Koko D3810

Hi there! I’m Koko. I’m a cuddly girl and very energetic. I have lots of kisses to give. I’m already getting the hang of toilet training. I’m the smallest of the litter - and I’m the prettiest too, hee hee! Well, admittedly I am the only girl :) My Mummadog is a kelpie x Labrador and Papadog is kelpie x Border Collie.

All dogs need a lot of care - we working breed dogs just generally need more of it :) And that is part of the fun for you and me! We’ll develop an amazing bond because of what we do together and I’ll be the most loyal, devoted dog ever!

I’LL RELY ON YOU TO:
1. EXERCISE ME
Exercise! Exercise! Exercise! We need to wear off our energy. We were bred to spend long days working, using our brains to solve problems, so we have a strong drive to be active and mentally stimulated. If we’re not working, we need help to use up that energy.

2. PROVIDE ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES
We have very active minds and are super smart. Activities in the community include flyball, agility courses, or we might be suited to herding or search and rescue. There are lots of enrichment activities you can provide for me at home, too. I would love to work for my food every day instead of just being given it. You could do things like make food puzzles, or hide treats for me to sniff out and find, give me lovely big frozen blocks of stock or an ice block with a chicken wing in the middle. And what about throwing one of those soft type dog frisbees that don’t hurt your teeth? And games of fetch where you teach me to drop the toy instead of turning it into a tug of war. Yeah!

3. BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR BOUNDARIES
Consistent, clear boundaries mean that I’ll always knows the right way to behave. Eg, if you don’t want me in the kitchen, teach me to sit outside the entryway. It’s confusing if you allow me in the kitchen one day and the next make me stay out. Keep me off the sofa and human beds. Give me my own bed and make it clear that is my space. If you let a me break a rule once, I will probably break it again.

4. TRAIN ME
Teach me these basic commands as they’ll get us through any situation: sit, down, stay, come, down, no, stop and leave it. Let’s practice them every day so I’m always primed to obey what you tell me to do. Plus it’s fun :) Use positive reinforcement for training. Negative training may lead to fear and aggression. Reward me with treats or pats when I pay attention or perform a command correctly. Do not punish me for unwanted behaviour. Instead, redirect my thoughts when I’m doing something you don’t want me to do eg if I chew on something you don’t want me to have, take it away. But trade it for a chew toy. When training, be happy and excited.

7. SOCIALISE ME
Socialise me me from the start! Introduce me to as many people, places, animals, sounds, and smells as possible. I will be well adjusted because of it.
Of course getting out, and meeting other dogs, is for when I’m fully vaccinated and it’s taken effect! If I start any herding tendencies, speak to the rescue or trainer to nip it in the bud as early as possible.

I CAN FLY!
A few hours flying is worth it for remotely located animals because it can mean we have the opportunity to be adopted. My airfare to Perth is $150 thanks to QANTAS, and I can fly elsewhere in Australia too.

6 GREAT REASONS TO ADOPT FROM SAFE:
✔︎Lifetime guarantee: if you can no longer care for me, SAFE will take me back
✔︎Subsidised airfares
✔︎Vet checked, first vaccination and adoption fee includes a desex and microchip voucher
✔︎Foster care instead of cage confinement, so I get lots of socialisation
✔︎Speak directly with my foster carer
✔︎Quick response to your enquiry

APPLY TO ADOPT ME
Are you after that special bond with a working dog? Click on the link below and complete an application. I can be with you in no time!