Ryder CT

My story

COMING SOON IN TORRINGTON! Hi there! I’m Ryder. I am five (I think), 36 pounds of handsome, and I am a Border Collie mix. I’ve had all my shots and had that surgery on my unmentionables. Foster Mama says that like most Border Collies, I’m “a little intense.” I LOVE playing fetch. I mean, I LOVE playing fetch. I’ll fetch tennis balls, but my absolute favorite is a little squeaky football Foster Mama got me. My best quality is that I am very affectionate with people I like and trust. I love to be pet and to sit with and lean on my favorite people. I also give kisses and just want to be near you but I also like to explore. I will keep your yard bird free, cuz next to playing fetch with my football, chasing birds (and butterflies, leaves, air) is what I love best. Like most Border Collies, I am very sensitive to things that move or things that have changed. I have a routine for every time I go outside. I potty in pretty much the same place every time. I’m also a very fast learner and had the routine at my foster home down after one day. Once I figure out what you want me to do, I get it in a snap. I am on my best behavior in a crate. I don’t chew up my bed. Toys: Like I said, balls and anything I can fetch are my absolute favorite. I haven’t destroyed my plushies, but they’re just not my thing. I also don’t really care about the chew toys Foster Mama gave me. Sometimes I get really excited about my squeaky ball and I can get a bit grabby and jumpy when you try and take it from me, but I’m trying to remember to be good. Treats: I can be slow to eat when I’m nervous, but I love treats. Mama gives me these jerky treats I really love, and I also love pill pockets. Don’t know why they call them that, but maybe I eat them so fast I don’t even notice the pills in the pockets. They’re peanut butter flavored – YUM. Things you should understand about me: You should probably be experienced with / understand Border Collies if you’re going to adopt me. Foster Mama says I am not a first dog kind of guy, and I’m not the couch potato type. If you want a dog you can play with though, I’m your guy! I lived with kids, but am probably better with older kids since I can get a little grabby when I’m not paying attention. I am slow to trust strangers (although some people I like right away). If you have a lot of people come to visit you in your house, I may not be the best fit, or you’ll want to be comfortable with proper introductions for dogs like me that take some time to warm up to strangers. I don’t like it when there’s a fence between me and something I’m interested in, so I can bark and seem mean sometimes. And I love exercise. Foster Mama says that I should probably live somewhere that can give me at least an hour of exercise every day – fetch, or training, or frisbee, or something that gives me a job. Foster Mama and I play fetch about three times a day. I like being busy. If I get regular activity, I am really well behaved. Foster Mama is “housetraining” me to get used to pottying outside (I used to live in the city and use potty pads inside the home). So far I have not made one mistake! I am very sensitive to anything that changes. I have lots of zoomie moments and love to do laps around the yard when I’m outside. A fenced yard is probably best for me so I can get my zoomies out and not get into trouble with cars and people and pets going by. Mama says she’s still learning about me, and I’m going to have some sort of “test” to see if I can get along with other dogs. I hope it’s not written, because I can’t read or write. Foster Mama says that because I like chasing birds so much, I’m probably better off at a home where there aren’t other small animals like cats. I can’t help it – it’s fun to chase the birds and butterflies and watch them fly away. I have only been in foster care for a week, so it’s probably going to be another couple of weeks before I am available for my new furever family, but if you’re interested in learning more about me, please fill out the application: https://www.australianshepherdsfurever.org/adoption-application There is an additional $20 microchip fee which includes registration and transfer to my new furever family.

If you have any questions or would like to adopt Ryder CT, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.