Panda

Male, 5.5 years old, 40 pounds
Border Collie
Tri Color
No health issues
Reason in Rescue: His family couldn’t keep him any more due to apartment regulations.

Looking for a home with humans who have time to give belly rubs.

Panda is being fostered in New Berlin, WI. For more details, CLICK HERE to contact Panda’s foster home.

If you are interested in meeting Panda to see if you are a match, complete an adoption application with WBCR, make a donation to WBCR to support the application processing fees, and get approved through all four steps of the process. This must be done before we can consider you to be matched with one of our Border Collies. Click the Adoption link and read the full application instructions.

May 17, 2025 – Favorite napping places

Panda has three places he loves to nap: his crate, on the cool tiles in the living room, and under the end table.

May 17, 2025 – Panda is no longer marking

Ever since Panda has been wearing his belly band four days ago, he hasn’t marked anywhere indoors. It may be the neuter, it may be settling in, or it may be that he understands he shouldn’t mark indoors.

May 16, 2025 – VIDEO: Panda is helpful during yard work

I tied Panda up to me as I did some weeding since he still shouldn’t run or jump since his surgery. He took advantage of the time to rest and smell the roses aka dandelion. Here he is in action: https://youtube.com/shorts/SYl4m7tm3gc?feature=shared

May 15, 2025 – Making a friend

Panda was tied up in the front yard while I mowed. He was relaxed and patient. Our neighbor stopped by with her little but very loud terrier. Panda was very happy to sniff and make friends with the little one. I think he wanted to play but I had to restrict his jumping and excitement due to his restrictions with his foot and groin stitches.

May 14, 2025 – Panda is wearing a belly band

A week or so ago, I realized Panda was marking in the house. I have a belly band (male diaper) on him now so that if he does mark, he won’t be able to get any pee on my rug or furniture. This may lessen now that he is neutered but for now he has to wear his belly band and stick close to me in the house.

May 13, 2025 – Panda doesn’t like a lot of fluff

I noticed that Panda liked to clear his crate of all the soft blankets I had prepared for him. Each morning I found him sleeping comfortably on the hard plastic floor of his crate. I moved him to a different crate for one night; I found him in the morning under the bed. I think it’s a temperature thing. Here he is with his cone on trying to stay cool on the plastic floor but covered with a big dog bed.

May 12, 2025 – Such soft fur

Panda loves getting pet and snuggling with his human more than anything.,,more than food, more than walks, more than toys. His fur is so luxurious and soft. He definitely wants to be adopted by someone who enjoys petting, touching, and talking to their dog a big chunk of their day.

May 11, 2025 – Still loving a crate for naps

This picture shows a lot about Panda’s day to day living. He likes his crate available because that is his favorite place to nap. He came with the cow stuffed animal which he really likes. In these first two weeks, he has pulled off three of the four legs. He uses a snuffle blanket that I put in a metal pan lid to eat his meals. This has been helpful to help him slow down his eating as well as some brain work with sniffing.

May 10, 2025 – Cyst is not cancerous

Panda’s foot cyst that was removed is officially not cancerous, so it won’t be coming back or causing any issues in the future. He has 10 more days before the stitches are removed, and he can have his normal exercise routine back.

May 9, 2025 – Recovering from surgery

Panda has to wear a big cone during his recovery. He will not leave his foot bandage or incision alone. Luckily he is catching up on sleep so the cone has been manageable.

May 8, 2025 – Panda was neutered

Panda spent the day at the vet getting neutered and having a small growth (probably a benign cyst) removed from his foot. The staff really liked him and appreciated his gentleness. He tested positive for Lyme’s but will begin four weeks of medication to clear that up. He was not on any preventatives before coming into rescue so he was susceptible to ticks and mosquitoes.

May 7, 2025 – Arranged Blankets

Most days I have straightened, folded, organized Panda’s blankets so that they were nice and flat. Clearly he is showing me that he does it better. I now understand that he likes the comfiness of a pile or a cooler plastic to sleep on.

