Dingle

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Interested in understanding more about what a day in Dingle’s life looks like? Follow him on Facebook at Dingle & Dingle Do New England! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564125651581

Before PAWS New England: Dingle was born while in rescue to a foster in Memphis, who rescued his very pregnant momma and several other dogs from a hoarding situation—dogs were everywhere, running around, uncared for.

Dingle’s vision and hearing loss are due to his parents carrying the dominant Merle gene (Dingle is referred to as a double Merle). The Merle gene can most easily be recognized in that pretty marbling coat color and blue/brown eye combo in many Australian Shepherds and other breeds. The Merle gene basically controls pigmentation, resulting in light-colored fur and irregular coloring that looks like marbled bleaching. While Merle dogs are attractive and a big moneymaker for breeders, when two dogs with this gene are bred, each dog in the litter has a 25% chance of being born partially or completely white in coat color, along with some type of sight and hearing impairment.

Unfortunately, double-Merle pups like Dingle are frequently euthanized for no other reason than the thought that they are not desirable. Fortunately, for Dingle, the foster who rescued his pregnant momma provided Him with a safe and well-socialized early start to life—even bottle-feeding him twice a day by the foster’s young children.

Aside from lacking some sight and vision, Dingle is a healthy and strong pup, and isn’t lacking anything.

His Nickname: Dingle Butt. We know, but he was named by a 6-year-old, so it was inevitable.

Energy & Independence Levels: While Dingle’s littermate, Dot (also up for adoption), is chill for a puppy, Dingle puts the CHILL in CHILL-AX. He would make a GREAT office mate, emotional support or service companion, or apartment dog. Dingle loves to lounge in the sun, nosh on bones, snack on crunchy veggies (he’s hip like that) and napping. Suppose he’s unsure of where he is. In that case, Dingle will sit down and wait for you…but he has also done an amazing job mapping out and navigating his current foster’s backyard by identifying specific rocks, hills, sidewalks, and textures in the grass. He’s pretty remarkable!

What We Love: Dingle gives the most AMAZING snuggles when he just wakes up. He curls right up into the nook of your neck, followed by kisses. He is the cuddliest of boys and the sensitive soul of our foster crew!

Dogs & Cats: Dingle spent the first 12 weeks of his life on a farm with all kinds of animals – llamas, goats, chickens, dogs, and, yes, cats. He’s comfortable (and frankly, indifferent) to all.

He’s VERY quick to show respect and because of his lack of vision & hearing, combined with his amazingly loving start to life, he doesn’t react or escalate when interacting with new animals and environments. Dingle has never known a scary touch, and he’s counting on you to keep him in safe situations. Dingle is currently fostering happily with two fur siblings – a 65lb lab/rottie mix, a 45lb former stray/street gangster, and his littermate, Dot, who is also looking for his forever home.

Kids: He is wonderful with kids, and all kids LOVE him. Dingle’s favorite things are being held, cuddled (feeling your heartbeat), and EATING. He IS still a puppy, so she can be a little mouthy with appendages, but he’s improving daily with chomping on toys vs. ankles. 🤓

House training is in Progress. Our fostering routine is to go outside immediately after waking up, after a solid play session, or after leaving the crate. Dingle is excelling at this routine and does his business as soon as we go outside.

Crate-Training: Yes, Dingle does very well in his crate and sleeps through the night without accidents.

Training in General: Here are a few things that Dingle and his current foster are working together on:

Commands when Dingle is near her human:
- “Sit” using a double finger tap on his bum
- “Here” using a single finger tap on the side of his face to alert him I expect something from him, following a treat or direction to what I want his attention on
- “Wait” using a double finger tap on his bum to sit, followed by a palm pat on his chest
- Using texture to navigate different types of steps or drop-offs safely. For example, he is learning to feel the ground before him when attempting to step or jump down instead of avoiding situations where drop-offs can cause him injury. He’s conservative in this way and has not shown an eagerness to blindly jump on or off anything (unlike his more adventurous sister, Dot).

Commands when Dingle is not hear his human:
Dingle has a special vibration collar (NOT to be confused with a shock collar) that he started training with this past week, 9/2. The collar offers tone, different levels of vibration and patterns, and light. If the adopter desires, he can bring this collar with him to his forever home. Specifically, we are using this collar to train him to “wait” when approaching a situation that is unsafe for him and “come” so he can recall when not near his humans.

As you can gather, contrary to common belief, training a deaf and blind dog is not difficult…just different. Dingle’s senses of smell, touch, and taste are heightened, so if you can play up to those strengths, you will find he is a speedy learner!

Adoption Fee: $550. This includes vaccinations and wellness visits to date and a spay surgery rebate of up to $200 when proof of neutering is provided.

Name: Dingle
Sex: Male
Size: Medium
Weight: 10.5 lbs (as of 8/21)
Age: Baby - born 5/18/2024 (note: we know this for certain as they were born into a foster)
Breed: Australian Shepherd

Spayed/Neutered: Too young. A neuter contract will be required and strictly enforced, and PAWS New England offers a surgery rebate of up to $200 when proof of neutering is provided.

Location: Fostering locally in New England

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.