"Honey"

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Overview:

Arrived in NZCR care: 20 June 2025

Date of Birth: Approx. 2023.

Gender: Female

Breed: Chihuahua (Long Coat)

De-Sexed: Yes.

Micro-chipped: Yes.

Registered with NZCAR: Yes.

Vaccinated: Yes.

DogsNZ (NZKC): No.

Council Registered: Yes - Christchurch City Council.

Cat Friendly: Has lived with a cat prior and suitable for dog-confident cats only.

Child Friendly: Suitable for 6 years and older who are doggy knowledgeable. 

Human Sociable: Yes.

Dog Sociable: Yes.

* TBC = "To be confirmed" 

Personality:

• Honey's prior owner says that she enjoys her home comforts and has lived with children, large dogs, and a cat previously.  Honey's foster mum says, "she definitely loves cuddles. Probably wouldn't describe her as easy-going."

• Honey must have another playful small breed dog in the home and is not suitable to be a solo dog in the home. Honey thrives when paired with positive doggy-role models, and this highlights the importance of selecting the right home for her. In her foster home, Honey is living with cats, other small dogs, and chickens without issue. Ideally, Honey will be paired with an existing dog who is confident, well-adjusted and playful. An older, less energetic dog would not be a match for her, as she’s likely to overwhelm them. She is very impressionable and tends to copy the habits of the surrounding dogs. For example, if she lives with a reactive or overly barky dog, she is likely to adopt those behaviours unless they are managed by the owner.

• Honey's foster mum says, "Honey is such a sweet little dog…. She  seems to have had little experience of the outside world, which means that she could easily adopt good [or] bad behaviour [from her chosen adopter/household]. During Honey's time with us, she has improved in many ways [and] has more room to improve with ongoing training and a good role model."

• Honey is initially cautious of strangers entering the home. However, if ignored initially, then offered treats, she will quickly begin to warm up, happily accepting chin scratches and head pats!  Her foster mum says, "once she builds up courage to approach you, she's all over you like a rash. Honey will follow you everywhere and can get under your feet."

• Her foster mum says that she feels Honeys needs are "a lot of it is confidence, as in she has very little." They will attend a small dog playgroup weekly with her so that she is given the opportunity, they are working on her getting used to sounds such as opening doors, cupboards or any loud noises. Honey is very clever and food motivated, making her easy to teach. Honey already knows commands such as "sit, up, no and come here"

Health: 

• Honey was fully assessed by our vet on 22 June 2025. She currently weighs 3kg and ideally needs to gain a little more (around 3.5kg). Honey had her vaccinations updated at the same time. The vet noted mild tartar, which does not require a dental at this stage, and a luxating patella on her left side. These are both common in toy breeds, so we encourage adopters to familiarise themselves with these conditions if not already aware. 

• Honey was desexed, vaccinated and microchipped on 29th September 2025 and recovered well. Initially she was booked in June 2025 but unfortunately came into heat so we have waited a period to ensure it is safe to rebook her.

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: 

• Location: Honey is to be adopted preferably within Christchurch (where NZCR are based),  or the South Island (provided the applicant meets her other adoption requirements) and can travel to Christchurch to meet Honey and her foster family. **Note: this is non-negotiable, so please do not inquire about exceptions. If you cannot meet this requirement, you will need to contact your local dog rescues instead.**

• Daytime Companionship: Honey is not suitable as a solo dog in the home. Honey requires  at least one other (playful) small breed dog in the home. Her ideal doggy companion would be confident, well-adjusted and playful. Please note: an older, less energetic dog would not be a match for her, as she’s likely to overwhelm and annoy them. 

• Fencing: Honey MUST have a secure, fully-contained home in future — she's a bit of an adventurer and can’t be trusted off-lead or around open gates at present and without further training. Her foster mum advises that she is "a climber as far as getting out goes." So she will require a well-fenced home to ensure her safety and training in this area. Honey should be inside, crated, if her owners are out to prevent escaping, fence climbing etc.

• Children: Any kids in the home must be over 7+ years old and be doggy knowledgeable. Children must be educated about dog behaviours and signals and able to give the adopted dog ample space.

• Schedule: Honey requires an owner with plenty of weekday availability, so someone who either works part-time, retired but very active, or who works permanently on a set schedule from home.  No full-time (out-of-home) workers will be considered. But someone who is based at home for work permanently would be suitable, of course. Chihuahuas are a companion breed, able to be left alone for short periods, but not for several hours, multiple days per week. 

• Work Environment: Honey's foster carer says that she is currently, "not a "take to work" dog outside of home) due to her ongoing nervousness, but that might change if her confidence builds up more and in time. Her future owner shouldn’t expect to take her to work for at least the first 6–8 months while she builds trust and settles in. It’s also important to have a backup plan in case she never feels comfortable in that environment, as she can’t be left alone for long periods. 

• Cats: Honey has lived with cats prior and would be fine with confident cats who are used to living with dogs. Please consider prior whether your cat is likely to be accepting of a dog in their space, or lived with dogs before. Fearful cats may require some training alongside the dog, which is a commitment the Adopter needs to be prepared for.

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! 

Adoption Fee: $650.00 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.