About Ellie Mae

Meet Ellie Mae. Ellie May is a very sweet and loving girl, and she bonds quickly. Her general behavior is exemplary - no accidents or chewing for this girl! She is a five year old, 45 lb Australian shepherd mix, with soft luxurious fur, and beautiful half-and-half face markings. Because Ellie is a 'working' breed, she has different needs than an average dog. She requires confident, calm leadership. She will definitely do best with an experienced owner. Familiarity with her breed's characteristics is a plus. She is pack-oriented, and needs a leader to help her understand her status, especially where children and other pets are concerned. Without consistent, positive training, she will not acclimate well to a household with other pets or children. Because of this, she probably needs to go to a home with no children. She does well in her foster home, so experienced owners with pets can be considered. Ellie currently lives with a non-dominant dog and a large, dog savvy cat. She is learning to be respectful of them, and is doing extremely well, but it has required a fair amount of effort and training. With time, Ellie is learning to relax and just enjoy being part of the family, but it has been an adjustment for her, and for her pet siblings. Ellie is extremely intelligent and learns quickly, which is typical of her breed. She just needs someone who understands how to communicate with her, and can show her what is expected of her. Ellie generally walks well on a loose leash, but her protective instincts kick in if a person, other dog, or car passes. She is particularly reactive to delivery trucks! She is working on this, and will need someone to continue this training with her. Contrary to her breed, Ellie is not terribly high energy, and does not require a lot of exercise. She does require mental stimulation, so some shorter walks throughout the day would work well for her. Training sessions, play time and puzzles will also help. A fenced yard is a must . Ellie does sometimes dig, but it's usually to dig up a tasty grub, rather than an effort to escape. Ellie can be trusted to be left alone indoors without being destructive, but she is currently being secluded in a separate bedroom, as she needs to be supervised with other household pets. Ellie does occasionally bark at outside noises, people, etc. but it has lessened over time, as she realizes that she does not need to be in charge. Ellie does not show guarding around her food dish, but she instinctively shows a lot of interest around food in general. Her new family will need to establish clear rules with Ellie about food. She is being taught 'Down/Stay' during family mealtimes, and is doing very well with it. In the right home, Ellie is a joyful, goofy girl. She absolutely loves her toys, going for walks, snuggling, belly rubs, and sitting outside in the sun. She does not tend to 'herd' people as many dogs of her breed. One of her charming quirks is that she follows closely behind people as they walk around the home, usually with a toy in her mouth, ever so lightly pressed against the back of the person's legs. It's really adorable! Ellie is also talkative when she needs something. She will have a 'chat' with you if she needs a potty break, and can give a sassy little bark or grumble if she's asked to do something she's not a fan of. Ellie is spayed, microchipped, fully vetted, and up-to-date on vaccinations and monthly flea/tick and heart worm preventatives. If you have questions about Ellie May, you can email her foster at [email protected]. If you think Ellie May is a good match for you, you can fill in an online application for here at www.pawsforlifenc.org. As part of Ellie Mae's $250 adoption fee, she is spayed, microchipped, up to date on vaccines, and current on her monthly flea/tick and heartworm preventatives. Ellie Mae is heartworm negative. If you have questions about this sweet girl, you can email [email protected]. If you wish to adopt Ellie Mae, you can fill in an online application for her under the Adopt a Pet Tab on our website: www.pawsforlifenc.org.

Franklin County
Youngsville, North Carolina 27596