(Courtesy Post): Zoe

Please email any additional questions about Zoe to houndsofll@gmail.com

Meet Zoe, 1.5-2 year Dascuhnd/Mini Pin mix, tri-color, 25 lb spayed female

Where did you get this dog?: Found as a stray

How long have you owned this dog?: Since 04/12/2019

Why is the dog being given up?: Behavioral issues - pack/dominance issues

Zoë is an adorable cuddler who sadly needs a new home. We seek a home where she can be Queen as an only dog in the house, which is the reason for rehoming; she’s initiating fights with our other dogs. This is a pack dynamic issue and there is now no other option (we have tried *all* other options.)

Zoë is essentially, she’s a wiener dog on stilts. Zoë is a playful goofball who is great with fetching until she wants it to be a chase game. Zoë has adorable floppy ears that need help being restored to factory settings on occasions. Someone cropped her tail (found that way), but her nub does the cutest wag nonetheless. 

She has only had positive reinforcement training and would do best in a home that will continue this type of training. She knows a lot of commands; sit, lie down, wait, roll over, swirl, shhhh, touch, and much more! She’s done a superb job with her training, both verbal and hands signals for each command. If you want an agility or scenting dog to train, she is fantastic with both. She has a good foundation for them too! She is mat trained also (will sit on a mat to wait for food and excitedly go to her bowl with her release word “yes”). 

She is not a fan of having her nails trimmed, though, so learning “paw” (putting her paw in your hand) takes a lot of her trust. Zoë has been doing marvelous with her “heal” training when going for a walk; continuing this training would make for a happy human-dog pair. 

She is timid with new people, but once she knows you, she is a gentle, loving soul. She makes a great home security system (“shhhh” command quiets her if she alerts you to anything). A home with adults only is best, too; kids are too unpredictable for her. 

Zoë cannot be crated, she has never done well with crates, but she is a champ with a tie-down and settles in very well. Connect her to the tie-down, give her a treat just before you leave, and she’s a happy girl. (*Please note this is directly from the owner surrender notes & HFP does not condone tying a dog unsupervised)

Zoë is fully house trained with a clear “out” signal; she will go by the door and keep going back to the door to let you know she needs to be let out. She takes 1/2 tab of Proin in the AM and PM, so she fully releases when she goes outside. 

If you want a buddy to cuddle with you and watch TV or sleep and hang out together in a secured backyard, Zoë is your girl. It’s the simple pleasures in life for this pretty girl; chasing flies is great fun. 

Zoë is up to date on her shots and health needs. She is microchipped and gets flea and heartworm treatments on the 15th of each month. We want a loving home for her to go to; no fee, but a completed application form is requested to help ensure we find the right fit. Rehoming her is a heartbreaking decision for us; she is dearly loved, so we want to help her find a loving, supportive forever home for her. 

An ideal home for Zoë would:

* Be able to maintain her medication and supplements routine and can financially care for this need. 
* Has a 6 foot, secured fence, or will keep her leashes at all times when outside. 
* Not have other dogs, cats, or children in the home. 
* Has experience training dogs. She’s a smart girl and is already well trained, a home that can continue this would be ideal.

SHY, QUIET, ACTIVE, PLAYFUL, NERVOUS, SMART, AFFECTIONATE, OBEDIENT, TIMID, GENTLE

Is the dog currently on vaccinations?: Yes

Please list medications your dog is taking:: 
Proin - 1/2 a pill in AM and PM
Super Snout Chill Out - Half a chew in the AM
Zylkene (225 mg) - 1 pill in AM
Welactin - 1 scoop in PM

Is your dog housebroken?: Yes

Are there any behavior problems?: Yes

If yes, please describe in as much detail as possible: Zylkene and Super Snout Chill Out is a combination that was found to help take the edge off us leaving the house. She is tether trained, as she cannot be crated, and she will go to her bed, get hooked up, receive a treat, and then wait for our return. Before this combination, she would shrill bark when I left to put something outside. This combination is highly recommended to maintain her on, especially for the first three months after rehoming. After then, working with a Vet or Veterinary Behaviorist on any changes around this is recommended. 

Zoë has pack issues, due to this she cannot be with other dogs. She was doing excellent with the other dogs we have at home and then when she began her teen years, she was not ok with it. She seeks dominance even being the alpha dog. She will initiate fights with other dogs over things like getting off the couch or getting attention from her human. She does not do this with all dogs though, only one she has an issue with. She’s very dog selective. She will excel being the only dog in a home where someone can exercise her energy out and who will cuddle with her.

Depending on the dog, she could have playmates and safe interaction times with submissive, calm dogs on a limited-time basis.

Does your dog have handling sensitivities? How is your dog meeting strangers?: She is shy, timid. The best way to meet Zoe is to ignore her.

