Meet Zero - courtesy post - adopted
Zero is a cute guy looking for a forever home. Here are some facts about him from his person:
Zero Basics
- Jack Russell/Basenji mix
- Approximate birthdate 7/1/16 (15 months old)
- ~23 lbs
- Not on medication for any diseases
- Up to date vaccines
- Vet vist 10/20/17
- House trained (only accidents in last 6 months have been stress related)
- Crate trained (can be told to go “home” any time; doesn’t mind)
Food
- ⅓ cup dry food 3x / day
- Food motivated and loves to eat
- Loves “people food” --- bananas, strawberries, and dry oatmeal are his favorite
- Trained to sit before eating, “okay” to start eating
- Not food possessive
- Begs with his eyes and by hovering but rarely takes food that isn’t his
Bathroom
- Well house trained
- Understands “bathroom” to pee during each walk
- He prefers every 2.5-3 hrs., used to every 4 hour cycle during work week; has gone as long as 8 hours without accident
- If there is distraction/stimulus, can be particular about where he goes (likes routine)
- Excellent about communicating (mostly non-verbally) when he needs to go out
Personality
- Very energetic, always wants to play & be involved; frequent “zoomies”
- Extremely intelligent & willing to learn new tricks. Learns quickly and will do ‘high value’ tricks just to get more treats. Rarely frustrated by training process
- When calm, generally very obedient except for bathtime!
- Very sweet and caring, very sad/apologetic when you disappoint him and he knows
- Incredibly loyal and always checking on every member of the “group” that he is with
- Loves watching the outside world (windows/balconies with a sun spot are his favorite)
- Loves tug of war, tearing cardboard or rope toys, playing fetch
- Knows “drop it”
- Usually knows how to differentiate “toy” from “box” (cardboard)
- Can be told to “go get” toy or box
- Loves to sleep cuddled up with you on a couch at the end of the evening
- Loves new friends (will jump on them to say hello) and is very energized by guests
- Generally, obedient to humans he hasn’t met but who give him commands/walk habits he recognizes
- Very “pawsy” and in your face with his affection (he likes licking your mouth more than any other place) and will let you know when he wants some love
- Easy to get into a playful mode if you catch him in a rare moment of relaxing- always up for excitement
- Really liked hiking but didn’t love the water (refused to go in passed his knees and hates baths)
Training Tools
- Loose Leash walking to your left
- Constant reinforcement of “yes” and feeding him as he stays by your side or looks back
- If he pulls to the end of the leash, you stop & he will return to your left side most times automatically
- “With me” command if he is distracted or not returning to your side
- “This Way” while walking him, he will turn 180 degrees with you and walk in other direction
- “Find It” game to pull his distraction back to you/the ground
- “Relax on a mat” game to calm him down during specific incidents at home or general calmness training
- Initial muzzle training in progress
Tricks
- Sit (closed fist)
- Stay (open palm hand)
- Down (horizontal hand motion down to the ground)
- Come
- Touch (palm of hand extended out to him, will touch his nose to it)
- Off (when jumping on people - not his strongest)
- Left/Right (when sitting - instead of “paw”. Knows when calm, less so when distracted and will just flail his best guess)
- Spin (counterclockwise)
- Other way (clockwise spin)
- Yoga (does downward dog)
- Crawl (after down, doesn’t love to do this one)
Challenges and Reactivity
- Very reactive to other dogs, with barking, yanking on leash; might snap at anything close by (calves, the leash, etc.); remains agitated for 15-30 minutes
- Can be picked up carefully but will still be reactive in your arms
- Remembers where he has seen other dogs and focuses intently on them when reintroduced to the area
- If there are smells of other dogs or significant stimulus he will be difficult on the leash and only occasionally return to ‘loose leash’ form
- Whines and yelps if he hears or sees someone he knows, but can’t say hi or if there is a group of people he wants to join
- Barks at noises in apartment hallway/knocks on the door
- Can be mouthy while playing, especially with new people
- Rarely more than playful chewing
- While playing tug of war can bite too hard when he’s worked up
- Jumps on everyone and difficult to calm as they enter
Perfect Home
- He must be the only pet
- His new person(s) must have time and willingness to keep training
- They should continue his crate training and muzzle training
- He has a lot of energy, needs to be able to burn it off through safe and consistent exercise
- Low stimulus house/neighborhood significantly better than an apartment/condo or a city location
- A fenced-in backyard would be ideal
For more info, contact Michael: bologna.michael@gmail.com; or Bex: bex@noblebeastdogtraining.com