After five months of training and adjustments, we came to realize that Kirra needed more from her family than we could give. All of our setbacks with her behaviour were due to the fact that we just didn’t understand the herding personality that comes with cattle dogs. We truly felt that if we trained and exercised her enough we would be able to control certain behaviours that we have since learned are just part of who she is.

After weeks of emotional deliberation, we contacted the rescue group that had brought Kirra into the country. We had already become attached to her and were heartbroken that we couldn’t give her what she needed. The organization was very sympathetic and supportive. One of the volunteers, who has herders, explained that all of the behaviours we were describing were actually very breed specific and that they are amazing dogs, but they aren’t for everyone. She also told us that there was a family who was looking for another heeler.  They would be perfect because they had owned heelers through the years and understood  their needs.

We continued to ‘foster’ Kirra until the family was able to set a date to let the dogs meet. We drove up to Stratford and followed a “meet up” procedure used to allow dogs to successfully meet and greet each other. The other dog was a bit reluctant at first, but Kirra was curious and interested in this smaller, rounder, ‘bluer’ version of herself. Eventually they meet and things seemed to be going well. They started to “play” the heeler way, which was kind of weird and crazy, but we were told it is very cattle dog like behaviour. The two dogs ran around in a circle playing fully lunging and barking at each other. Their tails were wagging and Kirra would stop and look at us to make sure it was okay, but with a joy we hadn’t often seen. The family immediately fell in love with her, which isn’t surprising because she is a beautiful dog.

We thought they would meet and then we would continue to foster her for at least another week, because they would need to decide and they were going on vacation. Nope. They decided she was the dog for them and that if we were alright with it, they would take her right then and there. Our hearts dropped and we didn’t know what to say. It was obvious that this family was more suited to her and that daily runs along the Bruce Trail would be perfect for her. We also always thought that Kirra would benefit from having a sibling, and with this family she would have a sibling of the same breed.

So, reluctantly we went through our vehicle to give Kirra’s new family a few things that we thought would help with the transition. We had several bags of her dog food, a leash and some toys that we gave to them. We said a very quick goodbye to our lovely Kirra, anything longer would have been stressful for her and would have been too difficult for us. She jumped into their car and watched us as they drove away. Our eyes filled with tears and we both wonder how people can foster animals on a regular basis.

The family has since sent us pictures and updates on how she is doing. She is running the Bruce Trail almost every day and has attached with the family, although it took longer for her to bond with the only male in the family. We have sent her vet file and a small care package with a few more of her favourite toys that we thought she would enjoy.

We miss the daily walks, the games of fetch and the evening snuggles that we enjoyed with Kirra. We truly hope that she thrives in her new home, with her new human family and canine sibling.

For anyone out there that is considering adopting any type of herding breed, if you do not have any first hand experience with them, please reconsider. If not, then source a local trainer that has experience dealing with the breed who will be able to teach you how to properly live with a herder and what to realistically expect.

These dogs are amazing athletes who are loyal, intelligent and super alert. They are also nippers who are wary of strangers and protective of their family. We learned a lot from fostering and living with Kirra and we are so thankful to have had the time with her, but we are not suitable owners for her breed. We were very lucky to have worked with such a supportive rescue group that found the right family for her in the end. We would not have wanted her to become homeless or euthanized for being true to her breed.

Happy trails, Kirra. Enjoy your new life!