Opal - Miniature Australian Shepherd

STATE: near Rochester, NY
AGE: 10 months
DOB: Unknown
WEIGHT: 31 lbs
SEX: Female
NEUT/UTD: soon/Yes
COAT COLOR: blue Merle
CHILDREN under 4: no (no history)
CHILDREN OVER 4: Yes
SEPARATION ANXIETY: no
OTHER DOGS: Yes
CATS: Unsure
CRATE TRAINED: Yes
HOUSE TRAINED: yes

OBEDIENCE TRAINED: No
LEASH TRAINED: yes
MICROCHIPPED: Yes
ADOPTION FEE: $675

 

9/19/23-Opal had her pre-spay appointment today & weighed 31 lbs. The vet said her ears look great (when I got her she had an ear infection) & the hot spot is healing well. She was a cooperative good girl for her exam. Due to vet backups the soonest we could get Opal in for a spay is Wednesday 10/4. I am on the cancellation list too in case we can get her in sooner. This sweet, happy, playful puppy loves the kids & other dogs too. Once she is spayed she will be ready to go home.
 
9/17/23-Opal has been here for over a week now! I did jinx the potty training thing and she did have two accidents. One accident was under my husband’s watch, so clearly that was his fault (lol). Opal is *very* high energy and loves to play! She would do best in a home with another high energy dog, kids that can keep up with her, or an active home that can tire her out. Opal is a pro at counter surfing and even hops to reach further back on the counter… We are correcting her and letting her know this is not allowed, but she is rather determined and we have to be very careful. She does fantastic going for walks and does well on the leash! She is getting better with not pulling. Everyone in my neighborhood is obsessed with her! She still doesn’t like going in her crate and requires lots of treats and nudges to go in, but once she is in, she settles and is quiet (as long as she isn’t alone and has a toy to chew on). We keep the crate in our living room so when we are at work, the other dogs keep her company. Her pre-spay appointment is on 9/19 and from there we book her spay! She will be ready for her new home after her spay – updates on that date coming soon!
 
 

09/12/23-Opal has been here for a few days now! Not a single accident since she has arrived! I don’t want to jinx it, but she is potty trained!! Opal also does well on a leash. There is some pulling at times, but it’s minimal. Opal remains very energetic and seems to love stuffies – we got her a lambchop stuffy and we continually see him launched in to the air lol. Opal can quickly get in to trouble even if you are in the same room. I was making sauce in the kitchen while Opal was tethered to our couch in the living room (all one big area). I turned around to see she nibbled the edge of my Ruggable rug! And this morning she was happily playing with her lambchop stuffy while I got my girls’ breakfast ready. Next thing I knew, Opal ditched lambchop and was trying to toss and shred a couch pillow! Opal doesn’t like going in her crate and requires some nudging to get in, but we are working on it. She wines or barks for just a few minutes before settling. I had to run errands yesterday morning and checked in on her on our camera to see how she was doing in her crate – she was fine! She just slept and our dogs laid nearby. I was gone for about two and a half hours. 

9/10/23-Day 2 started off a bit challenging. Opal  is a sweetheart & I absolutely love her but she is driving my two couch potato dogs absolutely insane. She is a high energy puppy right now and wants to play non stop. She’s constantly doing the play bow and pouncing, but Daisy and Sunny aren’t interested at all. They growl and show their teeth to correct her and she seems clueless. LOL  We have tried to tire her out: walks, catch or playing tag outside (my kids play tag with her), lots of toys, letting our dogs correct her.  We got a second crate for rest breaks and things have gone much better for the remainder of the day! Opal seems to be understanding she can be a bit of a PITA and has backed off Sunny and Daisy a bit now too. One if my daughters read Opal some Dr Seuss before bed and then the girls snuggled for a bit. 🩵
 

09/09/2023- Opal is a beautiful and so sweet 10 month old mini aussie (miniature Australian Shepherd) rescued from a puppy mill. They were going to euthanize her as she just got too old to sell. She arrived late last night and we didn’t get to our home until 12:30am. She has the coolest eyes & unique coloring!  In our short time together, it is clear she is an absolute sweetheart! She gets along with our mystery doodle and our golden retriever (both large dogs). She also ADORES our two daughters (ages 4 & 7). Opal currently has an ear infection and a hot spot on the left side of her neck. She is on antibiotics three times a day to help clear these issues up. She came matted and a little stinky, but we had a nice “spaw” treatment (nail trim, brush, and bath!) and now she is resting. Opal has her pre-spay appointment set for Tuesday 09/19. After that appointment, she will be scheduled for her spay, currently estimated 6-8 weeks out (but hopefully sooner)! This little girl dances on her hind legs and has a spot on the back of each ear that makes it look like she has earrings! More updates to come soon as well all get to know each other.