Aretha Catahoula Leopard Dog Mix Cincinnati, OH

Beautiful Aretha has the stunning markings of a Catahoula Leopard Dog, gorgeous amber eyes, and undeniable charisma. She’s just 2 years old (est. birthdate 4/17) and weighs a healthy 60 pounds.

Aretha has travelled a long, rough road. She came to STAF from an overcrowded, high-kill county shelter in Kentucky. Upon arrival, we discovered that she had a microchip registered in Tennessee. We reached out to her family of record, who told us that they’d given her away and did not want her back. To add insult to injury (literally!) a paw injury required Aretha to spend five weeks on restricted exercise and in an e-collar.

Aretha likes rubs and pets as much as the next dog, but she is happiest with vigorous exercise and hard workouts. The Catahoula in her needs a purpose in life … retrieving tennis balls, brisk walks and running are her favorites. She also shows great potential on agility courses. If there is a doggy-version of a triathlon, we’ve no doubt Aretha would rock that, too. Sufficiently exercised, she is a undemanding, affectionate girl.

Thanks to a weekly training class and special attention from The Pet Spot trainers (thank you, Eric & Lee!), Aretha has a great obedience-foundation and is happy to work for treats and praise. And speaking of praise, here’s some from Aretha’s favorite volunteer and standing Thursday-night training date: “Aretha is one of the smartest dogs I have been around. She is very trainable, and would be a great Frisbee dog. Properly presented, Aretha will accept new tasks and training very well. I keep treats in my pocket, and Aretha will paw at my pocket asking for a treat. Her vision is incredible, and she can spot people, dogs, birds at amazing distances. Aretha will bond quickly with her new family. I think in a day or two, with some play and treats and pets, she will be a great dog for an active lifestyle family.”

• All of our animals are spayed/neutered and current on shots.
• We do not do same-day adoptions; we ask that you return for a follow-up visit before taking an animal home.
• You must be 21 years or older to adopt from STAF.
• We require a 4-foot-tall physical fence for homes with children under the age of 11. We also may require a physical fence for specific dogs on a case-by-case basis, depending on each dog’s behavior and exercise needs.
• Invisible fences: Due in part to increasing coyote activity/incidents in the area and the difficulty of predicting how a dog will respond to invisible fence training, we cannot adopt to homes with invisible fences unless otherwise noted in a dog’s profile.
• We do request vet and personal references.
• We can facilitate adoptions within a 75-mile radius of our Cincinnati-based shelter.

Please visit www.STAF.org for visiting hours, a downloadable application, and additional information.