Cora Chiweenie Scarborough, ON

I'm the founder of Mattie's Place and I'm personally fostering Cora. I don't foster often, but this little cutie is so quirky and delicious I just had too.

She's probably the easiest dog I've ever known, and I've known A LOT of dogs in my lifetime.

You have to like the "tongue out" dogs, as the tip of her little tongue is sticking out most of the time.

She is incredibly independent and though she's only 8 pounds and you want to give her all the love and snuggles and kisses - she will protest and that just isn't her "thing".

She's 6 years old, with a DOB: 04/25/2017, so she's set in her ways though in chihuahua years, she's a quite young dog as they can live upwards of 20 years old.

Cora originated in Mexico, and came to Canada with another rescue in May, but they were finding her difficult to manage and asked if we'd welcome her, and of course, one look at that face and there was no saying no.

I've had Cora in my care since June 6th and I've seen an incredible transformation with her already, and I know she'll continue to open up and blossom with time, patience, confidence building and training.

Cora is super quiet and nobody has ever heard her bark since her arrival to Canada. She does however get SUPER excited around meal time and will dance on her back legs give little squeals of excitement. They're quiet squeals, but she gets so excited she just can't contain herself and out they pop. She also snores like a freight train when she gets into a deep sleep overnight and she has the most adorable little piggy snorts.

Cora has an odd fear of walking through doorways, and needs some leash pressure/encouragement, but will follow her handler if she is trusting of them. Cora also has a fear of leashing, though I think she had some trauma in her original foster home with the other rescue, with 2 people trying to leash her as she would air snap a lot (and also they received many bites from her) and they would throw a blanket on her which escalated that fear to huge heights. They would then muzzle her from what I was told, once secure in the blanket. This sadly just put this dog in a really untrusting position, so her future
handler/adopter needs to understand compassion and patience will win dogs over like Cora. Force will only sever any hopes of a trusting bond.

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FROM HER PREVIOUS FOSTER: "She didn't just "air bite" she bit my hands numerous times. She would also bite visitors who came to the house so I had to keep her away from them."
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I just tell Cora "let's go for walkies" ... and you can see her body tense up as she knows the slip lead is coming, but she will sit still and wait for me to gently put the slip lead on and then she'll allow me to easily pick her up and get her harness on without any air snapping or incident whatsoever. This is when I also get some pets and snuggles in. I have had no bite incidents with Cora in my care and she is fine with people coming into my home, though I ensure they respect her space and she in turn respects theirs without incident.

She's just such a special kid and I love her a lot already.

When we head out for a walk, she is very slow and loves to sniff every single dog that stopped in a spot before her. It's great enrichment for her, so I'm happy to let her sniff. It gives her incredible joy and even tail wags ... so her walks consists of more sniffing and less walking. She's great on walks and though won't want to go far, and when she's not sniffing, she's loves to move forward. She has a huge preference to stay on your left side. I've tried to shift her to walk between her and traffic, but she will continue to move to my left side or resist the leash. Quirky girl.


Cora has not had any potty accidents in my home. I'm in a condo and she's a perfect guest. I take her out 3 times a day - and all she'll tolerate is 10 minute walks. She loves to lay on my condo balcony, which is completely closed in and she has a little doggy door she can use when I'm home only, and she spends most of her time sleeping out there.

She is currently eating commercial cooked dog food, and LOVES LOVES LOVES it, with some bone broth. She's on The Dogs Standard food and Tom & Sawyer bone broth. She eats well and as soon as I put down her breakfast and dinner.
Her favourite treats (and she's not a big commercial dog treat fan) is Benko Pet Sticks. They're all natural and a pack of 50 is about $30. I give her 1 mid day.

She doesn't play with toys, though I've given her many choices. She otherwise just hangs out on her dog bed inside or outside and observes or naps

Cora travels well in the car. She has a booster seat in my passenger side seating and she's terrific and absolutely no problem to have along for any ride.

Cora does have clear boundaries set for strangers and people she doesn't fully trust. I think she would bite if a stranger tried to touch her or someone she didn't trust forced themselves on her to leash or pickup. The first week she was with me, I had to be very respectful of her space and it took time to win her over, especially with leashing and I had to be very calm and gentle with her and as noted above, I have zero issue with her now and I trust she wouldn't bite me, but it's taken her and I a couple weeks to get there.

Cora is maybe Chiweenie? She has a longer body than a typical chihuahua. Super adorable to look at and a really nice girl.

Cora's perfect adopter is a a single or couple. A quiet life without a lot of coming and going. You can go to work daily and she would have no issue whatsoever with you being gone. Condo with a dog safe, no gaps balcony or a fenced backyard. Other calm and quiet dogs would be fine, or no dogs. She's indifferent to dogs. Cats .. fine. I can't imagine Cora having a cat issue at all. No kids. She would avoid any visiting kids completely, but if a child cornered her or tried to pet or pick her up, she's a bite risk. It's just not a good fit.

If you have a commitment and dedication to winning a dog's heart over, and looking for a really easy dog to have as a companion, Cora is absolutely a girl worth considering.

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Since Covid, our process has changed to keep adopters and volunteers safe.

All paperwork to be completed online, virtual home visits, meet and greets in person, but outside.

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To note: the above description is relevant to this dog in his current & previous setting. Home changes & adopter personalities can bring out different behaviours not previously seen. We also do not claim, endorse, suggest or hint at, that any of our dogs are hypoallergenic, low shed or no-shed.

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Adoption fee includes: spay/neuter, deworming, flea/tick prevention, vaccinations, food, nose to tail health exam, toys, leash|collar, go home preventative based on season, custom dog tag. Successful adopter will have all included items noted in the adoption contract