3/3/123Denny is a handsome border collie mix who will need a special someone willing to give him the time, effort, and patience to come into his own.  In two different foster homes, although loving with the foster moms who spent the most time and effort with him and playful with the dogs he lives with, he is still skittish of sudden movements or noises, extremely fearful of new people, and even after months, he still did not fully trust the husbands although he no longer runs from the room and hides when they came home from work and will allow himself to be taken out by them on a leash.

Denny has the potential to be a sweet loving companion, but we need to be clear- he is a long-term project.  He will run from new people and hide in his crate, this will continue for days or weeks, and it may take months before he trusts you enough to come to you for attention.   In a new home he will buck when you try to take him out on a leash,  can wiggle out of his collar or a harness, or pull the leash out of your hand, and in an instant can find any hole under or through a fence, or any place he can he can climb or jump out,  or he will play keep away in the yard or climb under a shed or porch and not come out.  Once loose, he will not let you close enough to catch him- this has happened at four different homes (different foster families and potential adopters). For this reason, he will need a securely fenced and safe yard for him. 

4/1/12 Denny is making progress every day and now will play with toys and with our dogs. He will comes over to me and puts his paws up on my lap to have his head rubbed, and when I stop he pats my hands with his paw and pushes his head against them for me to continue.  He's still skittish with my husband who is away working most of the day, but is improving slowly with him too.  All in all, it is clear to us that he will be a loving, playful, and companionable dog for owners who have the patience to work with him.

3/24/12 Denny (formerly Burton) is a smaller 3 year old border collie mix who arrived last weekend. Better pictures will be posted once he settles in.  It took several days, but he is warming up to me now, wagging his tail when he sees me and gazing at me hopefully until I come over and rub his head. He is still very nervous and cautious in the house and prefers to be in a crate with the door open, but will run from room to room behind me dashing into crates I have set up in each room. 

Denny and his sister Abigail (who we got into rescue several weeks ago and is now pending adoption) were two of 12 neglected dogs from the same home turned in to rural southern southern.   All of them were skin and bones and had never really been around people.  Like Abigail, Denny is very timid, but submissive, gentle, and sweet natured, underneath the fear and confusion.  Currently 30 lbs, he is skin and bones, so we expect he will be about 35 lbs when he fills out.    Denny is neutered, up to date on shots and microchipped.

Notes from the shelter:Denny (Burton) is a sweet border collie/lab mix male. He is 3 years old, heartworm negative, and weighs 25 lbs.  

Good with Dogs, Good with Cats