meal time & is working on “slow down.” WindSock just likes everything that comes her way & expresses that with enthusiasm.

Aura (f) is stunning to look at–a blue & white merle with a white blaze & the markings that make her look a little like a sad clown.  She is not actually sad, but can be a little clown!  She is an active girl that loves to play with her littermates & the other foster pups in residence.  Being the smallest in the litter, she can be a bit shy, but given time to collect herself & take in the scene, she is ready to go.  Her favorite toys squeak & crinkle.  Tug is super fun & she really likes cuddling up with the resident “old dog” Uncle Wisdom.  Aura would like an understanding family that will make sure she is not overwhelmed as she grows in confidence, someone with experience & patience in socializing & training a pup that needs a little bit more encouragement.

BINGO, a 2-3-year-old, approximately 50 pound, Border Collie/Australian Cattle Dog, is a love sponge and a pleaser. He is quiet, human-oriented, submissive, calm, loyal and deeply affectionate. Bingo takes instruction well and is highly sensitive to correction. His recall is pretty strong, and he loves nothing more than hanging out and exploring the outdoors with humans.

WALNUT ——male–(AKA Wally) says: “I like to tell everything that I am the BIGGEST puppy, but really I’m only a little bit bigger than the others. I love toys a lot, but I love my foster mom even more. I am happy to lay around on the couch with her for a long time—well, a long time in border collie puppy minutes! She tells me that I am Mr. Personality, even though I don’t show it in the first five minutes of meeting someone. I think a puppy should check people out before giving lots of kisses & adorable wiggles. Toys, tunnels, treats are my three faves, but pleasing my people will be right up there at the top of my list, once we get close, & I’ll make you proud of me.”

REDBUD ——female—(AKA Buddy) says: “I would love to be your best friend!  That’s a good thing to know about me right away.  I love everything: people, other animals, treats!  Toys are super-dooper, & even though I’m a bit fluffy so seem like I might not be tuff, don’t be fooled: I love to play tug!  It’s my favorite game right now.  Our foster mom gave us some tunnels to play in, & wow, am I fast running through them.  I hear there is a sport called agility that has tunnels & that you can tug when you do something really smart & good.  I might like to do that someday.  Like all of my brothers & sisters, I am so adorable, but I have a very special, upside-down, white V on my nose.  If you take me home, you can figure out all of the things that letter might stand for.”

BONSAI—female—says: “The first thing my foster mom told me is that good things come in smaller packages.  Yes, I am what people call the runt of the litter, but what I lack in size, I make up for in energy & enthusiasm: my go-to position is wiggle & when I find it hard to hold still, pets & love calm me down so I can start thinking like a border collie.  I think I am going to have ears that stand up like a jackrabbit.  Even though I am a go-getter, I can be a little shy at first, so I’d be happiest with another nice & social dog to play with & lots of adventures & games to build my confidence.  Geez, I even like the silly cats around this place!”

I’m not really sure how I got into border collie rescue as I am but a tiny girl.  Found alongside a road, I was in need of some help, being only about 4.5-weeks-old and only 4 pounds, I surely could not fend for myself.  Luckily for me, Northern California Border Collies Rescue & Adoptions had some room for me, so I got to go to this fun place with other dogs and cats and chicken and all sorts of fun things to meet and play with.  And because I am so little and cute, they didn’t require a DNA test!  They just think of me as a mini-border collie-wannabe! My rescue name is Mae, but my foster mom calls me Dinky Dog (I sure love hearing her say it, cuz I know if I come running to her I get a treat!) 

Arriving in June, the six Cottonwood kids joined the pack in their foster family after a typical puppy quarantine.  Soon they were running, playing, and within minutes figuring out the dog door and exploring the great outdoors.  The garden, the big fountain, the cats, the tortoises, the chickens, and the other border collies all provide great adventures.  Their foster mom and other visitors quickly won these puppies’ hearts & trust.  At about 10-weeks-old, these Border collie/Aussie/McNab mix pups sure show all the characteristics typical of these breeds: smarts, speed, need to have things to do, & lots of energy (can we say “drive”?)  They all have easy-care coats.  The pups sleep together in an x-pen & eat all their meals in individual crates.  They are learning to use newspapers in their pen (as well as the yard when they’re all outside) so should housebreak easily when consistently taken outside.  They love treats & toys, which will make training fun.