Skye, STAR #2152

❤️Meet Skye!

Sweet, spunky and absolutely adorable, Skye is a petite red tri Australian Shepherd who is estimated to be about 9 months old and currently weighs just 27 pounds. This little cutie-patootie was found as a stray at a gas station in a small South Texas town, but you would never know she had such an uncertain start by the amount of love she has to give!

Skye loves people. Everyone she meets is greeted with enthusiastic body wiggles, kisses and a little bobtail spinning at top speed. She may throw in a jump or two for good measure, we’re still working on that puppy enthusiasm! She is affectionate, people-oriented and happiest when she can be near her humans.

For such a young girl, Skye has already proven herself to be a terrific houseguest. She has not had a single potty accident in her foster home, the car or even the hotels she has visited. And yes, this girl is already a seasoned traveler! Skye joined her foster parents on an 11-day, out-of-state road trip that included two full days of driving each way, and she was a superstar companion. She loves car rides, walks and even trips to the beach.

Skye is also one smart little cookie. She is very food motivated, learns quickly and responds well to consistent direction. She sits nicely, takes treats very gently and has learned to wait patiently for the “OK” before eating her meals. Her foster family is also working on “place” and teaching her to stay out from underfoot during kitchen time. She walks pretty well on leash, although puppy curiosity sometimes has her crossing in front of her humans or getting a little eager. With continued practice, she should have that figured out in no time.

Skye is crate trained, although she would like it officially noted that bedtime is not her idea. She may bark and howl in protest when first crated for the night, much like a toddler insisting she isn’t tired after falling asleep on the couch, but once she settles, she sleeps peacefully through the night. She is especially content if another dog is nearby.

This girl has a nice balance of Aussie energy and an “off switch.” She loves a good romp around the yard and especially enjoys playing with one of her foster sisters who can match her energy. Once she has gotten her zoomies out, she is equally happy hanging around the yard, chewing on a favorite toy or settling near her people. Squirrels and large birds, however, are apparently not welcome on Skye’s property, and she takes her patrol duties seriously!

Like many young Aussies, Skye is still very much a work in progress. She can be mouthy when she gets excited during play and will sometimes nip at legs or clothing when someone runs. There is little pressure behind it, but it is a puppy/herding behavior that her foster family is actively working to discourage. Because of this, a home with young children would not be the best fit for Skye.

Skye has not been tested with cats. Given her enthusiasm for chasing squirrels and birds, a cat-free home would likely be the safest choice.

Her relationships with other dogs require a little more consideration. Skye currently lives with three female dogs and gets along very well with two of them, including a Husky who has become a favorite playmate. Her relationship with the third dog is more complicated. They can peacefully coexist, but their interactions require supervision because both can react when the energy or body language between them changes.

Skye also has a tendency to want to control access to her people when everyone is relaxing together. If another dog approaches her foster parents while they are sitting, Skye may hurry over to body-block or try to insert herself between the dog and her humans. Interestingly, she generally does not display the same behavior when her humans approach another dog to give affection or when everyone is standing or moving around. Her foster family has consulted with a trainer and is actively working on this behavior through management, redirection and her “place” command. Skye is responding to the structure, but this is something her adopter will need to understand and be committed to continuing to work on.

Because of this, Skye needs slow, thoughtful introductions to new dogs and may be selective about her canine friends. She could be very happy as an only dog where she gets all the attention, or potentially with one easy-going, confident dog whose personality and play style are a good match. Any resident dog should meet Skye before adoption to make sure everyone agrees on the arrangement!

At heart, Skye is still a young Aussie figuring out how the world works. She is bright, affectionate, playful, eager to learn and absolutely devoted to her people. She has made wonderful progress in foster care and will thrive with an adopter who appreciates the intelligence and quirks that come with an Australian Shepherd and is willing to provide consistent boundaries, training and plenty of love.

For the right home, this petite little redhead is going to be one fun, loyal and incredibly loving companion.

Skye is house trained, microchipped, fully vaccinated, and current on heartworm prevention. She’s currently in Corpus Christi. If you’d like to learn more about her, the first step is to complete an adoption application at the link below.

Skye is a precious 8-10 month old red tri female and weighs 30 pounds.  She was found wandering at a gas station in South Texas.  We are so thankful that she was picked up by a good Samaritan and now safe.  She will be fostered and evaluated in the Corpus area and should be ready for adoption late July.  If this is your dog, please be prepared to show proof of ownership along with vet records and pictures.