Adoption information
Rescue group
PetRescue ID
1015420
Shelter code
D2306042
Location
Springvale South, VIC
Age
6 years 2 months
Adoption fee
$550.00
Microchip number
953010004892328
Source number
BR179094
Last updated
29 Apr, 2024
Pre-adoption checks
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Desexed
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Vaccinated
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Interstate adoption (VIC only)
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-Wormed
I'd prefer a home that
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Doesn't have cats
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Doesn't have dogs
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Doesn't have kids under 5
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Doesn't have kids from 6 to 12
About Mishka
Mishka
Special girl for a special pack
Mishka is a concoction of 3 high drive dogs - a German Shepard, cross Kelpie, cross Husky mix. If you like the tail and neuroticism of a German Shepherd, the size and body of a Kelpie, the vocals of a Husky and the drive of all three - Mishka is your girl! Despite her age, she is 23kg of built energy and is always ready for action. She learns quickly with food and has blossomed with consistent and clear training.
Notice: Mishka’s profile contains dog training jargon. We are looking for a specific type of forever family to ensure she has a successful adoption and life together. If you don’t understand the jargon, but have an interest in training dogs and will be consistent and clear to Mishka - you will have the full support and a comprehensive handover from the Foster Carer including all the training and techniques Mishka has learnt. Please emphasize on your application your dog training ability or enthusiasm - the foster carer is happy to discuss all of Mishka with you!
Despite being a high drive dog, Mishka is currently living with a foster carer who works full-time doing shift work in a 2 bedroom unit. Therefore, the space of your home, yard or routine does not worry Mishka, as long as you can fulfil her with daily walks and daily training.
When Mishka is settled into your home and is home alone, she is non-destructive - you can find her napping the day away (rarely ever on the furniture when you're away) or sunbathing in the backyard, unsurprisingly she does not have any separation anxiety. When you are home with Mishka, she will spring into action whenever you move around!
In the home, Mishka is the perfect house member. Do you love vacuuming your home? Mishka has no qualms with the vacuum, dust buster or robot vacuum. Do you clip the nails of your dog and clean their ears? Mishka has been trained to lie on her side and you can peacefully cut her nails and clean her ears aided with treats. Do you get dressed for work? Mishka has learnt that it’s time to go to her crate and wait for you to leave without a fuss. Want to relax with Mishka on your couch? Mishka will patiently wait for your invitation up on the couch. Don’t want dogs going into your bedroom? Mishka respects your bedroom and won’t follow you in. Do you get ready for bed? Mishka puts herself to bed (even relieving herself via the doggy door) when you go to bed! Want to take Mishka on a walk? After putting on her lead and being near the door she will wait patiently for your release.
When Mishka starts trusting you, she is a sweet, affectionate, loyal and quirky girl.
Her time in foster care has unveiled some of those quirks! However, through desensitisation and counter conditioning her quirks are lessening and she is adapting well. One of those quirks is Mishka’s love language - Licks! She will lick you when she’s happy, stressed, excited, hungry or wants your attention. A further diagnosis may be pending to ensure Mishka is the best dog she can be. Her favourite game to play with you is tug and hide-and-go-seek with her toys/treats. She is still in the phase of learning how to fetch.
It is suspected Mishka was not socialised properly to people, children or dogs as she was growing up. She has stranger danger of people and children she doesn’t know, especially when it is visitors in the home. Her foster carer has developed some management strategies to desensitise her in these situations. For example, Mishka has been trained that a knock on the front door is a cue for her to go into her crate. Despite living with another dog in her previous life, Mishka is insecure about dogs and will react to ones that trigger her, there is no particular rhyme or reason of which dogs she reacts to. In all situations (humans or dogs), it appears eye-contact is a trigger for Mishka and she needs to feel like she is not pressured to take pats from people and she needs a family who can read her body and advocate for her in situations she's not ready for yet. Therefore, the best forever home for her is childless, where she will be an only pet as she has not been tested with cats.
In saying all this, she is developing good coping mechanisms and is improving day by day (and a shining example that you CAN teach an ‘old’ dogs new tricks). On walks, she has a loose leash and engages with you, responding to a marker word when strangers are passing and has progressed to passing them without incident. Depending on the other dog, she can pass them from across the road using a variety of techniques.
With the consistent and clear training, as well as desensitisation and counter-conditioning, she is adjusting and has learnt all the training to these new stimuli and environments in less than 2 months! It is paramount that her new calm, confident and assertive pack will continue this training if you want Mishka and yourselves to have a less-stressed life together. You are the right pack for Mishka, if you are consistent and clear with how you train dogs and view ‘loving’ dogs is by giving clear boundaries, rules and structure to them.
Is Mishka going to finally find her lifelong pack with you?