About Rubie

Intake Date: 1 November 2026 Age at Intake: 2 years Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog x Poodle Mix Size: 90 lbs Status: Owner Surrender Compatible with: Playful medium to large dogs, older children Suitable for: Active, structured household with securely fenced yard Medical/Behavioral Needs: Previous owner reported destructive behaviors, resource guarding, and incidents involving a child and household cat. These behaviors have not been observed in rescue. Continued training and structure recommended. Meet Rubie - The Dog Who Apparently Didn't Read Her Own Surrender Form! Well, this is awkward. When Rubie's surrender application arrived, we were preparing ourselves for quite the project. Excessive barking, destructive chewing, indoor marking, resource guarding, difficulty settling, and questionable household manners. Her previous owner described a dog who destroyed furniture, curtains, shoes, toys, and bedding. There were also reported biting incidents involving a child and the household cat. Naturally, we anticipated considerable behavioral rehabilitation. And then Rubie arrived. We're still waiting for the dog described on that application to show up. And maybe she will! But the Rubie we've gotten to know? She's pretty darn fantastic. She settles. She plays. She listens. She knows basic commands and responds beautifully to direction. She hasn't destroyed anything, demonstrated resource guarding, excessively barked, or marked indoors. She keeps her kennel clean and sits patiently for dinner. She occasionally jumps, but we're working on that. Is she perfect? Of course not! She's two years old, 90 pounds, energetic, and occasionally operates with the enthusiasm of a toddler who discovered espresso. But she's SMART and willing to learn. Rubie doesn't need someone entertaining her every waking moment. She needs boundaries, consistency, exercise, mental stimulation, and clear expectations. Imagine that. A dog who responds to structure! Now, her social skills. Rubie previously lived with two large dogs, reportedly getting along with one but not the other. Here, she's been happily playing with a Pug and hasn't reacted to cats while leashed. Her biggest challenge isn't necessarily her intentions. It's her execution. Rubie plays with her WHOLE body. She bounces, pounces, and throws those giant paws around like boxing gloves. She's having a wonderful time! Whether her playmate appreciates being tackled by 90 pounds of enthusiasm is another question. We haven't observed aggression toward smaller dogs, but accidental injuries are possible. We'd recommend canine companions comfortable with physical play and humans who recognize when to intervene. Regarding cats, her previous owner reported chasing, grabbing, and dragging the household cat. Rubie lived alongside that same cat for two years. While concerning, these interactions could reflect overarousal and inappropriate play rather than aggression. Without witnessing them, we cannot know. For everyone's safety, we recommend a cat-free home. A bite involving a child and a toy was also reported. We take that history seriously and recommend an adult household or one with older, dog-savvy children who understand boundaries. A dog's behavior can be heavily influenced by its environment, expectations, and the consistency of its humans. Rubie is giving us a pretty compelling example of that. Rubie excels at following commands, responding to direction, playing with canine companions, settling when it's time to relax, and being ridiculously intelligent. She's also exceptionally talented at making us question whether we received the correct dog. She's still working on remembering that not everyone appreciates a full-body tackle, understanding that her paws aren't boxing gloves, and channeling her youthful enthusiasm appropriately. We're also giving her time to convince everyone that her surrender paperwork was clearly written by her evil twin. Rubie isn't for someone expecting a perfectly behaved dog without putting in the effort. She's young, energetic, intelligent, and needs an engaged owner who understands structure, consistency, and training. We cannot promise she'll never exhibit the behaviors reported in her previous home. Different environments can produce different behaviors, and her history deserves consideration. But we CAN tell you what we've experienced. And so far? She's been an absolute pleasure. Sometimes a dog doesn't need an entirely new personality. Sometimes she just needs an environment where she understands what's expected of her. Rubie has tremendous potential, and we're excited to find the family who will help her reach it! Interested in adopting? Review our requirements and apply at forbellessake.org. Once approved, a meet and greet can be scheduled, and adoption finalized if it's a match. Adoption fee: $175. All residents are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped, and treated for known medical needs. Breeds are best gu

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For Belle's Sake Rescue & Rehabilitation, Inc
Ward County
Minot, North Dakota

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