Does the dog like children?: No

Are there children in the home?: No

What are their ages?: Unknown with kids but given how she is with adults, kids would be too unpredictable for her. It is not recommended to home her with kids.

Any specific feeding instructions you would care to share with your dogs new owner?: She is mat trained. She has a mat and she sits on it as we are getting her meals ready. We set the bowl down and she waits until her release word (yes) is said before she goes to her bowl.

Where does the dog sleep?: She use to sleep with us, then only in the same room, but now she sleeps in another room. She would love to sleep in the bed in her forever home, she's a great cuddler. If she wants space, she will leave the bed at night and move to a dog bed.

Is the dog allowed on your furniture?: Yes

Is the dog crate trained?: No

Please list any particular fears your dog has.: meeting new people, not being the alpha

Desrcibe any training the dog has, tricks it knows, and any experience with a trainer.: Sit
Lie (lie down)
On (get on bed, couch, etc)
Off (get off bed, couch, etc)
Fetch (when throwing ball)
Ball (give ball)
Shhhhhhhh (stop barking)
Swirl (counter clockwise circle)
Twist (clockwise circle)
Come
Around (if on left side of you, will go behind to right side - used to untangle leash)
Go home (go into bed)
Look (look at your eyes)
Touch (touch palm of your hand with nose)
Roll over
Wait (must wait on their mats for dinner)
Stop (stop walking - on leash)
Walk (start walking from a stop on leash)
Cross (cross the street) - As an FYI, won’t use due requested not to walk them
Yes (release word from other commands)
Paw (give you a paw)
Other (give you the other paw)
Mat (go to their black mats and sit on them to wait for dinner)
Stand
Heel
Up (you are going to pick her up)
Go PeePee (urination command, only say outside)
Go PooPoo (defecation command, only say outside)
Back-up
All Done (whatever you were doing is finished; petting/treats/playtime/etc.)
Last Call (final time outside for the night)

She's an excellent agility dog and did really well in scent training class. She's done a family dog class as well.

Does the dog have any known health problems?: Yes

If yes, please describe: Zoë has a urinary dribble issue and the Proin stops it. Taking this medication, it lets her completely relieve herself outside. It’ll be a lifelong medication.

Does the dog like riding in the car?: Yes

What is the dog's favorite : Outside, a squeaky toy that we throw for her. Inside, a rope toy, another type of squeaky ball, and a plastic donught/wheel.

: Walks, handing out with her people, really doing anything with her people. Zoë has done training in airports (people, baggage claim), elevators, and restaurants. She has also gone Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Zoë does excellent with our at-home agility course. She fetches until she wants to be chased.

What does the dog like?: Spending time with her people. She's a goof ball and very playful. She must have someone who wants to play and engage with her every day! She does better getting a bath outside with a bucket system.

What does the dog dislike?: That squirel being in the vicinty of the yard. Fast movements by her humans. She will try to go after lawnmowers and weedeaters. Having her nails trimmed.

Does the dog jump kiddie gates or fences?: Yes

If yes, how high is the dog able to jump?: Approx 5'

Is the dog a digger?: Yes

Is there anything else you can share that is special, unusual, or endearing about your dog that will help the new owners?: She is a super sweet, adorable, loving, goofy, and silly girl. We really wish we didn't need to rehome her. She is dearly loved. Zoë has adorable floppy ears that need help being restored to factory settings on occasions. Someone cropped her tail (found that way), but her nub does the cutest wag nonetheless. 

She has only had positive reinforcement training and would do best in a home that will continue this type of training. She knows a lot of commands; sit, lie down, wait, roll over, swirl, shhhh, touch, and much more! She’s done a superb job with her training, both verbal and hands signals for each command. If you want an agility or scenting dog to train, she is fantastic with both. She has a good foundation for them too! She is mat trained also (will sit on a mat to wait for food and excitedly go to her bowl with her release word “yes”).

Are there any things you think a new owner needs to know?: Go at Zoe's pace for things and the reward will be huge. The Mini Pin side of her tries to play first during training, but with consistency and positive reinforcement, Zoe has a lot of training behind her. Zoe needs people that will provide clear and consistent training and not let her walk all over you.

 An ideal home for Zoë would:

* Be able to maintain her medication and supplements routine and can financially care for this need. 
* Has a 6 foot, secured fence, or will keep her leashes at all times when outside. 
* Not have other dogs, cats, or children in the home. 
* Has experience training dogs. She’s a smart girl and is already well trained, a home that can continue this would be ideal. 

Someone who can walk and play with her to get her extra energy out and then hang out with her, take her places, train her, cuddle with her, and be her buddy, would be a superb match. Also, someone who will keep strangers away from her when they are out (tell them she's in training so no they cannot pet her) and let her be out and about with her person but not have to interact with people other than her person would be perfect