ADOPTED
Single, blonde, slightly past ‘middle aged’ female with big, doe-like eyes seeks a lifelong companion to enjoy life’s comforts with. Of course, in this case we are talking about one adorable 8.5yr old Chihuahua in a 6.5 lb body! Meet Liza, who was named after the one and only Liza Minnelli since they both share those warm, slightly mischievous and expressive eyes that will melt your heart. If you are looking for a gentle, somewhat independent but also devoted little companion who is all about her person, keep reading…she might just be the girl for you.
Liza came to us in mid-July after one of her family members had passed away and her remaining owner could no longer care for her. She found herself in a pound in Quebec and was very overwhelmed by the environment. She shook like a leaf the entire time and was scared to even leave her bed. As stressful as this was for her, she never showed any aggression, she instead turned into more of a turtle, tucking herself away and trying to avoid any physical or even eye contact. We found her and brought her into the care of Pound Dog to give this girl a chance to take a deep breath, mourn the loss of her family and begin to find joy again. It took awhile for her to come out of her shell, but she has done that and shown to be quite a lovely and loving companion who is now ready to find the family that will be with her until the end.
In the home, Liza is a very well mannered, quiet and easy to live with companion. She is not at all destructive, rarely lets out a peep unless it’s mealtime, you are winding her up during play or you are returning home after an absence during the day. She easily quiets down when you ask her to because at the end of the day she is a people pleaser and just wants to make you happy, she’s a very sensitive and soft girl and is truly upset if she thinks she upset you. She could live in attached housing as long as your neighbours can be patient with a few mins of her barking in these scenarios, if not, a detached home is going to be a better fit. Liza will do best in a calm, quiet adult home without a lot of noise and activity as she is a more laid back, somewhat introverted girl. She will also require patience as she comes out of her shell with you. It’s going to take her time to realize you are safe and can be trusted, but she is so worth the wait. Once she opens up to you, she will make your heart want to explode with all the ways she gives you gentle affection and looks at you like you are the only thing that matters in her world, because you really are. She isn’t much of a lap dog right now, but she likes to be near you and touching you and sometimes likes to crawl up onto your chest to lay down and snuggle. Once she does that, you know you aren’t moving anytime soon! She is housetrained and crate trained, but she does want you to be proactive in getting her out every couple of hours so would definitely appreciate someone that isn’t away from home for 8 or 10 hrs straight, her little bladder just can’t hold it that long right now.
Outside of the home, Liza loves her walks! She isn’t a super speedy walker, but she isn’t a leisurely stroll kind of dog either. She can keep up at a good pace and a 2km walk (approx. 20-30min) twice a day meets her needs just fine. She is intimidated by larger dogs and really wants to avoid them when she is out and about. If they get too close, she will get reactive in an effort to keep them away from her. She isn’t lunging after them but she can be barky. As long as you give her ample space she tends to ignore them. With little dogs, she does well but truth be told, she could take them or leave them. Liza lives with a few small dogs now and although she gets along with them, she can be the ‘fun police’ sometimes and isn’t up for rambunctious shenanigans. She has been found cuddling in a bed with them when everyone is just chilling out and relaxing. If Liza is to live with another dog, it needs to be one who is content to live alongside her and not expect her to engage in wrestling matches or games of chase, but is happy to have a walking companion and sometimes cuddle buddy. Needy, in your face dogs will get a quick talking to from her! That being said, she is all vocal and has never tried to actually make contact with a dog.
Liza has learned to enjoy car rides and makes a great travel buddy. At first she was quite nervous and would lay down and avoid looking out the window, but she has since discovered the car booster seat and she has really come to enjoy it. She hops up into the car now on her own and likes to watch the world go by on her excursions. Once she has had enough of that, she curls up in the seat and sleeps the rest of the trip. You will hardly if ever hear a peep out of her.
In terms of toys, Liza really doesn’t get them, but she does enjoy a game of hide and seek with you, or to chase you around the yard once she gains that comfort level with you. Although she isn’t the most playful dog, she does like her adventures and if you are looking for someone to hit a trail with or to find new places to explore, Liza is your girl. She also thoroughly enjoys her time at home, cuddled up on the couch beside you and enjoying a quiet night in. And if you have a heated blanket, all the better!
In terms of health, Liza did have a urinary tract infection that was undiagnosed and was causing her some issues when she came in. This is all cleared up now and is no longer a concern. She also had a dental surgery done where she lost one bad molar. She does have some other teeth on the watch list and did have some periodontal disease. We have treated this and she is in the clear at this time, but her future family needs to know she will require another dental surgery down the road, like most small dogs do. She needs to stay on a high quality kibble and be provided with dental chews to help keep her oral health in check. Liza has been good for grooming in her foster home and although it was stated she did not tolerate nail trims, her foster Mom has been able to keep her nails trimmed with no issues at all. She was also an absolute champ at the vet and she had to have some pretty invasive things occur, but she was so gentle and trusting the vet remarked how absolutely sweet she was through it all. The name of the game with Liza is a calm, slow and steady approach to build her trust as you work through these scary things with her.
Liza is such an easy, endearing dog to live with. She asks nothing of you except for your love, affection, quality time and a few moderate walks a day. Once she warms up and that soft soul of hers opens up, she bonds deeply, is so very devoted and an absolute gem to have in your life. She just wants to be home for good so that in her sunset years, she will never find herself without a family again. She is worth all of your patience and kindness because she is going to give it back to you tenfold. If you think you can be her ride or die until the end, drop us a line, Liza would love to hear from you.