Featured Animal

Liesl
Akbash (short coat)

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I was trying to think of a good way to describe Ivory, and in the background, I could hear Serena Williams giving an interview after her loss at Wimbledon. It occurred to me that Ivory is a bit like Serena -- an athlete who is friendly, disciplined, dedicated, and who won't back down from a challenge. Ivory has the lean build and natural athleticism of an Akbash dog, and she LOVES running zoomies in an open field. She is friendly when meeting new people, and true to the nature of most livestock guardian dog breeds, she reserves judgment on other dogs until she gets to know them. Once she gets acquainted, she can be very playful with other dogs. Ivory is rarely the aggressor in any situation, but if another dog starts something, Ivory won't back down or give in. She currently lives in a foster home with two female Great Pyrenees, a male Anatolian Shepherd, and a male Aussie/Pyr mix. She gets along with the females, but is more likely to play with the males.

Ivory likes riding in the car, so if you're looking for a dog who can be your constant companion, going with you everywhere, she might be the one for you. With her good manners on the leash, you can take her places without having her yank your arm off. And with her love for running, she could be your motivation to make that daily walk or run for your health.

Now for the less positive things -- Ivory has a bit of a prey drive and will chase a cat if she has the opportunity. She doesn't like being in a crate and will whine and try to escape.  She is somewhat restless inside the house and can be slow to settle down, so it's best to be sure she gets lots of exercise. At bed time, she CAN be trusted to settle down and will sleep happily on a rug or dog bed near your bed, with no worries about potty accidents.

Ivory can go over a 4' fence easily, so if you want to give her time in the yard unsupervised, you'll need at least 5' tall fencing, and 6' privacy fencing would be best.

If you need a big dog who will be your best friend no matter where life takes you -- city or country, cuddling on the sofa or taking a hike through the woods -- please complete the application on our website at www.bluebonnetrescue.org and tell us that you need Ivory in your life. As that country song says, she's 99 44/100 percent pure love!