About Stevie

Stevie is the sweetest, fluffiest ball of love! He adores spending time with humans and wants to say hi to most everyone he sees. He's the perfect mix of lazy and playful thanks to his Saint Bernard and Border Collie genetics. However, he is a big dog and therefore needs a good-sized, fenced-in yard so can truly enjoy being off leash. His favorite thing to do off leash is run like crazy in circles until he's exhausted. When it comes to toys, he doesn't understand the concept of fetch or tug-a-war. But he cherishes his favorite plushie 'Mr. Pinky', a cute flamingo he picked out himself on the first day his foster parents took him home. Stevie is truly the best and sweetest gentle giant you'll ever meet. Stevie loves to go on walks and hikes in the woods. He really enjoys sitting by lakes and staring out into the distance - such a brooding babe! Snow is his favorite thing in the whole world, so the northeast is the best place for him. Stevie would do best with an active, outdoorsy owner. Stevie was rescued from South Carolina by his foster parents in June 2020 and they have been working with him on his anxiety and behavioral issues. When it comes to commands, he knows 'sit' and 'down' very well (they're working on stay and come). He knows his name and will usually come when called. Stevie has successfully learned how to walk on leash. He used to pull and be so afraid of other dogs that he would freeze and stare. Now he is happy to walk at a nice human pace and is no longer a statue when he sees other dogs! Stevie has behavioral issues due to generalized anxiety and fear. He's a nervous chewer and is likely to nosh on your clothing or paper when he gets anxious. Running water (showers, doing the dishes, etc.), loud noises and constant movement (cleaning around the house, doing laundry, etc.) are his biggest triggers. His foster parents have gotten him to a point where he is ok as long as he is told to sit and lay down while you're doing a certain household task (dishes, laundry, etc.). Stevie requires a lot of attention, time, energy and care. Therefore, Stevie must go to a home that has experience with Rescue dogs or dogs with behavioral issues. His owners must be willing to continue his general training as well as behavioral training and therapy. He will most likely require anxiety medication during this training, maybe even for the rest of his life. Stevie is a commitment, but he is the sweetest most amazing dog and deserves a life with people that can give him the time, attention and love he requires. Due to his fear of other dogs, he would do best in a home where he can be the only dog in the family. If you have a calm tempered and well-trained dog at home already and are really, truly interested in Stevie, we are willing to work on a case by case basis. If we believe they might work well together, we would be willing to set up a meeting where Stevie can meet your dog and we can assess the situation from there. On the other hand, Stevie absolutely loves cats! Every kitty he meets, he desperately wants to befriend. We believe that he would benefit greatly from a family with cats that love dogs. Since he is scared of loud noises and excessive human motion, he would do best in a home without children.

New Haven County
New Haven, Connecticut 06515