Animals in Marbella Sanctuary

Meet Kaos... Handsome, intelligent, athletic, slightly obsessive about balls… and the proud owner of one of the most spectacular coats currently residing at Adana.

Kaos was surrendered by his owner and arrived with a coat that had clearly been having quite the adventure of its own. We have spent as much time as he has been willing to give us working through the mats, loose undercoat, grass seeds, bits of plants and assorted souvenirs from his travels. To be fair, he has been remarkably good-natured about the whole process. And this is not a one-off spa treatment. That gorgeous Border Collie coat is going to need regular attention to keep it in tip-top condition — particularly if Kaos continues his apparent mission to collect every seed, twig and piece of countryside within a five-mile radius. Our professional advice? The ball distraction technique. Because Kaos has a ball obsession that really needs to be seen to be believed.

In fact, calling him ball-obsessed is probably an insult to the balls. If there is a ball anywhere in the vicinity, Kaos knows about it. If you are holding one, you have his undivided attention. If you throw one, you have just become the most important person in his universe.

This is a clever, well-trained boy who clearly enjoys having something to do. He is happy walking on or off the lead, knows his commands, sits beautifully and is good with people. He is also generally good with other dogs, although there can be a little tension with some of the boys here. We suspect this may be a combination of some anxiety and Kaos working out exactly where he fits into our rather sizeable canine society. He's a Border Collie, after all - he's probably already analysed the situation from twelve different angles.

And that's worth remembering with a Border Collie. These are exceptionally intelligent, energetic working dogs who were bred to think, watch, anticipate and respond. They aren't simply dogs who need a walk; they need a life that engages their brains as well as their legs. Training, games, scent work, learning new things, retrieving, agility or simply giving them useful jobs to do can make all the difference. A bored Border Collie can be remarkably inventive - and their definition of “helpful” doesn't always coincide with ours!

Kaos will therefore be looking for someone who enjoys that side of dog ownership - someone who wants a clever canine companion to involve in life, rather than simply a dog to accompany them around the block. Give him structure, stimulation, exercise and plenty of opportunities to use that fabulous brain, and you'll have one very happy collie.

And if you're wondering whether you have enough balls… don't worry, we´re confident that Kaos will help you acquire more.

Come and meet him. Bring a ball. Actually, bring several.