Winnie & Rizzo Chihuahua Mix Newark, OH

WINNIE
Breed: Min Pin Mix
Color: Black Age: 6-8 10 years
Gender: Female, Spayed Size: 9-10 lbs.
House-trained: yes
Crate trained: yes
Good with Kids: yes
Good with Dogs: yes, concerns with dogs much larger than her
Good with Cats: unknown
Concerns: nip concerns as learning to trust

RIZZO
Breed: Small Breed Mix
Color: Black & Tan
Age: 6-8 years
Gender: male, neutered
Size: 9-10 lbs.
House-trained: yes
Crate trained: yes
Good with Kids: yes
Good with Dogs: yes
Good with Cats: unknown
Concerns: Digger outside, escape concerns when in new environment

Winnie and Rizzo are a bonded pair, it is possible they are mother-son and should be adopted together. They spend quite a bit of downtime snuggled and intertwined. They are well-behaved and are not overly energetic; they love lounge time but will play well for short bursts. They are fairly small and don’t need a ton of space to run and play if supplemented routinely with good walks and do well on a leash. After an initial grace period, they could do well in apartment or shared wall living, but they do alert quite well for critters, people new to the house, and loud noises. They do well in a crate together and currently use one when home alone and for bedtime. They have learned to play with toys in rescue, and use their little teeth to shred toys, but have not chewed anything that was not intended for them. Small toys that squeak are favorites and treats that take time to break down and chew they do well with. They are happy to cuddle with you on furniture and in bed, and with a blanket overtop, they will burrow for long periods of settled time. They do have a decent prey drive and love to sniff out creature paths and dig when they catch a scent. They have both been fully vetted, with no major concerns, and have been spay/neutered and received dentals. They both lost a good number of teeth, but once healed it was like it never happened. They eat kibble, treats, and play with toys just fine.
Winnie has changed and grown the most in foster. She is very sweet and has learned to love affection. She takes time to trust and does not want to disappoint or get yelled at. At first, she will oversee Rizzo like a mother-hen, but once trust and boundaries are established, she’s happy to focus on her own wants (pets and cuddles). She won’t leave Rizzo’s side on the occasion that he has escaped, and she’ll follow, which is true of how they were found and came into rescue. A reinforced fence is a must if they will be semi-independent in their new home yard.
Winnie’s adopter will need to be understanding about her mouth fears. Most likely she experienced pain with the poor condition of her mouth when she came into rescue. She is quick to snap when you restrain her head to try and brush her teeth, take away a toy she is focused on, or force a medication. As she trusts, this gets significantly better, and after some time, is non-existent. She has been soft muzzled at times during vet appointments with shots and nail clippings. Absent these very specific instances, her temperament is very patient and mild-mannered. Her adopter should explore anxiety or calming medication for stressful events such as vet visits in the long term. She has done well when exposed to young children. Adopters could easily manage her initial tendency to snap with good boundaries around approaching her mouth for those of all ages.
While Rizzo is learning a new home and boundaries, he should have a tracking device. He is currently using an Air-Tag on his collar. Rizzo is super lovable, a bit of a goofball, and all things scraggly. He is very jealous of other dogs getting attention. Absolutely no aggression, but he will worm his way to be the closest to anyone available for pets, blankets, and cuddles. He fits well in a lap and loves to be there. He can be a bit yappy for attention at times, and is well distracted by picking him up, or using a toy. The highlight of his day is playing fetch and keep away with his dental ball. Rizzo can be fairly itchy at times; he’s been taking OTC allergy medication in foster per vet recommendation and takes it well with food.
Winnie and Rizzo are being fostered in Newark, OH and the adoption fee for the pair is $700.00. They are spayed and neutered, up to date on shots, flea and tick, and microchipped. If interested in adopting this lovely pair, please submit an application via the following website: www.sophiasgracefoundation.org