About Katie

Before I took ownership of her, Katie grew up together with her 2 sisters as outdoor only dogs in a small, confined yard with nothing but the bare minimum of food and water available to her. Despite this upbringing, Katie has grown into an bundle of love that would happily spend all day snuggling and playing with both people and pets. Katie is a sweet girl with a lot of love to give, sometimes too much so! Katie is an absolute attention hog and will try to insert herself into anything you're doing. That being said, she's also very headstrong, often pushing the boundaries previously established if they're in the way of her desire. This can sometimes mean she gets up to a little mischief. She is known to goad her sisters into getting out of sleeping spots she wants and even stealing treats. She has also been caught multiple times taking and chewing on things she knows she's not supposed to, so you'll need to keep a close watch. This stubbornness can also manifest in the form of possessiveness, however. This possessiveness is only ever shown towards fellow dogs, mostly for chew toys and treats, so care will need to be taken that no fights break out when giving those out. Despite these flaws, Katie has nothing but love in her heart, if sometimes a bit misguided. One thing to keep in mind for Katie is that she does have a bit of a physical disability. While the exact cause isn't certain, from the scans performed, it appears that there is a mineral deposit in the joint between her spine and pelvis that causes varying amounts of difficulty moving her hind legs depending on the humidity, temperature, prior exercise, etc. It is unclear if this causes her any pain, as she doesn't show any apparent signs of it. For the most part, this limp has a minimal effect on her life, but when it flares up it can keep her more sedentary than usual. It also leaves her a bit uncoordinated/clumsy, often causing her to be slow to clear walkways. It is also possible that this disability may get worse with time, so any prospective adopter should be aware that she may need extra care than the average pup in the future. Despite her disability, Katie absolutely loves to play. Whether it be with people or dogs, she's always happy to run, jump, roll, or dive into action. She loves goading her sisters into chasing her, often playing the role of agitator by badgering her sisters into a chase. She loves to fetch and even sometimes knows to bring the ball back. One thing to be wary of is how much Katie loves mud! She's not at all afraid to roll in a freshly formed wallow or make one herself should there be water nearby. She's also not afraid of bringing that mud inside and inadvertently coating everything with a fresh new coat of paint, so be mindful of giving her access to the outdoors when raining! Katie is still trying to figure out tug of war, but even if she doesn't quite get it, she's happy to hold something together with you. All-in-all, Katie is an active player despite her disability, happy to join in on any kind of hijinks. Katie is the smartest of her sisters, picking up on tricks and training lightning fast. She's always the first of her littermates to pick up on things, often learning just by watching the older dogs or even people. She was able to pick up on how to use the doggy door just by watching other dogs use it, no teaching necessary. While this intelligence is a great blessing for training, it also comes with a glaring downside with her stubbornness penchant for mischief. Katie has used her intellect for nefarious purposes on many occasions, getting whatever or wherever she isn't supposed to. She has dismantled or outmaneuvered multiple barricades, even pushing around furniture to reach her goals. She's also found multiple ways to get past fences, both under and through, so you'll need to be thorough in your defenses. She sees boundaries as a puzzle to be solved and overcome, not obeyed. As you may be able to tell, this makes her a bit of a troublemaker, so take care that you don't get outwitted. Katie is fully vaccinated, and aside from her disability, she is in great health. She is kept tick, flea, and heartworm free with both bravecto and interceptor. Katie has a very short, slightly wavy fur coat that keeps itself very clean thanks to fast growth/shed with very little risk of tangles or mats. Katie is a big eater and will often try to sneak some of her sisters' meals if she can, so be careful not to let her overeat, as she'll quickly start putting on the pounds. Despite her hampered mobility, she's keeps very active and fit thanks to ample play and mischief. Katie is a happy-go-lucky cuddlebug of mischief looking to find a home she can call her own.

Madison County
Huntsville, Alabama