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Chihuahua (short coat) : : Male (neutered) : : Adult : : Small
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My Rescue |
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Learn more about the Chihuahua.
About Roland the Rescued Chi-Blend | |
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• Appearance (Coloring, height, weight, strength, etc.) Roland is a beautiful smaller size dog (14 Lbs.). He appears to be part Chihuahua and possibly a Terrier blend. He is a tan color with a hint of fine black strands of hair that give him a very beautiful and shiny coat. His coat is also very soft and almost reminds me of puppy fur, so extra smooth and soft. Its hard to stop petting him when he snuggles up into your lap for some attention. He is presently 14 pounds and was only 1/2 that weight when we first got him so for that reason we know he is a very young dog, probably less than two years old. His adult teeth look like they just came in they are so bright white and new looking.
• Energy Level (High, moderate, low, sleep patterns, etc.) Roland is a high energy dog and loves to go for walks and run in the yard with my other dogs. He loves his crate and is placed there at night to sleep, and never wines or makes a noise all night long. Roland is allowed to free roam in the house, and using the doggy door, the fenced back yard all day long.
• Food (How much and how frequently does your foster dog eat? Dry or wet food? What brand?) For breakfast have been giving him about 1/3 (about 4 oz.) can of the Costco Kirkland brand premium dog food, it is a 5 star rated food and less than a dollar a can, (comes in a case of 24 for about $20.00). I also give him the Kirkland brand dry dog food for dinner, it is called Natures Domain, it is a very highly rated dry dog food. When giving him a treat he will take it from your fingers very carefully and gently.
• Adaptability (How quickly does he or she respond to new situations?) Roland was mistreated and abused in his early life and does not trust people right away, this is especially true for men and boys. We can only guess it was boys that threw him out the window of a moving car, luckily he was not injured, and this was witnessed by one of or volunteers who brought him to our rescue shelter for food, love, and a soft warm bed and fresh water.
• Behaviors (Any bad habits or behaviors they are working through? Chewing, chasing, jumping, digging, etc.?) He has only once been caught starting to chew on his bed and was told a stern “NO” and has not done it again. Still working on him trusting strangers quicker, but I see improvement all the time. He will accept someone that is just calm and lets him come to the new person. He does not like total strangers reaching out to him before they pass his sniff test. During our walks, and coming upon cats and squirrels he has shown no interest in them, or a desire to chase them. He will take turns chasing my dog around the yard as my dog will then chase him, almost looks like kids playing “tag your it”. I have not seem him trying to dig, or jump on any thing except the furniture that he has been allowed on. He is an outstanding watch dog. If there is someone near the house or a strange noise outside he will make sure to tell you, but normally he is very quiet
• Human Social Skills (Friendly or cautious? Any issues with particular people or gender? Children?) First of all this is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever fostered. He will jump in your lap and try to give kisses and lets you handle him any way you choose or carry him like a baby or raise his lip to check his teeth or trim his nails. With that said he takes him a few minutes to figure out that your not one of the people trying to hurt him again, so he is cautious and self protective to strangers but usually licking your hand and wanted to be petted in a few minutes if you don’t rush at him and just be calm until he feels your “one of the good ones”. I would caution against having strange children coming up to him as I would be afraid they would not understand how to approach him and earn his trust. After one day here in my house he trusted me completely and was submissive and sweet. He also loves my wife and actually prefers her.
• Animal Social Skills (Allows other dogs to "greet", plays or socializes with respect for other dogs, etc.) He likes to play with my dogs, and in only minutes after arriving here was playing with my Rat Terrier. During my frequent walks with Roland he has met many people and other dogs, he has been friendly to the dogs and the people because I warned the people to not grab at the dog and to let him come to them. Roland takes a few minutes to see the person is not coming after him to hurt him, and will come up and sniff the new person and allow them to pet him.
• Obedience (What commands does the dog know? Sit, Shake/Paw, Down, Off, Stay, Come?) He has learned his name and leash walking and commands of sit and down and shake hands with the question “Are you my buddy” he also knows to use the doggy door and uses it when appropriate and has never messed in the house. Working on roll over and polishing better his heal command, even though he is doing very well on the leash and does not pull. He knows what “go outside” and “get in the house” and “come on” means also.
• Training (Is your foster dog housetrained or crate trained? How willing are they to learn new commands or tricks?) He is crate trained and leash trained and house trained using the doggy door. He seems above average for learning new things. All the things that I have taught him were learned in the first week with me.
• Personality Quirks (What sets your foster apart from other dogs?) This dog is super sweet, but requires a few moments to warm up to you, at this time he is still learning to trust people after his mistreatment, and needs a few moments to check you out before allowing you to pet him. If your allow him to come to you and move slowly I have seen many strangers earn his trust in just a few minutes.
• Ideal Home (What do you think would constitute an ideal home for your foster? What situations should be avoided?) The ideal home would be someone that wants a very active dog that likes to go for walks or has a fenced back yard for him to run free in. If there was another friendly or playful dog in the house that would be great. Because he takes time to accept new people and takes some time to learn to trust them I would think it better not to have him in a house with young children, that would not understand that. He is sweet and playful after he accepts you, but cautious if he does not know you yet.
Other Pictures of Roland the Rescued Chi-Blend (click to see larger version):