_________ B I O ______________ 

Name: Rick Astley
Size: ~Medium range:  26-60 lbs 
Adoption Donation: $250 (applicable sales tax included). Adoption fees may be paid by cash or check.  
Other:  Neutered male, Vaccinations current, Microchip, No Cats

Rick Astley wants to sing his way into your heart!

Foster Home Feedback 

**  No Cats

5/6/2026 Foster Feedback: Rick Astley is a 2 year old terrier mix that is searching for his soulmate. We call him Jasper. He’s incredibly intelligent, highly food-motivated, and thrives on learning—he already knows an impressive list of commands including sit, stay, down, shake, other paw, play dead, recall, place, touch, and more. He’s also been introduced to agility-style cues like “over,” “step,” and teeter, and he absolutely loves having a job to do.

Rick Astley is the kind of dog who bonds deeply and is devoted to his people . He loves to cuddle, happily curls up in your lap, and is especially affectionate with women. Out in the world, he shines. He walks nicely on a gentle leader, travels well, and makes an excellent hiking and hotel partner. He already has 15 miles on the North Country Trail! He has a natural athleticism and curiosity that make him a great fit for a busy home.

Rick Astley would do best in a home without cats or small animals, as he has a strong prey drive and hunting instinct. He could be trained as a bird flusher or tracking dog. He does well with older children but needs redirection to stop kissing them. He can be a bit hesitant around male dogs at first, but with patience and proper introductions, he has the ability to build trust.

Like many smart, high-drive dogs, Rick Astley can become easily overstimulated and may show some mouthy, overexcited play when aroused. He’s already made progress with structure and training, and he will thrive with an owner who is willing to continue guiding him. 

Rick Astley isn’t just a pet, he’s a partner. If you’re looking for a reason to get out and experience life again with a trustworthy friend by your side, he’s your man. 

11/28/25 Volunteer Feedback: Rick Astley was able to come hang out with us for a few hours today. He did really well with my kids (9&13) and my husband, greeted everyone warmly and with tail wags while meeting them.
Rick is a 2 year old pup who is full of energy, smart, and treat motivated. He enjoyed playing with all the stuffies and squeakers, outside snow zoomies, and a little cat nap & snuggles. He can be a bit of a brute when playing with his stuffies and you’re down on the floor with him, but he means no harm—he just doesn’t realize how strong he is. 
Rick appears to be house broken and he rode really well while in the car. When it was just me, he laid in the back or sat in the front seat nicely, watching out the windows. When my husband was driving, he enjoyed being up front with us, sitting on my lap, just taking in all the sights as we drove. 
We brought Rick to Roasted Rail Coffee House in Dilworth and he did really well in a public setting. We worked on some training/focusing techniques that are used at the rescue's Social Hour, rewarding with some string cheese & doggie treats. 
This goofy, loveable guy is just the sweetest and would be a loyal companion and a great travel buddy for anyone looking for a new family member.

9/24/25 Volunteer Feedback: I took Rick Astley on a kennel break for a few hours today, and we sure had a blast! Went on a 3 mile hike at the Buffalo River State Park and Rick loved to sniff everything. During breaks he just sat by my feet and relaxed. He seemed very intrigued and excited to play in the water. Rick also did great in the car, just laid down and enjoyed the ride!

9/22/25 Volunteer Feedback: I brought Rick Astley to the 2nd annual Run 4 Luv 5K at the Hen House bar... and I couldn't have picked a more perfect friend to join me at this event. He was so happy to meet every dog and person at this event! Rick Astley never bowled over little dogs, never shied away from big dogs, just had a very "Hi! Play with me?" energy. One of our volunteers asked to run with Rick for the whole 5k (since I am no runner, I was happy to let him join them). Rick had just as much energy after that run as before. He's the kind of dog that has enthusiasm for everything, especially if treats are involved.

9/18/25 Volunteer Feedback: Rick Astley and I spent our time today in my backyard. We played fetch for a while, and he did well with bringing it back and releasing when asked. But his favorite thing was to look for treats in the grass. He made the cutest little grunting noises when he was sniffing them out. Rick Astley is still a little mouthy, so we worked on redirecting which went fairly well. I think if given the opportunity he would be a lap dog. When I was sitting on the grass with him, he would come over and lean on me to make sure he was getting all the pets he could possibly get. He loved getting his face rubbed.   

9/2/25 Volunteer Feedback: Rick Astley is a very handsome gentleman with a love for life and a heart full of curiosity. Rick brings joyful energy to every moment. This lively companion isn’t only interested in having fun, he’s also eager to learn and loves showing off his smarts, especially when treats are involved! Rick would thrive in a home that embraces his playful spirit and supports his love of learning.
 

8/29/25 Volunteer Feedback: I had the pleasure of spending time with Mr. Rick Astley tonight, and he was an absolute delight!

To help channel his energy, we worked on a fun enrichment activity: sniffing out treats hidden in the grass. Rick Astley put that amazing nose to work and was fully engaged! Afterwards, I gave him some quiet one-on-one time in the office area to let him decompress and explore at his own pace.

Rick was incredibly thorough—he found every last molecule of anything resembling a treat. I’m pretty sure the floor has never been cleaner thanks to his detective-level sniffing skills!