Villa

Villa the Terrible???

Villa is our honorary Shepherd. Genetically, he's a mix of Boxer and possibly Rhodesian Ridgeback although we were told by the shelter staff that he's mixed with Greyhound. We rescued him from the local shelter in 2007 at the tender age of 11 months. Villa had a rough life before he met us. He doesn't like to talk about it, but he really doesn't have to because his mental and physical scars tell his story.

Vee, also known as Red Dog, doesn't have any titles. His over the top anxiety makes it impossible for him to compete in anything other than couch hopping and blanket hogging. He's smart as a whip...almost human in his emotions...and an A+ snuggle bunny with his peeps. Strange dogs stress him out, but he has an unrivaled love for puppies! We've used him on many occasions to help socialize young pups. He is a born leader with an air of authority that puppies intuitively respect. He is very gentle and will take a lot of abuse from young pups without contest.

While Villa is not an 'easy' dog, he has been an invaluable teacher. He's taught us the importance of socialization and a healthy diet; he's taught us patience and understanding; he's taught us humility and empathy. Because of Villa, we are better dog handlers...you could argue we are better people. Either way, he's earned his rightful place in our hearts as beloved family companion. We adore this mush of a k9 and look forward to sharing our lives with him for many years to come!