Vinny (ADOPTED!) is your typical 10-mo. old, 50+ lb. cattle dog pup, who is full of play and and always ready for an adventure. He is very well socialized with people and dogs, and meets everyone well. As a very bright, thinking dog, who just wants his own person to share life with, he needs a close partner and natural leader, who can give him the attention, structure and direction he needs to develop into a great adult.
Vinny is an extremely charming and loving boy, who enjoys giving hugs and kisses, isn't one to sit around and cuddle with you all day. This is a busy guy, who needs his daily exercise and should have humans who are physically active. He loves to bond over walks, hikes, bike rides, car rides, or over one-on-one games of fetch and tug-of-war. We recently tested him on sheep, and he has a lovely, natural herding instinct.
As with most cattle dogs, Vinny is extremely smart. He is always looking for ways to be physically and mentally challenged, and will be your own personal shadow, waiting to play or work more on training. He excels in his obedience classes, and learns new tricks in minutes. Vinny is quite food motivated, and very eager to please. He responds well to praise, clapping and affectionate petting/scratching.
One of his favorite ways to spend indoor time is to sit next to his humans and happily chew on a bone or a chew-toy. He loves when you hold the bone/toy for him while he gnaws on it, or to play fetch and tug with the chew-toys. Vinny will also entertain himself by playing silly cat-and-mouse games with his Jolly-Ball. He will eventually tire himself out, and snooze near his person or in a dark, den-like spot. A cute quirk about this pup is that he LOVES water -- drinking it, splashing it and playing in it.
Vinny does great with dogs who are older than him, and his size or larger. He seems to find comfort in having someone wiser in the pack, and will probably follow him/her (dog or human) like a shadow. Vinny would not pair well with small breed dogs, as he tries to dominate and herd small dogs. He is great with children. Due to his exuberance and desire to herd those who are small or timid, children should be at least 10 years old. He has only encountered the occasional outdoor cat during walks. He has tensed up and become anxious during these situations.
Being very much a cattle dog, Vinny has a mind of his own and is not shy about conveying what he wants - which is to live life to the fullest and play all day. He is NOT a dog who would do well being left alone for 6 to 10 hours a day. He has a busy brain and youthful energy; and as with any young child, he wants to be with and looks to his people for direction. He is still in his developmental stage and needs constant, consistent management and supervision. If bored, he will chew or dig or think up ways to keep himself busy. If you are home, but without time to meet his needs during your daily activities, then Vinny is NOT the dog for you. With the investment of your efforts during this formative time, Vinny will mature into an incredibly loyal companion, who will be your closest companion, if you let him.
Vinny is very much like a young human child. He may try to hog the attention and let you know he wants your attention. He may give a quick bark or a poke at your legs to say “Hey, I’m still here!” If you are giving affection to other animals, he may also try to herd the other animal away from you. He needs a calm leader who can teach him boundaries and manners, and that you call the shots, and not him.
One of Vinny’s favorite things is riding in the car with his people. He knows Up-Up, to hop into the car; Place, to sit in the passenger seat; and Back, to go to the backseat. He is so smart that he has also figured out how to use the window button to open a car window. On leash, he walks well and at your side. However, at the onset of a walk or if he sees another dog to meet, he may pull a bit out of excitement. With a gentle reminder, he will stop pulling and sit.
Vinny is crate trained and sleeps through the night in his crate, but it is the only time he likes to be in there. If he knows people are out and about in his household, he will whine and complain to tell you he wants to be with you.
Still very much a pup, when excited, he tends to hop up onto people, and may mouth at your hands to get you to stop something he doesn't like. Vinny can be vocal, whining or woofing at times, when he wants attention; and if a stranger or unknown animal(s) approach the house he will sound a warning bark. He will need people willing to invest the time to continue teaching him what is appropriate or unwanted behavior.
In summary, Vinny is your classic loving, playful, thinking, cattle dog pup. He wants nothing more to be your companion in life, but needs a pack leader who understands him.
If you are interested in him, please go to the Adopt tab at the top of our website front page (above). If you have questions about Vinny, please call: (707) 583-9583. Vinnie is located in the Santa Rosa/Windsor, CA, area.