This page is about the Shelties that are available for adoption and those who will soon appear here but are still in foster care.
Updated 9/23/25
Updated 9/23/25
Before you get too excited about one of our Shelties, please read ALL the information on our page "How to Adopt." It will answer your questions about our process and expectations. Our adoption application is at the bottom of that page.
E-mail additional questions.
E-mail additional questions.
Dexter
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Dexter is a gentle little boy who, according to his foster mom, is “for the most part very laid back.” During his weeks in foster care, he has gained much confidence and is beginning to pattern his behavior after that of the resident senior Sheltie. He likes to lie next to her and follow her around the house and back yard. Totally mute during his early weeks with NVSR, Dexter has recently found his voice. He now barks in joy when his foster parents return from an outing, come downstairs in the morning, and especially when they are preparing his meals. He is not, however, a reactive barker like many Shelties.
Dexter has a rare variation of Shetland Sheepdog coloring known as a “color-headed white,” showcasing a unique blend of genetics that appeals to many dog enthusiasts. He was released to NVSR when a breeder in New Jersey became very ill and turned over 25 Shelties to Sheltie rescues in New Jersey and neighboring states. Dexter has been neutered and brought up to date on all vaccinations. NVSR also funded a professional dental for him, leaving Dexter with a bright white smile and sweet breath, albeit with four fewer teeth. He came into foster care a few pounds overweight. He has been losing weight, but Dexter will still need to shed some more weight so he can live his healthiest life. His fosters have taught him to only eliminate outside and not have accidents in the house. He willingly hops up the two steps onto the patio and from the family room to the kitchen, but has yet to venture upstairs or down to the basement. His foster mom says Dexter loves being brushed and now allows his foster parents to pick him up and pet him. Leash training is still a work in progress for Dexter. He is easily startled by people walking by or vehicles passing close to him. His foster parents walk Dexter with a harness and a Martingale collar to prevent any chance of pulling out and fleeing if he is startled. He seems to like other dogs, but has not yet learned how to play with them. Tucked safely inside a crate or doggie car harness, he rides quietly in a car. One of these two forms of restraint while riding in the car is an absolute must. Dexter is now ready to look for his forever home. He needs patient humans who will gradually expose him to the many experiences he missed as a very sheltered breeder’s dog. A fenced yard is a must and will give him the opportunity to explore the outdoors safely. A well-socialized canine friend would be beneficial and accelerate his own socialization. With time and patience, this sweet little dog will no doubt become an affectionate companion. Dexter is approximately five years old, weighs 21 pounds and is 14 inches tall. HIs adoption fee is $350. |
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Diamond
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Bred to be a show dog, beautiful Diamond is a sweet little girl who has led a very sheltered existence. She has made great progress during her time in foster care. She is now reliably house-trained, walks nicely on a leash, loves to sleep in her foster mom's bed at night, and snuggles during the day at every opportunity.
Although shy and fearful at first, she slowly learned to enjoy having a fenced yard to explore, a well-socialized Sheltie to follow around, and a foster mom who bestowed lots of love and attention on her. The many resident cats were a mystery at first, but Diamond eventually made friends with them. She also discovered her foster mom’s bed was a very cozy place to sleep. Foster mom has slowly exposed Diamond to the sounds and sights of a typical neighborhood, and she has learned to relax outdoors, but her adopter will need to continue to gently introduce her to new experiences to help bolster her courage. She prefers to have her human outside with her or come inside where she can follow her person from room to room, just to be close. Diamond has been spayed, brought up to date on all tests and vaccinations, and given a professional teeth cleaning. She is ready to look for her forever home. Diamond needs a quiet home with loving humans who will be very patient with her and understand the years she has lost when normal pet dogs would have enjoyed a wide range of experiences and exposure to many kinds of people. Given a chance to make up for that lost time, he adopters will find Diamond to be a lovely, affectionate companion. Diamond must have a securely fenced yard, and care must be taken that she does not slip out of an open door, as she will remain a flight risk for some time. Once she settles into her forever home, Diamond would benefit from a good basic obedience course (with no big dogs) that would give her the commands that would help keep her safe and allow her to enjoy more socialization. Diamond is 6 years old, weighs 23 pounds, and is 14 inches tall. Her adoption fee is $350. |
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Sky - Adoption Pending
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Does Bi-Blue Sky know how beautiful she is? If so, she is very modest about it. Having been liberated from a deceased breeder’s kennel only very recently, Sky has had few opportunities to be admired by humans. She is still very shy and takes a while to warm up to her new fans.
