ADOPTED
Meet McCoy, an eight-year-old Shih Tzu who came to us after spending years in a puppy mill. After 8 years in a horrible place, he was quite traumatized when he arrived. He has slowly been coming out of his shell and turning into a loveable quiet cuddle bug. He has adapted to life as a house dog now and is ready to find his forever home. McCoy weighs 15lbs and is now a nice healthy boy.
When we first met him, he refused to take food or even treats from us, but now he really does enjoy a treat and his regular meals. He can even chew up a Greenie. His teeth were in terrible shape so along with a neuter he also needed a dentistry. Thankfully McCoy still has most of his teeth and is feeling much better after his front teeth were removed. He is learning how to pick up toys and food again and will soon be a regular champion.
McCoy is crate trained, and generally won’t bark in the crate, unless the day was really boring. He needs a good walk every night, and a second one during the day would be nice. He has the power to go long distances as he walks with his foster brother and sister who are much larger, but he also enjoys slower walks with lots of sniffing and reading of peemail. He is a moderate energy dog and doesn’t need hugely long walks, but after 8 years never getting outside or stretching his legs, he does love to be out exploring the world and would like a couple of good walks a day.
McCoy is suited to most living situations. He would be fine in an apartment, condo or house as long as he gets his walks. He would do well with another mature, gentle dog but would also be fine with being the only dog in the home. He has yet to meet a cat or notice the cats in the neighbourhood, so we don’t know what he would think of them. We can’t imagine he would have an issue with a cat. He did meet a giant possum by surprise which he just stared at with a cocked head curiously.
McCoy likes to rest in quieter places and observe the world. His favourite places are under a couch or a piano bench, preferably if there are lots of fluffy blankets to settle into. He likes a den like feel for his spots to relax. He will settle gently into a person’s lap on a couch or large chair if there is room, and if he really likes you, you might get a gentle kiss. He likes a peaceful and quiet home without a lot of comings and goings. McCoy is house trained, but will have an accident in the house if his humans do not take him out often enough so his people will need to be cognizant of the fact that he needs regular potty breaks throughout the day. He doesn’t know how to let you know that he has to go so his people need to take the lead on this and let him out regularly and supervise him in the home.
As with most Shih Tzu’s, McCoy likes to sound the alarm when anyone enters the room he is in, but this is usually done with a wildly wagging tail and the expectations of conversation and/or a little rub. He will let you know if he feels threatened, but is more likely to run and hide before defending himself.
He also likes being close to other quiet dogs, and will even have the occasional play. His small size doesn’t slow him down when he wants to tussle with his Wheaten Terrier foster sister. There is a heart of gold buried in this little fellow, and given his past traumas it’s been wonderful to see him start strutting on walks with his tail held proud in the air. He is building confidence.
Training will need to continue. He knows how to sit, but he lacks consistency. He’s pretty good on a leash, and will work hard to keep up with the walking pack. Additional training is going to be needed as well as some patience to help him through the process. Up until now, he had no need to work on these skills so he is playing catch up.
McCoy is great in the car, and would like to work the pedals, so please get him a doggie seat belt or have him in a carrier in the car. He also really enjoys watching out the windows. There is a lot of potential here for doggie trips, and there are some wonderful car baskets designed for smaller dogs to see and sniff the world as they travel with their humans. He would love to be your travel companion and see the world with his person.
McCoy is looking for his happily ever after with a loving family. Could this be you?