Holly's page

Vital Statistics

Age: Unknown
Breed: Blue Cattle Dog cross
Sex: Female
Desexed: No
Vaccinated: Unknown
Contact: Kathy 02 48422782

Holly loves people. She is cautious and a little timid toward strangers but loves to receive pats, cuddles and a belly rub. If a new person is gentle and calm she will go straight over to them.

Holly is still very obsessed with food (she was starving and very, very thin when she wandered into my yard on Christmas day 2006). It is necessary to stay with her while feeding to ensure she doesn't steal everyone else's dinner, however you don't have to wait long, she'll finish in about 15 seconds.

Holly gets along with my other dogs but she would like to be the boss. She loves to play with them, rolling around groaning and playing chasings but when she's had enough she just leaves them to it and gets out of their way (my other dogs are younger and more energetic). Holly does not require too much exercise, she is a mature and quiet dog. She enjoys following me around in the garden but settles by herself easily and spends most of her time outdoors, coming indoors several times during the day.

Holly loves her kennel. When its dry she sleeps outside in her kennel under our awning. But during rainy weather she sleeps in the laundry in a soft bed with blankets. Holly is very scared of thunder and lightning but she is most comfortable either hiding inside her kennel or in a corner in the house during a storm.

Holly is excellent at walking on lead at heel, without me even asking her. She is such a dream to take for a walk!!! She does not pull at all and she does not take much interest in other walkers and their dogs but just walks quietly at your side. I take her with my other dog, they both walk on my left and it is really easy and enjoyable. Holly is also great off lead, you can let her have a little run and call her back easily.

Holly is a quick learner and eager to please humans. She works very well for a food reward and is getting better at not taking your fingers as well. On cue, Holly can readily ‘sit', ‘drop' and ‘come' and she is currently learning other basic manners such as waiting before rushing through doors.

Holly has met a few cats during walks and she seems a little unsure but would rather just walk away and ignore them.

Holly likes to get all the attention from humans and can snap when she thinks the other dogs are pushing in and stealing my attention away from her. She does not show any aggression toward any person but a little toward my dogs. I think she feels like she still needs to try to secure a place in my home. That's why I think Holly would do better as an only dog or one of two, perhaps with an older, bigger male doggie friend. I just don't have enough time to cuddle and be with her.

Ideally I think Holly would like to live with a patient and gentle owner and have access to indoors and out (by the way she is house trained). She would love a daily walk but most importantly lots of time spent lying at your feet with cuddles and belly scratching and an occasional treat and bone. Remember there is nothing Holly won't do for a food reward.

Holly's History

Update: Holly is possibly a cattle dog cross kelpie. She loves people and gets along with large and small dogs, female and male. She has a submissive personality toward both humans and dogs but likes to play and always rolls over for a scratch on the belly.

Holly LOVES FOOD (was found starved and emaciated) will go through your bins and will find food in lots of places you wouldn't even think about. She enjoys taking part in what you're doing but settles by herself easily and spends most of her time outdoors, coming indoors several times during the day.

Holly likes sleeping on a raised cushioned bed. She gets very hot when indoors or in the sun and loves to lay in a shady, breezy area. She has not been obedience trained previously but is a quick learner. She is currently learning basic manners such as sit, wait, drop and walks quite well on a lead- doesn't pull much but does zig-zag, will get very good with practice.

Holly seems to want to round-up next doors cattle but she is not barking as much as when she first saw them and she ignores my caged birds.

Ideally I think Holly would like to live with another quiet dog for company and have a patient and quiet owner as she gets a little timid when you raise your voice. I believe she will learn very quickly because of her breeding and her willingness to please people. The greatest motivation for getting Holly to do anything for you is a food reward.

History: This poor little girl was rescued by a lovely lady on Christmas Day. This is her story:

A dog wandered into my yard early Christmas morning. As soon as i knelt down she came running over, tail wagging then she rolled over and i scratched her belly. She is really sweet and affectionate towards people but she growled a bit at my own dog. She stayed with us for a few days over christmas, i bathed her and put some frontline on her, fed her and wormed her. She has not been trained but i think she would be relatively easy to train because she did everything i asked of her.

I reluctantly took her to Renbury Farm Animal Shelter at Austral on Wednesday 27th December, to see if she had a microchip and owners, just to go by the books i guess. I was fairly confident that there's noone looking for her because of the condition she is in (PLEASE SEE PHOTOS ATTACHED), however, i have 2 female dogs of my own and cannot keep her.