Blue Chihuahua & Terrier Mix Fairfield, CT

Breed: Chihuahua
Age: 2 years
Weight: 10 lbs
Good with Dogs: Yes
Good with Cats: Not Tested
Good with Kids: No
Energy Level: Medium

*NOT ACCEPTING MA ADOPTERS*

Before coming to DDR, Blue was a stray and spent some stressful time in a shelter. His history prior to that is unknown, but his behaviors tell a sad story. Blue suffers from fear aggression, and is very skeptical of anyone new. He's very nervous of hands coming toward his face or head, and reacts strongly when he feels threatened (which is a very low threshold for him). His fear and anxiety also make him very protective of his space, and he exhibits resource guarding behaviors. He is terrified of fireworks and loud sounds, and needs a safe, quiet space of his own where he can rest uninterrupted. Blue's skepticism of new people and dogs expresses itself on walks as well, where he is leash reactive, but he has been making small improvements toward learning how to stay calm and look to his handler for support on walks. To assist with his high anxiety levels and help him learn calm, appropriate behaviors through training, Blue is currently taking anti-anxiety medication which is starting to show positive improvements with his continued behavioral training.

The good news is, once someone has put in the time and patience with Blue, he is a very affectionate dog. He is smart, obedient, silly, and a lot of fun. He loves to play fetch, and can't get enough squeaky toys / tennis balls. He knows sit, down, stay, spin, touch, crate, and has even dipped his toe into agility training! Patience is key here - Blue is cute, and it will be hard to understand how a dog so cute can exhibit such intense reactions when triggered by his fears. It's highly likely you'll see some reactions from Blue as he figures out if he can trust you, and you figure out his body language and signs of discomfort. Blue's reactions range in intensity, but he has made contact when triggered, so his needs can't be ignored.

Following some simple rules with Blue really sets him up for success. Let Blue come to you - he loves affection and will ask for it often, but he gets very nervous about interactions not initiated by him - even once he trusts someone. Don't let Blue on furniture or beds - due to his tendency to startle easily and react when he's snuggled somewhere soft (and especially when he's sleeping), it's best to give Blue a nice comfy bed of his own in a quiet, low-traffic area or crate and leave him alone when he is in his space. When introducing Blue to new dogs or people, again patience is key - Blue barks defensively when first meeting new people and dogs, but warms up within a few minutes of a walk, or with some treat tossing to make friends. When visitors are in the house, Blue will need to be leashed or otherwise managed as his guarding tendencies sometimes surface in his desire to protect his people from "the intruders".

Due to the special care and attention to Blue's signs and signals needed to avoid triggers or reactions, Blue should not be in a home with children. Blue would do best with an experienced dog owner who has experience with needs like his, or has the patience and understanding to learn and work with him carefully. Blue would love a quiet, calm household that would allow him to burrow quietly in his bed most of the day, play and engage later in the afternoon / evening and work on his tricks/training, and take a couple of nice walks in the morning and evening. Blue is currently being fostered in a home without dogs, but has lived with dogs in the past and has shown good promise with a few doggie play-dates after appropriate warm-up intro time / walks. A well-behaved dog could be a good influence on him!

If you are interested in Blue, please contact Katherine at KatherineM@doubledogrescue.org