This page is about the Shelties that are available for adoption.
Updated 12/08/24
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.

Harley

Here’s a youngster who has it all:  a very affectionate, playful nature, good looks, athleticism, and high intelligence.  His antics are a constant source of entertainment for his humans.  He LOVES to play just about anything.  His foster mom notes that Harley is a true fetch aficionado and –unlike many dogs—will immediately bring the toy back so it can be thrown again.  He will come when called, listen when you say “no” (except if he’s in pursuit of a squirrel), and literally jump for joy with all four feet off the ground when he sees his human come into view.

Looking for a gifted athlete?  Harley may be the dog for you.  Rally?  FastCAT? Flyball?  Agility?  Harley would be a star performer in a wide array of dog sports.  This handsome little guy is an amazingly fast runner and a great jumper.  To accommodate his desire to run, Harley must have a fenced yard.  His single-minded pursuit of squirrels means he can’t be trusted off leash in an unfenced area. 

Harley is very reliably house trained and never has accidents or destroys furnishings in the house.  He is also crate trained, though he does not relish long hours in a crate. Leash walking Harley around the neighborhood is a bit of a challenge right now.  He loves to meet new humans and new dogs, but if he spots a squirrel, you suddenly realize how strong this slender little guy is as he nearly pulls you off your feet.

The ideal home for Harley needs lots of love and cuddling, but it also needs action and challenge.  He loves toys of all kinds, particularly squeaky ones with a human to throw them or another dog to chase them with.  He enjoys both dog and cat companions, but if given a choice between a human and a canine playmate, he would likely choose the one with lots of hugs and a good throwing arm.  

We have not evaluated him with children, but although we know he loves all people big or small, we fear his exuberance would overwhelm small children and possibly knock them over with his joyful jumping.  He barks loudly at leaf blowers and vacuum cleaners, but some deconditioning work can solve those problems.

​Harley has been neutered and brought up to date on all vaccinations, flea/tick and heartworm preventatives.  A good obedience course will give him the cues that will keep him safe and make him a pleasure to live with.  He is a very smart dog who loves to learn and will very likely be the star of his class.  Harley is an affectionate and social dog and would not thrive in a home where he is left alone for long hours while his humans head off to work and school.​

Harley is…..18 months old, weighs 24 pounds and is 17 inches tall. His adoption fee is $450

Bailey- Adoption Pending

Handsome Bailey is a 4-year-old dark sable Sheltie with a heart full of love.  He is leash-trained and impeccably house trained.  He never has accidents in the house and never destroys anything when left alone.  While he is crate trained, his foster mom finds no reason to confine him to a crate.  Foster mom says, “This sweet boy is the perfect mix of elegance and charm.”  He knows basic commands like “heel,” “stay,” “sit,” and “no.”  Bailey’s health is excellent, and he is ready to bring joy to a new family.

Bailey does best in a calm, peaceful environment due to his sensitivity to loud noises.  A home with a securely fenced yard and a female Sheltie companion to play with would be ideal.  Bailey is partial to female humans but will bond with men, too, if they are gentle and work patiently to gain his trust.  Because of boisterous children in his past who teased him, he avoids kids and would be happiest in a home with no young children.

Bailey is a very affectionate dog who asks for cuddles in the morning and loves to sleep on his humans’ bed where he feels warm and safe.  You won’t need an alarm clock with Bailey in the house.  He is ready to go out every morning at 6:30am and is very vocal about it.  He does have a loud bark which he uses to alert his humans to any indoor threats or important upcoming events like breakfast and dinner.  His playful nature shines in the right environment where he feels safe and loved.  Bailey loves to sit on the couch and watch TV with his family.

Bailey has been neutered and brought up to date on all vaccinations and preventatives.  NVSR gave him a professional dental cleaning, so he now boasts shiny white teeth to go with his shiny coat.  This wonderful boy will do best in a patient, experienced home where someone is home most of the day.  He is a very social dog who needs to be near his humans.  He will not thrive in a home where he is left home alone all day while the humans go off to work or school.  His intelligence and loyalty make him a fantastic companion, and he is eager to find a family that matches his gentle, loving nature.
 Bailey is . . . . . 4 years old, weighs 25 pounds and is 17 inches tall. ​His   adoption fee is $350. ​

Grady- Adopted!

​Handsome little Grady was a victim of abuse and neglect during his early puppy-hood. He was picked up when 18 months old by Animal Control from a bad breeder who was later convicted of animal cruelty. She gave her young pups no socialization or even positive human contact. As a result, Grady came to NVSR as a very fearful youngster with no trust in humans.

Grady will do best in a forever home with a calm older dog who can model confident behavior and demonstrate to Grady that his new humans are the source of all good things and need not be feared. Grady is a follower who is attracted to older dogs who want to nurture and mother him. He will trust and bond with a well-socialized older dog long before he becomes comfortable with any humans in the home. Other dogs were his only source of comfort during his early life with the cruel breeder.

Grady is a very cute little dog who makes you want to pick him up and hug him. But hugging is not on the agenda until he first learns to trust. He does not even want to be touched or petted by humans he doesn’t know well. Patience and slow baby steps are needed to reassure him that his humans mean him no harm.

Grady’s foster parents faced a real challenge when Grady first came to them. He wanted only to be in his crate, scurrying outside to eliminate and then back to his crate. They worked for months to housetrain and leash train him and persuade him to allow some handling. They found him to be a very smart dog but one that was suspicious of any new things or new places.

Fortunately, the foster family included an older female Sheltie and a middle-aged male dog who helped Grady learn to become more comfortable in his foster home. He now enjoys sitting on the sofa next to his humans and going for leash walks in the neighborhood at quieter times of the day. He still feels safer inside, but he has learned to enjoy exploring the fenced yard and even chasing squirrels with the other dogs.

Grady has been neutered and brought up to date on all vaccinations and tests. He has been on both heartworm preventative and flea/tick prophylaxis for the last six months. We feel that he is ready to find his forever home with the right adopters.
The right home for Grady must have a securely fenced yard. Patient, gentle humans who will work to gain his trust are essential. A quiet neighborhood and not a busy city environment will suit him best. He is likely to progress much faster if his forever home includes a calm, older dog who can show him the house rules and help him learn to trust the humans.

Grady is . . .Two years old, weighs 18 pounds, and is 14 inches tall. His adoption fee is $450.