Meet Fortress, a sweet 3-year-old, 35-pound lovebug with a big personality, endless enthusiasm, and a brain that is always ready to learn! This silly, happy girl is incredibly smart and eager to please, especially when food, verbal praise, or fun are involved. She has an impressive vocabulary of about 25 words she knows reliably and loves showing off what she knows. Fortress is a clever, busy girl who thrives when she has a job to do, and her goofy antics keep her foster family laughing. She's still working on impulse control and learning to manage her excitement, but she's already making wonderful progress. Her foster family is especially encouraged by how much better she's becoming at redirecting her attention and making calmer choices.
Fortress is doing wonderfully with her housetraining and earns a perfect score from her foster family! She also does great when left alone, with no whining, barking, accidents, or destruction reported. She's comfortable relaxing in her designated spot or hanging out in another room, so while she loves being close to her people, she doesn't need to be glued to their side every second. This affectionate girl has a lovely balance of cuddle time and independent downtime, making her a delightful companion at home. She's happiest when she has a predictable routine, a cozy place to relax, and opportunities to put her clever brain to work.
This energetic girl would love an active home with someone who enjoys getting outside, playing, and continuing her training. Fetch, water play, and anything that goes squeak, squeak, squeak are right up her alley! She adores squeaky toys and has a particularly sweet side when it comes to a delicate, fluffy bunny toy that she treats gently. Kongs, lick mats, bully sticks, and other enrichment activities are also great ways to keep her busy brain occupied. Fortress has enjoyed exploring new places, from a big open field to a busier neighborhood, and recently had a wonderful visit to a friend's house. She also enjoys riding in the car and tolerates grooming sessions well, even if she'd sometimes rather turn the experience into playtime! Her foster family recently brought her along to help with fall gardening and winterizing the plant beds, where she happily provided moral support. Fortress is a fun-loving girl who will thrive with someone who can give her appropriate outlets for her energy and enthusiasm.
Fortress continues to make progress with her leash manners and is pulling less on walks. In fact, she recently managed to walk past other dogs without an issue, which is a wonderful step forward! Her foster family has been practicing emergency U-turns, sitting, and "touch" to help her manage exciting distractions and make better choices. She can still become reactive when she sees other animals, particularly through windows, at doors, or in the yard, and leash reactivity remains a work in progress. The good news is that she can be redirected reliably inside the home and yard, and she's showing improvement as she learns these skills. Fortress will need an adopter committed to positive-reinforcement training, thoughtful management, and helping her practice calm behavior around distractions. She has plenty of potential, and her progress shows that she's capable of learning when given clear, consistent guidance.
Meeting new people continues to be a highlight for Fortress! She recently met two new people, and both interactions were a success. She loves making friends inside the home and is getting better about keeping all four paws on the floor, although her enthusiasm can still get the better of her. She's more cautious about meeting people outside her familiar home and yard, so she'll benefit from patient introductions and opportunities to build positive associations in different settings. Her foster family is working toward helping her feel more comfortable greeting people she's already met inside when they encounter them outdoors. Fortress needs dog-savvy people who understand her excitement, respect her boundaries, and can provide clear, consistent guidance rather than expecting her to navigate overwhelming situations on her own. A quieter introduction is likely to help her show off her best self more than a busy, crowded event.
Fortress has enjoyed meeting children between 11 and 13 years old and has shown an affectionate, enthusiastic side with them. Because she can become overstimulated and mouthy when excited, a home without young children would be the best fit. Older, dog-savvy children who understand how to interact appropriately with her may be a possibility, depending on the individual household and introductions. She has met other dogs at BARCS and can be uncomfortable around canine friends, but warms up after some time. She prefers gentle, respectful playmates. Fortress requests to meet any resident dogs to ensure they're a good match! She recently met a cat through a crate and showed very little interest, which was encouraging, but this limited introduction isn't enough to confirm that she can safely live with cats. Any future introductions to other animals would need to be handled carefully, with appropriate management and thoughtful acclimation.
At home, Fortress is an affectionate cuddlebug who loves scratches, snuggles, and spending time with her favorite people. She also appreciates having a comfortable place to settle and the freedom to enjoy some quiet time on her own. She's a wonderfully silly companion with a busy herding-breed brain, so she'll be happiest with someone who can offer appropriate outlets for her energy, plenty of enrichment, and ongoing opportunities to learn. Fortress is still building confidence and learning how to navigate an exciting world without becoming overwhelmed, but her progress is encouraging. She would benefit from an experienced, dog-savvy adopter who will appreciate her intelligence, affectionate nature, and goofy personality while providing the structure, consistency, and decompression time she needs to succeed. She's looking for someone who enjoys training and understands that progress comes one step at a time, she has so much potential. With patience, positive reinforcement, and plenty of fun ways to put her clever brain to work, Fortress can continue learning to balance her enthusiasm with calmer choices.
Fortress is currently in the comfort of a foster home. If you're interested in learning more about her or meeting her, please email dogfosters@barcs.org to be connected with her foster family!
MVP Up to Bat! I'm a BARCS MVP because I'm learning to stay calm when excited, feel comfortable being alone, and make dog friends at my own pace. I'd do best as your only pup at home. Please contact our Dog Foster team at dogfosters@barcs.org to connect with my foster family, and get to know me better! I can't wait to meet you.
Every animal deserves a home run! BARCS MVPs are overlooked pets in the shelter. Thanks to the generous support of the Alonso, Ba
