Mook Collie Mix Cincinnati, OH

UPDATE 1/26/20 From one of Mook's favorite volunteer-pals: "Good boy Mook is having a wonderful weekend of relaxing, cuddles (and kisses), and learning what it’s like to be in a home! We’re taking some time to work on name recall, commands, and household manners so he’ll be ready for his forever home."

UPDATE 9/29/19 Mook is our absolute MVP playmate. He pairs with every dog that can (or wants to be) paired with dogs. He mirrors the other dog's play style, be it sweet and gentle or wild and rambunctious. If a dog isn't interacting much with him or even seems a bit nervous, he lures them in with a lot of body movements and encouraging actions. He is our star player and a wonderful pick for a family in search of a second dog.

When Mook first arrived he was a bit nervous with new situations, but in the weeks since he's grown into a more confident, well-balanced pup. The only issue we continue working on is his tendency to occasionally nip at ankles or pant legs, but he is easily corrected and so easy to handle. He is a fun, interactive, smart guy that would totally enjoy training and learning tricks.

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Mook had a family once. But when he was just 7 months old, they surrendered him--along with his 10-year-old brother--to a county shelter. Their reason: “he needs more room to run.” While Mook will be happiest in a house with a fenced yard, above all he needs a calm, experienced human to help him grow into a confident boy. Even better, his family-to-be will include another dog to act as a role-model and mentor, as well an an enthusiastic playmate. Mook has become our go-to guy when we're pairing our new arrivals with play-buddies at the shelter ... he is truly a dog's dog. He is uneasy around young kids, so needs a home with teen-and-older humans.

Mook was incredibly terrified when he first arrived at STAF … but after a few days of settling in, volunteers came to know and love him as a nice, medium-energy kind of dog who enjoys venturing out on walks. Losing his home at a time when he is most impressionable, it's no wonder that Mook is a little wary of the world. Volunteers are giving him daily opportunities to explore new places and faces ,,, but we are eager to get him into the calm consistency of his forever family.

Mook is playful, smart, and an all around great dog. He loves long walks, hikes, and makes a reliable running partner. He's a tug-of-war champion and is improving his fetch game every day. He might be a bit mouthy at first, but is easily redirected with his favorite chew toy.

On a home visit, he quickly adjusted to being crated at night and during the work day. In just a week, he picked up his house training and several basic commands like "sit," "lay down," "drop it," and "take it." He mostly ignores people and other dogs while on leash, but can become nervous when strangers come too close.

All Mook wants for his first birthday is his forever family. If he sounds like a match for you and yours, please let's hear from you!

• 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.
• 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.