UPDATE on Charlie: we were so lucky to secure a place for Charlie with a trainer that has spent the last couple of months working on his manners and good structure! He will soon be debuting his new attitude complete with all of the new things he has learned. We are seeking applicants ready to take Charlie on in their home. He will come with a lesson from his trainer to get him established in his new home -- and his trainer (and foster mom) will only be a phone call away for any questions or when needs arise. Charlie is a GREAT dog and we are so glad we have been able to give him the chance to bloom right where he was planted.
Charlie got the golden ticket into rescue -- and it is a GOOD thing he did, because he needed structure and boundaries to guide him! You see Charlie is a chiweenie (chihuahua/dachshund mix) that landed in the home of a single older woman at the much too young an age of 6 weeks when he was acquired off of Craigslist. From the beginning the cards were stacked against this boy - taken from his mom and litter too soon; landing in the home of a senior that was not able to take him for walks or work with his socialization that he lacked being taken too soon from his family; and being 2 breeds that can get quite sassy if allowed!
Charlie is a 10 lb guy with unique coat coloration and a very cute little mohawk. In the right home, Charlie is very little issue 99% of the time (we will get to that 1% of the time in a minute) and is a normal bouncing little puppy that you would never suspect had a bad beginning! Charlie LOVES to play with the other small dogs in his foster home and loves all of the humans in his foster home as well. Charlie is extremely smart and learns very fast - which is both a blessing and a curse (because he often is too smart for his own good). Charlie is mostly housetrained but does need someone that will keep him on a consistent schedule. Speaking of consistency - Charlie needs LOTS of consistency, routine and boundaries. Charlie is great with small dogs, cats and "his" people. Charlie is crate trained and loves to go for walks!
Now that 1% of the time (which can feel like 90% if you are not dog savvy and able to keep Charlie in line) - Charlie does resource guard his bed, sofa and even the big bed from other dogs at times (not always). He will sometimes lunge at other dogs and bite them (even his dog friends) if he is in a guarding mood. In his foster home, Charlie is not allowed on the sofa or big bed for sleeping because he cannot kindly share it with other dogs. Most of the time he understands these rules - sometimes (as puppies do) he tests the rules so he needs some gentle reminders that he cannot share so he belongs on the dog bed instead! Charlie also is TERRIBLE at allowing new people into his home (kind of comes with the territory of resource guarding) and needs some good firm structure around when new people enter the home. He is either crated when new people come over or kept on a leash with firm guidance for new people to ignore him until he calms himself down (which he will do).
Charlie is not everyone's cup of tea - we get that he will need a home ready for a quirky pup that has some behavior problems. He is THRIVING in his foster home and starting some obedince training which we know will help him soar! Charlie can, will and has bitten in his previous situation so we will not be allowing him to go to a home with children under the age of 12 years of age. Charlie's new home MUST be extremely dog savvy and ready to have a puppy that tests the limits of pack order. Once given some time to adjust, Charlie really likes most any dog and he actually prefers to be part of a little pack because they boost his confidence.
For the smoothest transition it would be best to have a local adopter to Greensboro NC where Charlie is fostered so that training assistance can be provided and a slower introduction can be done to aid in his transition. But other locations are considered for the right fit ready to tackle this adorable boy! Charlie really is a neat little dog - he has the BEST head tilts in all the world and his foster mom said he came equipped with satellite dishes instead of ears on his head! Charlie LOVES toys and his people - he gets so excited when everyone gets home because he knows it equals more attention for him. Charlie is truly what rescue is all about -- saving the ones that have not the best behavior and are in need of better guidance. He is the kind of stone that most of the world would not stop to polish to see it shine -- but shine he is doing in the right hands. Charlie has LOTS of love to give (tons in fact) and we know that the perfect home with a Charlie-sized hole is just waiting to win this golden egg!
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