Willow

Willow is the kind of dog who lights up every room she enters, and then immediately asks what adventure is next. With her rabbit-like bounding gait, expressive eyes, and tongue perpetually hanging in a delighted grin, she is impossible not to love. She came into foster care as a six-month-old bundle of intelligence and enthusiasm, and she is looking for a forever home that can keep up with her.

Personality & Temperament

Willow is a high-energy, high-heart working dog through and through. She is:

• Playful and goofy, she bounds like a gazelle and plays with full-body joy
• Attentive and eager, she is always watching, always learning, always ready
• Curious and alert, she notices everything and will vocalize about it (she barks at new sights and sounds, mostly from excitement)
• Endlessly affectionate, she gives love as freely and abundantly as she runs

Training & Skills

Willow is already making great strides:

• Fully house-trained and crate-trained
• Practicing sit, come, touch, and off reliably
• Can walk calmly at heel, though she needs reminders when excitement takes over on leash
• Wears a harness comfortably and is used to a structured daily routine

English Shepherds are bred to work, and Willow is no exception. She is whip-smart and will thrive with consistent, positive training. She is the dog who will learn quickly, and then want to learn more.

Social Life

• Dogs: Loves to play with other dogs, though she hasn’t yet mastered reading canine body language. She does best with patient, confident dogs who can set gentle limits. She currently lives with a 7-year-old male Border Collie, and they cannot be in the same room. On weekends we are joined by a 10-year-old female Malinois and Willow does very well.
• Cats & small animals: Willow has a strong chase instinct around cats and has shown high interest in chickens. Homes with small animals would need to assess this issue carefully.
• Children: Her exuberant energy and size make her best suited for families with older, dog-savvy children.

Her Ideal Home

Willow will flourish with an owner or family who can offer:

• A securely fenced yard where she can run safely
• Active daily exercise, 1–2 hours of running, hiking, fetch, or dog sports
• Mental stimulation: training sessions, puzzle toys, a “job” to do
• A quieter suburban or rural setting (she can be noise-reactive in busier environments)
• Patience and commitment to ongoing positive-reinforcement training
• A crate or dedicated safe space of her own

Fun Facts About Willow

• She loves water, her previous family reported that rivers and streams are her happy place
• She bounds like a gazelle or a bunny when she plays.
• Grooming is not her favorite (she will need an owner patient enough to make it a positive experience)
• She keeps herself entertained with heavy-duty Kong toys and chews during alone time
• She can be left alone for up to 2–3 hours comfortably in her crate and sleeps through the night in her crate.

Willow isn’t just a dog looking for a home, she is a loyal, spirited companion waiting to become your best adventure partner. If you have the heart, the space, and the energy to match hers, she will give you everything she has.

Interested in Willow? Please reach out to learn more about the adoption process.

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