Sadie is a bombshell blonde and NOT your average companion pet!

She is also gentle, smart, and a fabulous property guardian! This blonde beauty looks like a giant yellow lab/golden retriever, and we were told she is a Great Pyrenees, Lab, and Akbash mix. If you are familiar with the Akbash breed, they are native to Turkey, and primarily used as a livestock guardian dog or shepherd dog. That's Sadie!!!

Due to the behaviors, we have observed in her, we feel confident in saying that Sadie is not your average companion pet. She has some livestock guardian instincts that run deep in her and so we are looking for just the right environment where she can feel comfortable, productive and enjoy her humans.  Sadie will more often than not alert bark when new people/animals approach her space, but quiets pretty quickly and easily once she meets them and determines them not to be a threat.  This alert barking is not out of fear or aggression, but instinct to alert, and runs deep in Sadie.  For this reason, we think Sadie would do best living on a property that does not have a lot of passerbyers or foot traffic in/around the home, as those are the situations where Sadie's instincts kick in for her to be on alert, and that can be very tiring!  

Sadie has met children as young as a 5-year-old who visited her previous foster home regularly; she was calm during and seemed to enjoy these managed visits but would do best not living with children full time. Sadie has lived with other dogs and does best with them outside, in large spaces, and with predictable routine and interactions. While we think she likes having dog friends feel she would do best as the only dog in the household. Sadie has mixed feeling on cats; she has lived with dog savvy cats and shown playful interest in them, and other she has barked at and chased.  

Sadie will thrive with routine, predictability, and clear expectations. She prefers to spend most of her days lounging outside, keeping a watchful eye on her property and sunbathing.  She enjoys games of fetch, as well as long walks.  She is very strong on the leash and needs some continued work on her leash skills (she can be like walking a school bus!) so that she can be an enjoyable walking buddy.  Inside the house, Sadie is nondestructive, housetrained and crate trained and rides well in the car.  Sadie can come off a little aloof with people, but she can definitely bond and enjoys being around her humans.

A very large, fenced yard or property would be ideal so Sadie can spend most of her time outside, lounging, and Sadie would enjoy daily walks/hikes to explore new spaces. An obedience class would be great for Sadie as it will help develop communication between she and her person, but one-on-one training with an experienced dog trainer may prove to be more rewarding since Sadie is such a unique individual.  In the right home, with humans who offer her clear structure, routine and expectations, Sadie may not need much outside training.

If it sounds like Sadie is your missing piece...and you have room for this playful giant...then please fill out an application... Sadie can’t wait to meet you!

Sadie’s story:   Sadie was adopted out of a litter from sheep herding/guarding parents. Her owner was diagnosed with a serious disease and was no longer able to handle Sadie and her needs.  Sadie spent a brief period in an adoptive home in RI, but it was not the right fit due to the high foot traffic passing by the house, the numerous other individuals in the home to navigate (dogs, cat, humans), and the relaxed routine in the house (a very typical companion pet home!).  She is now living in a structured foster home with lots of outside time, clear expectations, few neighbors and doing great!

Medical Note: This dog was treated for demodectic mange while in the SOS program. The dog has responded well to this treatment. Please note that demodex can flare up in any dog in times of stress (eg, transport, transition to a new home, change in food, etc). As such, the adopter is advised to discuss this condition and best next steps with their veterinarian. SOS recommends that dogs with a history of demodectic mange be kept on regular NexGard or Bravecto for flea/tick prevention for at least 3 months or until 18 months of age. Please see here for more information on demodectic mange: http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/mange-demodectic-in-dogs/741. Please check with your vet if you should have any questions or concerns about this condition and discuss any concerns you may have with your SOS Adoption Counselor.

An adoption donation is required for each adoption; please see  HERE  for more information about this.

**Additional info you should know - For most of our dogs, we are only guessing at predominant breed or breed mix. We get to know each of our dogs as an individual and do our best to describe and place them based on personality not breed label. Some dogs may not yet be in New England, nor ready for immediate adoption. There may be additional vetting, quarantine, waiting periods and/or fees depending upon your state of residence. If you have questions or concerns on any of this, you can discuss this with your Adoption Counselor.