Meet Kaia!

Born September 19, 2025, Kaia (Ky-ah) is a malamute/German shepherd mix who's equal parts adventurous and affectionate. She adjusted quickly to her foster home and is gaining confidence every day.

With People
Kaia loves all adults — men, women, doesn't matter. If you'll pet her and snuggle with her, she'll give it right back. She enjoys  older  kids  (5+)  too but  does best when she can approach on her own terms. She'll happily snuggle up with them on the couch or run around with them in the yard, but fast-moving little ones who get up in her face tend to make her  too  nervous.  She currently lives with a 3- and 5-year-old and does well BUT they are familiar with nervous dogs and know to let her come to them. 

With Other Pets
Kaia is good with cats and mostly ignores them. She enjoys playing with other dogs, though she can lean toward the bossy side. Her biggest hurdle is resource guarding with food — specifically food in her bowl and the area where she's fed.  She does NOT guard anything from humans.  In her foster home, she eats in her crate, and she doesn't like other dogs going near it, so the door stays closed and latched. Her guarding behavior looks like sprinting over and putting her body between the other dog and her bowl or crate — the other dogs simply walk away, and it's caused no issues. She can also eat next to other dogs outside the crate with supervision,  as long as  bowls  with  left over  food  are picked up when the food is gone. This has been very easily managed in a home with three other resident dogs. That said, Kaia's ideal home either has no other dogs or has submissive dogs who will respect her boundaries, with owners  comfortable ensuring no food is left in bowls on the ground when all dogs are out.

Energy & Enrichment
Kaia  is a medium energy dog who  enjoys playing fetch, chewing on her  Benebone , and going for walks. She also has a quirky habit of tossing rocks around the yard — never swallowing them, just relocating them.  So  if you don't mind tidying up the occasional rock collection, she might be the dog for you. With proper exercise she's not destructive, though she will grab an unattended shoe if she hasn't had her walk or playtime yet.

Around the House
Kaia is content in a crate and stays in one at night and whenever people aren't home. She's not very vocal — she rarely barks, even when the other dogs in the house are going off. The occasional whine is about as loud as she gets. She's not an escape artist or a runner, and while she's not  off-leash  trained yet, she has the temperament for it.

On the Go
Kaia is learning to enjoy car rides, especially now that she's figured  out  they usually mean walks around town. With continued confidence-building, she has all the makings of a great adventure dog.

The Snuggle Factor
Don't let her size fool you — Kaia is a lap dog at heart. When it's time to wind down on the couch, she'll climb right into your lap or lean her full weight into you for maximum contact.

Overall , Kaia is  a fairly easy  dog who's gaining confidence fast. She loves being outside, staying active, and being with her people. If she sounds like your kind of dog, apply today!

All animal breeds and ages are a best estimate