"Gwen"

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Overview:

• Arrived in NZCR care: 25/10/2024
• Date of Birth: 11/07/2021
• Gender: Female
• Breed: Chihuahua - Medium Coat
• De-Sexed: Yes
• Micro-chipped: No - to be completed.
• Registered with NZCAR: TBC.
• Vaccinated: Yes
• DogsNZ (NZKC): No
• Council Registered: Yes - Christchurch City Council.
• Cat Friendly: TBC - untested.
• Child Friendly: 8 years and older.
• Human Sociable: With support, please read below.
• Dog Sociable: With support, please read below.

* TBC = "To be confirmed" 

Background:

• Gwen came into care with her parents, Joey and Narla, alongside two sisters, Lucky and Poppy. Each dog is with a seperate foster parent and we anticipate they will be adopted individually (at this stage).

• Gwen's former owner described her as: "Gwen is the perfect small and mighty girl. She’s the smallest of them all (approx.  2.3kg) but definitely the toughest. She’s extremely shy but once she knows you love her she won’t leave your lap - she’s honestly the biggest sweetheart. Unsure if social with other dogs."

• Gwen is said to be toilet-trained and able to use pee-pads. However all 5 dogs have been living outside for a while so we will reintroduce and reinforce their toilet training.

• All 5 dogs have lived in a home with six children and a large breed dog. They've not been tested with cats or lived  with any at their prior home. Gwen is being fostered with one other Chihuahua at present.

Personality and Behaviour:

• Gwen is described as "so lovely and affectionate and loves a  cuddle". With assistance on building her confidence and social skills, she will make a lovely companion.

• Gwen can be wary when meeting new people. But she does love affection and      attention so with some time, patience and practice in socialising, Gwen will be able to become more confident and social.

• Gwen is currently being fostered alongside another female Chihuahua. While she was initially fearful and  reactive during their first interactions, her foster mum took a slow, structured approach—and now they’re the best of friends. Gwen can be a bit      more boisterous and playful than her foster sister, but she’s learning to read social cues and adjust her behaviour.
  
   
• It’s likely Gwen didn’t receive much training or socialisation outside the home in her previous environment, which explains her initial fearfulness. However, once she feels safe and relaxed, she genuinely enjoys the company of other small breed dogs. She      has always lived with other dogs and continues to build confidence through      positive interactions.

• When it comes to her sharing the affection and attention of her human, Gwen is      possessive if other dogs approach while she is sitting on a lap. We are working on this in foster care as it can spark issues with other dogs in the home. With time, patience and firm boundaries, this can be worked on.

• Gwen also exhibits quite a lot of "appeasing" behaviours - for example: she might lick excessively, roll on her back, shake/shiver and wags her tail like she’s unsure. Gwen will need an owner able to discourage these negative behaviours that feed her anxiety.

• As with many rescue dogs, Poppy, Narla, Gwen, and Lucky may show some possessiveness around food, toys, personal space, or people—particularly when they’re feeling unsure or overstimulated. This behaviour is manageable with clear boundaries, consistent structure, and ongoing training.

• Any existing dogs in the home should be well-socialised and non-reactive to resource guarding. We recommend  supervised interactions and using crates during mealtimes or when high-value items (like treats) are involved to help prevent any disputes.      Each of these dogs has made great progress with socialisation in care, and with the right support, we’re confident they’ll continue to thrive.

• Gwen can also be a “bit funny” around food and often reluctant to eat. A strict      feeding routine will be helpful in addressing this aspect.

• Gwen’s crate training is under way. Initially, when placed inside the crate, she      would make noises for around an hour before settling. But once settled, will sleep through the night easily. We will continue with the crate-training to ensure she is more comfortable with it before transitioning to her forever home.

• While we were initially advised that Gwen is toilet trained, as she has been living outside at her prior home, this is being reinforced at present. Gwen needs to be re-taught this routine but with time, consistency and patience (plus a little positive reinforcement) all should go well!

• When Gwen first went to her foster home, she would “turn into a statue” once her lead was on. With her foster mum encouraging her and her foster sister alongside her, she is now happy walking and being outside the home in general.

• After her first month in care, Gwen’s foster mum said, “Gwen has definitely improved in a few areas. She’s confident and comfortable being walked now and loves being out and about. Gwen is getting better with possessive behaviour with her ‘human’ unless it’s around food. But will happily share the lap with [my own dog]. The crate and toilet training will be a work in progress I imagine, along with her eating. But overall she’s doing great and honestly just such a gorgeous happy and sweet little dog, anyone who really wants that company and affection will adore her!”

Health: 

• Gwen attended our vet on 13.11.2024 and was vaccinated up to date. 
• Gwen then underwent her desex on 21.11.2024, before being cleared as medically ready to adopt.
• Note: All dogs from NZCR are adopted only after being medically cleared by our vet, desexed, vaccinated, microchipped (registered with the NZ Companion Animal Register and local Council), and treated for fleas and worms.

Adopter Requirements: 

Note: Before applying to adopt, please ensure you meet the adopter requirements listed above. These guidelines are set with the dogs' needs in mind, based on input from foster carers. If you do not meet these requirements, your application will be declined as there are no exceptions. Please review the criteria carefully. Thank you! 

• While local Canterbury-based applications are preferable, Gwen may be a candidate for an out-of-town adoption, provided their adopter meetsall thee below requirements and can travel to Christchurch to meet Gwen and her foster family his is non-negotiable—please do not inquire about exceptions. If you cannot meet this requirement, you will need to contact your local dog rescues instead.

• Gwen needs an owner with plenty of weekday availability. Gwen is not suitable for full-time (out-of-home) workers but can be left alone for short periods if her owner works part-time or takes her to work after she adjusts to her adoption. Gwen is an ideal companion for someone who works from home or is retired but active.

• Like all of our Chihuahuas, Gwen’s adopter will need a secure home. This includes a fenced in area with NO holes or gaps. This includes rural properties. You must at least have a fenced in, safe backyard to ensure she/he cannot escape (especially earlier on in the trial). 

• Any kids in the home must be over 6-7 years old and be doggy knowledgeable (so as not to overwhelm her). Gwen has lived with children prior, but can be wary of them.

• Gwen would be best with another small breed dog or Chihuahua, provided the other dog isn’t possessive and tolerant. After a week of grumpiness, Gwen bonded very closely to her foster sister (a chihuahua). Ensuring she continues to socialise with other dogs and correcting her possessiveness requires ongoing commitment from the adopter.

• Gwen has not been cat-tested. However, we would consider a home with dog-savvy cats that are experienced with living alongside dogs. Please carefully assess whether your cat would adapt well to sharing their home with a dog.

• Gwen requires an experienced dog owner who is confident managing her possessiveness and committed to ongoing training with this.  Gwen needs ongoing socialisation and training; hence, she is not suitable for first-time dog owners.  

Adoption Fee: $600.00 to be paid to the NZCR trust account no. 03-0823-0074502-000 

Note: Our adoption fees reflect the dog’s age, health, and care needs. They cover microchipping (NZCAR registration), vaccinations, de-sexing, current-year council registration, and any necessary treatments, including flea/worm treatments, medications, surgeries (e.g., dental), and food. Payment plans are not available, as adopters must show financial readiness for the expense that comes with pet ownership. Click below for more details on our adoption process.