Oakley

About Oakley (Berger belge malinois) in Imlay City

Oakley is waiting for you at Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue, Inc. in Imlay City, MI 48444. When Oakley first arrived, she wasn’t feeling well and was extremely sick with Leptospirosis and undiagnosed Addison's Disease, so a lot of her early behaviors reflected that. She understandably needed time, space, and patience to feel safe. She was slow to warm up, but food helped build trust. For the first week or so, we kept interactions minimal and let her adjust at her own pace. By week two, she became much more comfortable with petting and interaction. Once she settles in, she’s gentle taking treats and will occasionally seek attention or bring a toy. Oakley likes having clear boundaries and gives multiple warnings if she feels uncomfortable. She is protective of her kennel and valued items like food and toys, but she has shown improvement with structure and calm redirection. Feeding separately and managing space has worked well. She does best with supervision around other dogs and is kenneled when unsupervised. She’s smart and responsive to training. She’s learning “yes” and “no,” knows sit, down, and shake, and seems to understand heel position. She’s kennel trained, appears fully house trained (no accidents), and is very comfortable using her kennel as her safe space. She can be kenneled for a full workday without issue. Oakley enjoys sturdy chew toys but will destroy softer ones, so durable options are best. She’s playful — especially with the vacuum — and responds well to redirection. At the vet, we use a muzzle as a precaution, and she tolerates it well with treats.Oakley is being treated for Addison’s Disease. She receives a monthly injection (last given Feb 20) and a daily medication, which she takes easily in her food. With patience, structure, and understanding, Oakley continues to make progress and show her sweet side. Oakley really needs her furever home to step up!All MAD dogs come with a Fi Collar and one-year subscription. If you are interested in a