Requirements to Adopt: Sheba will be required to be either a solo dog OR be matched with a household with a clear alpha/dominant dog. She has displayed a repeated tendency to attempt to dominate and start scrabbles. When an alpha dog puts her in her place once, she doesn’t do it again, but will keep being aggressive against non-dominant dogs including resource guarding, etc. At her current foster, she has one wimpy and one dominant dog with her. It took about five weeks for her and the wimpy dog to stop fighting. And though it was light duty fighting, it was stressful.
Socialization/training: Sheba is a very bright dog! She is housebroken, learned basic commands quickly, and is spatially aware of critters in the yard. She is also skittish in ways that are difficult to figure out. She has retreated to her crate when the unplugged vacuum was out, when someone was wearing a puffer coat, when boxes sat on a chair. Whomever adopts Sheba will need to agree to being patient while she figures out that she is in a safe environment. This may take weeks or months. Sheba is so very affectionate and wants to sit on people’s laps, but can be skittish with new people. It has been somewhat random and unpredictable who she attaches to and who makes her nervous. She has never shown any aggression toward any human, including kids. She has not been around toddlers or babies. There’s still a little puppy behavior that needs correction like jumping up on people and moving shoes around the house, but she sits like a champ before even being asked at meals, leashing up, etc. and learns quickly. Sheba gets carsick so she has been given chewable meclizine (non-drowsy Dramamine) prior to getting in the car. Sheba has two cats in her foster home. They tolerate her, but she does like to chase them sometimes. She’s gotten the double-ninja cat clobber a few times and respected their space after that life lesson.
Crate trained: Sheba is a gem in her crate and also goes in it by herself. No accidents and has only made noise overnight when she (truly) had to go out. She currently sleeps in crate from about 10 pm until 6 am. She will also retreat to the crate if something new has made her feel nervous (vacuum, a roll of carpet, etc.). A crate in her forever home is advised.
Leash trained: Sheba is leash-trained but is very strong and goes full-throttle on it. The athletic middle-aged people in her foster home do a two-hand leash hold when she goes outside on a full-run, so this dog would not be a candidate for anyone with mobility or balance issues. A martingale-style collar is a requirement as she tries to back out of her collar when anxious. We are working on heeling on walks, trying to balance wearing her out and it being very cold, even if the humans don’t. Sheba loves the cold and snow; the look on her face watching snowflakes and chasing them her first big snow was priceless.
Activity Level: Sheba loves to play with other dogs, loves going for walks and running outside. She is playful and appropriate in house, mixing it up with playing and watching birds in the window. She likes to snooze in her crate or a favorite chair, especially when there is a person in the chair! She loves to take a flying leap onto a person in a chair or on a couch, with or without warning, with or without coffee in hand, so we’re also teaching her to sit at the base of furniture for attention.
Fence: Fence is not required, but she would thrive with one as she loves playing outside. She would be able to learn an electric fence with training, but it will need to be done very carefully as her prey instinct is very, very high and she would take off running after birds in a heartbeat. Sheba springs over furniture like a deer, so there is a chance she could go over a 4’ chain-link. A non-fence home would require lots of exercise. Foster has no fence, so she has not been tested.
Behavior: Sheba is a bit of a mystery dog! She is SO affectionate and eager to please with people. She wants to boss around any dog she can but is simultaneously very anxious. She spent a week with another wonderful foster family that was interested in adopting her and had her tail was down most of the time and just didn’t seem happy. She came back to her original foster’s home and was engaged, robustly playing, and affectionate. She loves some new people and barks at others. Whomever adopts Sheba will have to be prepared to work with her if she seems anxious at first. She’s extremely food-oriented, so smart, and so affectionate, so however it starts, we’re confident that she will find her way with guidance, but it may take some months for her to acclimate. She’s a great work-from-home dog as she self-entertains, playing with toys like a kitten.
Medical History: Sheba is spayed, microchipped, up to date on vaccinations, and on monthly heartworm prevention. She does not have any medical issues. Her next leishmaniasis test is due October, 2025.
This dog originates from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. They tested negative before coming to the USA, but the parasite can remain dormant in the system for many years, so potential adopters must be willing to commit to annual testing for the next 7 years. Typically, the test needs to be sent to a special lab, but any regular vet can draw the blood and send it to the lab. The cost of the test seems to vary widely by area, but is approximately $150-$250. or if your vet is willing to send the test to a veterinary college lab, cost can be as low as $80.
Foster Comments: Sheba is an eight-month-old Setter mix who smiles more distinctly than any dog we’ve ever seen. When she’s happy, she makes a big smile face. She has very soft, thick fur and though she looks like dad was a Golden Retriever, she is over half English Setter, a chunk of Brittany, and a chunk of “supermutt.” Her coat is spot on Golden Retriever color even with a blonde tail/rump. She’s a beauty. Though her dichotomous mixture of anxiety and bossiness will have to find its level, Sheba really is a beautiful, affectionate, smart dog. We feel like her ideal home would be an active empty nester or single person home with a high fence or electronic fence with a clear-cut training plan. She would make a wonderful running companion after she learns how to walk in a straight line! As she is under a year, she is a fifteen-year commitment! We estimate her final weight to be around 40 lbs.
Foster Location: Madison, WI
Volunteer transport can be arranged in the Continental US within a 1,000-mile distance between adopters & foster home. If interstate transport is provided for your adopted dog, there will be an additional charge of $50.00 for the required Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (“Health Certificate”). Typically, we are able to transport your adopted dog to within 2 hours of your home. *Dogs can be adopted outside the 1000-mile transport distance; however, adopters must be willing to either fly their adopted dog, drive to a location within the 1000-mile transport range, or make independent transport arrangements for their adopted dog. Transports to far Western states, from Eastern states, may have additional restrictions.
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