May 5, 2025 – Panda can leap

Panda’s original family said he was “an escape artist” so I have been alert to make sure he doesn’t try to get out of the fenced back yard, run away, etc. Panda loves his humans so much, I am realizing that is not what his owner meant for “escape artist.” Panda has leapt over the gates with ease in my house on several occasions but always to be closer to me, not to get away from me. This fits the narrative to how the original owner described Panda as well. He doesn’t jump on people or counters. He seems quite well mannered.

We drove to the vet today for Panda’s initial exam for his future neutering procedure. He was a star. No stranger danger with the staff even when they took a blood sample and his temperature. He is a great car traveler as well. He seems relaxed and is quiet.

May 4, 2025 – Panda is tired from the farm

Panda is still tired today after his big day playing at the farm with sheep and other dogs. After our morning walk, he put himself to sleep in his crate and is snoring with some dreaming.

May 3, 2025 – Panda meets sheep

We went to a friend’s farm where we could test Panda with sheep. He really liked it and understood what to do right away. He met a bunch of dogs as well and he did fairly well with all the action.

VIDEO: Panda’s first time with sheep

May 2, 2025 – Panda and his crate

Panda likes to have a crate to go to for sleeping. When I am home, he has full access to his crate; he sleeps there a lot of the time. His other favorite sleeping spot seems to be under a table next to the couch so he can be tucked away. He does bark a bit while in his crate and I am at work so apartment or condo living may not be a match for him. He is sleeping through the night in his crate.

May 1, 2025 – Birthday and Brushing

Panda loves to be brushed! We had a 20-minute brushing session and he was so relaxed. He rolled over so I could brush his belly, butt, and tail.

We think Panda’s birthday is July 13 but we don’t know if it’s 2017 or 2019. He has his first vet visit next week so maybe the vet will have a guess.

April 30, 2025 – Panda’s first night in his foster home

Panda did well for his first night. He slept in his crate. He whined a little at first but seemed to settle after I put some music on and left a night light on. Around 3:30am he was repeatedly barking so I took him to the backyard where he did #1 and #2. Then we came back in and he went right back into his crate on his own and slept quietly until it was time to wake up.

After breakfast he came over to me for more belly rubs and took a bath in the sun.

Panda chose to nap inside his crate with the door open today. He looks pretty relaxed to me.

April 29, 2025 – Panda arrives

Panda seems a bit nervous with a new house, new people, and new dog but is handling it like a champ. He loved getting belly rubs and pets this evening. He walks well on leash. He is potty trained. He is crate trained but possibly barks a bit when left alone.

He is being kept separate from his foster brother because the foster brother is a bit unsure of having a new dog in his space.

Here is what the original owner has shared with us as we get to know Panda:

• Panda was adopted as a puppy into a family with kids. About 9 months ago the parents divorced and weren’t able to keep Panda. Panda moved in with a friend of a friend. After 8 months, that person was not able to keep him.
• Panda was returned to his original owner who couldn’t keep him due to apartment restrictions. He knew he had to find Panda a steady, loving home with someone who treasures Panda.
• Panda is an overall calm dog. He likes other dogs, walks, cats, riding in the car, children, chewing, jumping over obstacles, and his crate.
• He has also been left loose in the house without issues.
• He has some stranger danger when new humans approach him. He likes to sniff and make the first move.
• He is loved and he is sweet.

April 25, 2025 – Introduction to potential foster brother

Before Panda came into foster care, his foster mom and foster brother met him and his owner at a park to see how the dogs would get along. Panda was happy to meet the other Border Collie and walked well on leash. A few times Panda wanted to show some dominance by putting his head on the other dog’s neck or putting his paws on the other dog’s back. The other dog appropriately corrected him a few times and Panda appropriately backed off for a few seconds each time. Panda has some reported stranger danger but came right up to the foster mom and got some pets.