Adoption Profile - Layla
“a huge heart and a soul as sensitive as butterfly wings.”
Layla - Border Collie
4 Years Old.
Excited Sensitive | High Energy
Summary
Layla is an incredibly sensitive soul who has made amazing progress since she was relinquished to us at 15 months old. Originally being highly dog reactive, and very nervous with people, she now lives in my home with my other four dogs, loves to play with friends dogs, and assists in training sessions with other client dogs where they are in need of resocialisation.
She is largely no longer dog reactive (providing that other dogs are not themselves overly reactive or aggressive towards her), and she has also made significant progress when it comes to being touched and receiving affection and is much more tolerant when it comes to activities like towel drying - though does still need to be muzzled for vet visits or for grooming! Layla is a dog that takes time to build trust and comfort with people, but once she has it takes great comfort in their safety and protection and is incredibly amenable.
As a personality, Layla is the sort of collie that whilst absolutely capable of any task you could ask of her, would most certainly be better suited as a ‘hobby’ home than many of the collies with more intense temperaments and strong working instincts - providing that they are able to fulfil the energy requirements of a working line Border Collie.
Layla is like many Collies - happiest in the great doors, happy in her own space, happy off lead and with something to do. She has an shown an incredible capacity for learning in different disciplines, - in general & competition, obedience work, scent work and tracking, and in her work beside me assisting in behaviour rehabilitation - but does best when she is not overwhelmed or under pressure to perform. Layla thrives with a very calm, quiet handler experienced in the breed, who is not anxious or overly excitable.
The Good Stuff
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Significantly improved around other dogs. Very social if calmly introduced to new dogs. Lives with 4 other dogs (dachshund, two spaniels, Lab). Benefits from having another calm dog with her and appears to take comfort in this.
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Significantly improved around general touch and very affectionate with people once properly introduced.
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Layla is very well conditioned to a figure 8 and walks very comfortably on a lead, which she currently does every day with the rest of the pack.
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Layla has had a lot of multidisciplinary input from different trainers, including an introduction to working trials competition obedience. She has a very responsive Sit Stay, strong recall, strong leave command on a tug or ball, and has been taught sendaways.
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Layla has a level 2 qualification with the UK Tracking Dog Association. She’d be fantastic as a search and rescue dog - (if only she liked strangers!)
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Layla is Largely Non reactive to traffic, apart from the occasional intense stare as a truck goes past.
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Key word - relatively. She is still a Collie, and still moves like a collie - but on a range of intensity has relatively low herding instincts and certainly easy to manage around most animals of interest.
Current Challenges
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Can be nervous and avoidant of strangers. No direct reactivity or aggression but needs a sensible and considered introduction.
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Bite History from early in her training and needs to be muzzled for grooming and veterinary visits. Gives plenty of warning when she is uncomfortable and very predictable. Purely driven by lack of trust.
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Will occasionally react to dogs, in situations where they are already reacting to her. This is almost always just a low growl or a bark, and she is easy to calm down. However Layla absolutely needs a calm, confident handler to make her feel safe.
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Once she knows and trusts someone, she has a tendency to be incredibly enthusiastic on initial greeting. This can be managed by claiming your space, and crucially not being excitable yourself, but this is certainly an exaggerated trait compared to most dogs and something that you will need to learn to love. I have been trying for two years to stop her and haven’t succeeded yet.
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Layla has a tendency towards territorial behaviour of her home, and of her owners if not managed correctly. It is essential that Layla feels protected by her owners, and not needing to protect them. This is one of the key reasons why she needs a naturally calm, confident owner without anxiety.
See Layla in Action in our Members Training Videos
What kind of person would be a good fit for Layla?
Layla is looking for someone with a Calm, Confident personality who doesn’t take themselves too seriously - that is able to take things at her pace and build trust as she transitions into their home. She is not a dog that will benefit from someone who is either highly excitable, or someone who believes that smothering her in love and affection will win her over. Affection with Layla is earned over time, not forced - and she gravitates to people who are happy to just let her be in their space and be ignored. She will come to you in her own time.
Layla would thrive with someone who leads an active lifestyle - someone who regularly hikes or enjoys other outdoor sports with a dog. Someone who loves a good game of ball (and doesn’t mind walking the last 5 metres to go and get it back!). Someone who spends a lot of time outdoors or has the space for Layla to potter around and follow them in their daily activities. Layla can absolutely be walked on a lead with a figure 8 to keep her calm, but like all Collie’s would prefer to be off lead running circles around you. Layla’s recall is generally very reliable and responsive - though prospective owners would have to be mindful to keep her on a lead when passing strange dogs.
Layla could absolutely live with another dog in the home providing they have been properly introduced, and providing that the existing dog is not overbearing in its behaviour towards her. She is used to living with both smaller and larger dogs - more sensitive and more confident personalities - but as with people would do best with a calm, confident influence to help her feel safe and relaxed.
Layla absolutely requires and benefits from a healthy structure around rest and sleep. She is well crate trained, and benefits from having time to switch off and relax in her own space, as well as knowing she has somewhere safe to go where she won’t be bothered.
What kind of environment would not be suitable?
Layla will not be re-homed to an environment with small children, or an environment that represents a chaotic, overstimulating or unpredictable lifestyle. Layla is a dog that needs to be set up to succeed - not a dog that can be expected to make sensible decisions without the support and guidance of her owners.
Layla will also not be re-homed to an environment with someone who is highly anxious, or does not deal well with other dogs - as it essential that Layla feels protected by her handler, rather than feeling the need to do that job herself. Layla has a tendency to slip into territorial behaviour in scenarios where she doesn’t feel safe - and the best way to prevent this is to ensure that her future home has the right attitude towards her personality and behaviour.
If you are interested in adopting Layla - please fill out the form below. Potential adoptee’s will be expected to attend multiple visits to get to know Layla and ensure that she is a suitable fit prior to her coming home, and before a final decision is made. A home check will also be carried out. Comprehensive training and support will be provided prior to - and post adoption - to ensure that she succeeds in her new home.
A nominal rehoming fee of £200 will also be required to be paid by the successful applicant. A supply of Layla’s current food will be provided, as well as her training equipment, and lifetime access to our members support and video training programmes.
