Darla

Meet Darla, a gorgeous 2-year-old, 60-pound Border Collie/Great Pyrenees mix with a beautiful smile and a love for life! This sweet girl enjoys running simply for the joy of running, spending time with her people, and even helping groom the cats in her foster home.

Darla has a wonderful playful side and plenty of energy to share. She loves being active and will need daily physical exercise as well as mental stimulation to keep her happy and fulfilled. She’s also very food motivated and eager to learn, making training a great opportunity to build her confidence and strengthen her bond with her people.

Darla is housetrained and crate trained, and she has made lovely progress since arriving in foster care. While she wants to trust people, unfamiliar visitors, delivery trucks, and unexpected activity can still be overwhelming for her.

She currently responds by barking, and her foster family has been helping her work through these situations. Darla will need a patient, understanding adopter who is committed to continuing that progress through positive reinforcement training.

Car rides are another area where Darla could use some help. She’s not particularly comfortable traveling in the car just yet, so she’ll need someone willing to work with her patiently and help her build positive associations with traveling.

Her ideal home would be a relatively quiet household without a constant stream of visitors, especially while she settles in and builds confidence. Darla has done well with children ages 12 and older, can live with other dogs following proper introductions, and has shown a particularly sweet side with the cats in her foster home.

Darla also arrived with skin irritation and hair loss, possibly related to food sensitivities. Since transitioning to a raw turkey diet in foster care, her coat has grown back beautifully. Her new family should be prepared to continue monitoring her dietary needs.

This lovely girl has so much to offer the right family. She needs someone who will appreciate her joyful spirit, give her the structure and training she needs, and allow her to build trust at her own pace. A securely fenced yard with a fence at least five feet high is required.

If you’re looking for an active, intelligent companion and are ready to help a deserving dog continue to blossom, Darla may be the girl for you!

Darla is currently being fostered in southeastern Vermont.

Please do not inquire about a particular dog until you have an APPROVED application on file.