Welcome to AussomeDawgs' home page, which will be a work in progress. We are a small referral based rescue group originally formed in NJ and made up of a collection of volunteer foster homes, that primarily focuses on the herding breeds and mixes**.  Most of our rescues are given up by people who couldn't or didn't anticipate the responsibility involved of living with and caring for a dog-especially an active herding breed. It is a lifetime commitment to bring a dog into your home, and we take our role as matchmakers for these homeless canines, seriously. Our goal is to find the best homes for our rescues!

The top reasons that dogs end up in rescue are because of their activity level or... "have no time"..meaning the dog has no training and is being a wild thing and probably redecorating the house when alone..or are herding cars or...excavating the garden or couch.... haven't been socialized properly.....barking....or are just plain getting into trouble, because they are bored. Most of our rescues are great dogs-they just need to get enough exercise and start to learn some manners. Because most herding breeds "need a job" and were developed to have stamina and the ability to think things through, they need to be treated as furry intellectuals and kept busy...some more than others.

With proper exercise, most herding breeds have an "off" switch and can make great companions, but need human guardians who understand how to focus their creative energy and appreciate a dog, who may be smarter than them....

Most dogs, but especially the herding breeds, will start to show problem behaviors when not getting enough daily aerobic exercise and mental stimulation. If you are an active person or family, love to be outdoors or hike, throw a frisbee endlessly, or are interested in a dog to try agility or another dog sport like Skijouring or flyball with...read on...if you are a couch potato...one of our rescues is probably not for you. If we know of an older dog or more mellow dog that needs a home, we'd be happy to refer you.

**And as an homage to our little Napoleon complex dog, we also foster Chihuahuas and mixes