Adopt Shelby

Shelby,

a 1.5-year-old rescue dog with the brain of a Malinois, the smile of a goofball, and a friend to every dog there is.

Shelby on her elevated bed holding a pink Kong toy
Currently fostering · Watertown, Mass.
Available now
01 · The Story

From Mississippi to Massachusetts.

As a young pup, this black-and-white beauty was rescued in Mississippi. Her rescuers gave her care, comfort, and a hip surgery she has now fully recovered from.

Since heading north, she's had an unusually rich foster journey: a month with a
professional canine trainer

b> for one-on-one work, a stint with a foster family in Connecticut, and now a stretch in a home in Watertown, Mass.

Everyone who meets her says the same two things, in the same order: She's so sweet… and SO smart. The ears are not a costume — she's alert, observant, and intensely loyal.

What she needs now is a forever home.

Shelby walking on a leash through deep snow, ears alert
Fig. 01 — Watertown, Mass. · Feb '26 Walks · Daily
02 · The Particulars

The vital statistics.

Age
1.5 yrs
A young adult, past the destructive puppy phase.
Breed
Mal × mix
Belgian Malinois, shepherd, bulldog & terrier.
Build
Slim, sleek
Athletic, 64 lbs. of muscle and love.
Energy
High brain
Loves a good challenge.
Crate + house
Trained ·
Often heads to her crate on her own.
Loves
To play ·
Loves playing with other dogs, chasing tennis balls.
Leash
Slip + e
Trained with a slip-lead and e-collar.
Health
Up to date
Fully vaccinated · spayed · hip surgery healed.
Walks Squeaky toys Tennis balls Naps Dog parks Water Puzzles Belly rubs Walks Squeaky toys Tennis balls Naps Dog parks Water Puzzles Belly rubs
04 · See her in action

Shelby being Shelby.

Walks, water, training, dog parks.

Clip 01 · Out & about
Clip 02 · Short
Clip 03 · Short
Clip 04 · A day with
05 · Résumé

She already knows a lot.

Shelby spent a full month one-on-one with a professional trainer. She walks on a lead with an e-collar and has a working vocabulary of basic obedience commands — and she wants more.

Trained one-on-one by Dogs by Doug, who'll continue to guide her new family as she settles in and takes on more advanced work.
dogsbydoug.com ↗
01sit
02stay
03heel
04place
05off
06down
07leave it
08wait
09+ more
✓Crate trained
✓House trained
✓Walks beautifully on leash
✓Loves the car
✓Loves the water
✓Toy obsessed (in a good way)
06 · The Brief

Her ideal human, in honest detail.

REQ · 01

A nearby dog park.

She needs space to burst, sprint, and play off-leash without a long-lead production.

REQ · 02

Someone who works from home — or close to it.

She's social and crate-tolerant, but thrives with company. Light daytime crating only.

REQ · 03

Kids over 12.

She's playful and athletic; younger kids and her enthusiasm may not mix well.

REQ · 04

Willing to keep the training going.

Agility classes and games would let her shine.

NOTE · 05

She loves other dogs.

Truly — she wants to play with every dog she sees. She roughhouses hard and doesn't always read "I'm done" cues, so a confident canine sibling or playmates who match her energy are ideal.

REQ · 06

Patience for the first few weeks.

Decompression time and consistent structure will turn this transition into a forever home.

Shelby resting next to her pink octopus toy
Ready to meet her?

Take her home.

The next step is a quick email to introduce yourself, your home, and your schedule. From there we'll set up a phone call and an in-person meet so you and Shelby can decide together.

Email about Shelby