WIGSTON

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Are you ready to take on the world? The WHOLE world? All at once?

You might want to have Wigston by your side.

Wigston is a 42 pound Border Collie mix who is estimated to be around a year and a half old. He is neutered, up to date on shots, heartworm negative, and oh, so ready to be your Wingman.

Winston’s origin story is a bit of a mystery (like it always is with Superheroes, you know?). He was found in Tennessee and brought to our attention by a kind Samaritan. We think at some point he was on a chain because when he came to us, the hair on his neck had rubbed away. Bring tied out indefinitely is bad for all dogs, but it is particularly cruel for herding breeds who are very active and love being able to roam and walk freely. It’s hard to protect and guard anything when your whole world is limited to a small circumference.

Just being in a home is clearly new to Wigston, and his dedicated foster is working with him every day to learn how to live with humans and other dogs. He is making progress every day, but it is a work in progress.

Winston currently walks on a harness (because his neck hair needs to finish growing back). He likes the walking part but wants to choose his own path and still pulls quite a bit. Wigston was recently neutered, but that hasn’t taken away any of his energy. This boy is always ready for the next big adventure!

Currently, Wigston seems to want to be the dominant dog in the house. That may be a result of the recent surgery, or that might be a permanent thing. He isn’t aggressive with other dogs, but he is still pretty keen to try to hump them (which is a show of dominance and not necessarily a sexual thing).

With people, Wigston is incredibly friendly and high energy. He does need to be introduced to strangers by someone he knows. He trusts very easily, though, so it really is only an introduction needed. It takes him zero seconds to make a new friend.

He’s pretty good in the crate, and he goes in easily when bribed with a treat. He settles in quickly. This is good because the entire concept of house training is new for a boy whose foster home was probably the first home he had ever been inside. Housetraining will be a work in progress. Then again, when he arrived, the concept of stairs confused him, and he learned about those quickly. Like most Border Collies, Wigston is a bright boy. He learns fast, but his adopter needs to remember that prior to fostering with us, he knew nothing about living inside.

Currently, Wigston does guard his food (common with strays who have been left to fend for themselves). For at least the short term, he will need to be fed on his own. Sometimes, this behavior goes away with enough time in an established routine. We cannot guarantee that as sometimes the knowledge of the potential for scarcity sticks with dogs for their whole lives.

Wigston is very gentle with children, and we think he could do well in a home with children as young as 5. This is especially true if he is the only dog and doesn’t have “competition” for resources. He could live in a home with a confident, happy, well-adjusted dog as well. We would recommend close monitoring of the pair while they get to know one another. We would recommend, again, feeding them separately. For now, that is where the most friction could arise. Wigston does play nicely with his foster’s dogs most of the time. He is fostering in NH, so a meet and greet will be arranged with any dogs prior to adoption.

What Wigston needs most (what most dogs need most) is structure and routine. He would do best with a family familiar with the breed and the patience required to teach a smart dog the rules and boundaries. We have no doubt Wigston wants to be a perfect inside companion; it’s just that no one ever bothered to show him what that looks like. Routine will be necessary for his learning.

He would thrive in a very active family. A few short walks a day will not burn out his energy, and a smart but bored dog is a destructive dog. He needs a person or people who will take him on hikes or running. People who will walk him and let him sniff stuff a lot (as this causes mental stimulation). He needs lots of chewy toys, and would probably really enjoy food IQ puzzles to keep his mind engaged when at home (obviously separate from other dogs when food is involved). Most of all, he wants to play fetch as much as he possibly can. He wants to run and play until he is tired, and then he wants to snuggle with people who love him for all that he is and all that he can become.

Name: WIGSTON
Breed: Border Collie/Crossbreed
Sex: Male
Age: 1 year 6 months  (estimated)
Weight: 42.0
Spayed/Neutered: Yes
Vaccinations: Up to date
Heartworm: Negative
Microchipped: Yes

BASED ON OUR OBSERVATIONS:
Good with Children: Unknown
Good with Dogs: Yes
Good with Cats: Unknown

Adoption Fee: $500.00

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - 

Paws New England is a foster-based rescue - our dogs reside in various locations throughout the south and New England.  

Adoption donations cover pre-adoption vet costs (including vaccinations, spay/neuter when age appropriate, and heartworm testing/treatment when necessary), a microchip, and transportation to New England if necessary.

Donations for our young, healthy puppies and dogs support their fellow canines of advanced age or suffering from injuries and abuse whose donations are reduced but whose veterinary costs are typically much higher. We appreciate your understanding that your newly adopted dog will help others in need.