Sky’s coming out has been guided by Eli, the resident Sheltie in her foster home. Sky watches how Eli interacts with humans and has started cautiously modeling her behavior after his. Thanks to Eli and her experienced foster mom, Sky is now very reliably house trained and walks very well on a leash. Watching Eli carefully, Sky has even discovered the delights of sharing the sofa with her foster family. Her new vocabulary shows what’s important in Sky’s new life outside the breeding facility: potty’, outside’, crate,’ in the house’ and ‘sofa.’ Sky also has learned to love being groomed and enjoys going in the car if she’s safely tucked in her crate. Toys are not yet an appealing concept for her unless they have tiny pieces of food stuffed in them as many dog puzzles do. She is very fond of the snuffle mat her foster mom has for her. Sky is now ready to look for her forever home. She has been spayed, had a dental and given all blood tests and vaccinations. The right home for Sky will have a securely fenced yard, loving humans who are home most of the time, and a well-socialized canine buddy who can take Eli’s place as the model for proper house dog behavior. But given the deep shyness Sky has been left with after her many years in the kennel with little socialization, she will need help from her adopters to continue her progress. With time and patience, Sky will make a loyal, affectionate, and extremely handsome companion. Sky is . . . .5 years old, weighs 25 pounds (ideal weight 22), and is 14 inches tall. Her adoption fee is $350. |
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Nala- Adopted!
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Nala is a tall, muscular girl who enjoys a good game of fetch and long walks. She loves to play with other dogs and will even try to play with resident cats if no dogs are available. With humans, however, she is a little shy and will reserve judgment until she knows them better.
Nala has outstanding house manners. She does not destroy items in the home when given free roam and never has accidents in the house. She does not get up on furniture but likes to lie close to her humans. Nala is a very good leash walker. She loves to run outside in a fenced area, but is calm and relaxed inside. Nala was relinquished by a young couple who spent considerable time training her during her early years. But after two babies were born to them in quick succession, they found they had no time or energy for Nala. So they asked NVSR to find a forever home for Nala, where she would get more attention and exercise. Nala has been spayed and brought up to date on all tests and vaccinations. NVSR also funded a complete dental cleaning for her that yielded sweet breath and shiny white teeth. She is now ready to look for that forever home that her former owners wish for her. Nala would do best in a relatively quiet home with loving humans who will give her lots of love, long walks, and plenty of ball games. She needs a large, fenced yard where she can run full out. Another active dog willing to play chase and running games with her is very high on her wish list. Nala …..weighs 40 pounds, is 18 inches tall, and will turn 5 years old on Sept. 23, 2025. Her adoption fee is $350. |
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Coming Later in Fall 2025
The dogs pictured below all came to NVSR from owners who could not care for them. These dogs are all very unsocialized and are extremely fearful and skittish. They have been placed with foster parents who will housetrain, crate train, and leash train them. They will be given needed vaccinations, neutered/spayed, and given dental cleanings. But most importantly, the dogs must develop trust in humans and learn to live in homes as beloved pets. This can be a very lengthy process for dogs that have never known love and kindness from humans. Some will be ready for adoption in weeks; others may take months. All will require patient adopters willing to continue the socialization begun by their foster parents.
When we are ready to accept applications for each dog, he or she will be posted at the top of this page with more details about temperament and the kind of home the dog requires.
The dogs pictured below all came to NVSR from owners who could not care for them. These dogs are all very unsocialized and are extremely fearful and skittish. They have been placed with foster parents who will housetrain, crate train, and leash train them. They will be given needed vaccinations, neutered/spayed, and given dental cleanings. But most importantly, the dogs must develop trust in humans and learn to live in homes as beloved pets. This can be a very lengthy process for dogs that have never known love and kindness from humans. Some will be ready for adoption in weeks; others may take months. All will require patient adopters willing to continue the socialization begun by their foster parents.
When we are ready to accept applications for each dog, he or she will be posted at the top of this page with more details about temperament and the kind of home the dog requires.
