"Taco"
STATUS: Available - Apply to Adopt!
Arrived in NZCR care: 25 July 2020.
DOB: 2 years old (DOB: 15/10/2018).
Sex: Male.
Breed: Chihuahua - Smooth Coat
De-Sexed: Yes
Micro-chipped: Yes
Registered with NZCAR: Yes
Vaccinated: Yes.
DogsNZ (NZKC): No
Council Registered: Yes - Christchurch City Council (2020/2021 membership).
Cat Friendly: Yes.
Child Friendly: No.
Human Sociable: No - see below.
Dog Sociable: Yes
* TBC = "To be confirmed"
Background:
Taco is a private surrender from the South Island. Taco's family were very sad to surrender him, however they feel they have tried everything (including dog trainers) to make Taco feel more confident and happy. They have now made the selfless decision to surrender Taco and entrust him to us to assist him.
We have been working with Taco in care for some time, he is now at the stage where we need to find him his forever family, who can apply the finishing touches and continue the work at home. Taco was surrendered due to extreme anxiety and fear-aggressive behaviors.
Personality:
Taco is a happy and playful dog, who loves his toys and going out in the car or for a walk. His favorite thing in the world is sleeping under the covers in your bed at night or under a blanket on the couch (this relaxes and calms him, and is one of the things an adopter will need to continue). He walks well on lead. His best friend is the cat. He gets on well with small dogs, but bigger dogs intimidate him. He is an independent dog but quite smoochy when he decides he wants a cuddle.
Taco has previously suffered from anxiety and fear-aggressive behaviors. He will now tolerate visitors to the home. But he is fine meeting people outside of the home. Although he still needs to be supervised around new people and under effective voice control at all times as he can still be nippy if given the opportunity. Once he has met someone a few times he will make friends with them and be quite affectionate.
Taco is house-trained. However he does suffer from submissive urination, which if not dealt with correctly, will cause a dog to spiral into perpetual anxiety. This has nothing to do with his toilet training. This is an involuntary response, and therefore managing it requires a dog to be handled in a very specific manner, and his adopter will need to continue with this process until Taco is sufficiently confident enough to get past it. As an example, Taco does not like to be picked up so this is something that needs to be minimized. (Full instructions and ongoing support by NZCR will be provided). Please review the following and understand that these techniques will be required for some time: https://nzchihuahuarescue.co.nz/breed-information/f/submissive-urination---how-do-i-stop-this
Taco is looking for a home where his new owner can continue to implement the techniques that have resolved his anxiety and reduced his submissive urination triggers. He would also benefit from being rehomed with a stable, confident, and calm small dog. He needs a calm and predictable environment that can provide him with a consistent routine, and not too much stimulation. A single person or couple would be ideal, but no children. Any potential adopter will need to be prepared to spend time with Taco prior to taking him home, so that he knows you and is comfortable in your presence.
Health:
Taco has received his preliminary check with our vet in December 2020 and was vaccinated up to date.
Taco has been flea and wormed while in Trust care (we do so every 3 months). He is de-sexed, micro-chipped and his details added to the NZCAR database.
Help Us Help Taco!
New Zealand Chihuahua Rescue is a New Zealand Registered Charity run completely by volunteers. Nobody is paid to participate in our Rescue and 100% of the profits go back into the dogs in our care and community dogs needing assistance. We receive no public funding or grants. Our entire income to assist these dogs is derived from kind donations, sponsorship and fundraising projects. We are always short of money and it impacts how many dogs we can assist as each dog that comes into care needs some form of medical and/or behavioral assistance! Dogs that remain in care for some time also require quite a bit of financial resources from the Trust.
If you could help Taco by donating to the cause, small or large, any amount helps! Please also contact us for a receipt and you can recieve 33.33% of your donation back from the IRD!
Donations can be made via:
The New Zealand Chihuahua Rescue Westpac Trust Account:
03-0823-0074502-000Ref:
"Taco"
By credit or debit card to our GiveALittle:
https://givealittle.co.nz/org/nz-chihuahua-rescue-trust
Adopter Requirements:
- Taco is strictly for adoption within the Canterbury area as he will require the support of our team to integrate into his new home. Please do not apply from other parts of New Zealand.
- Taco needs an owner who is experienced in the care of rescue dogs and committed to training. You must have sound dog knowledge and experience. Taco is looking for a home where his new owner can continue to implement the techniques that have resolved his anxiety and reduced his submissive urination triggers. We would also suggest utilizing a trainer (we have one we can recommend) to assist with integration.
- Ideally, another small breed dog in the home with an "alpha" personality would be the best fit for Taco. A submissive dog would not be suitable as a companion for Taco. He would be fine as a solo dog.
- No full time workers. Taco requires an Adopter who is (very) part time, retired yet active or working from home (permanently).
- Must have a fully fenced back yard with no holes or gaps.
- Taco needs a calm and predictable environment that can provide him with a consistent routine, and not too much stimulation
- A single person or couple would be ideal, but no small children, under say 10 years of age.
- If you are looking for a dog that is human-social to take to events and gatherings, Taco would not be a match for you. He is loving to those he knows, but wary of people he doesn't know. He would not be suitable to take to a busy social gathering, or office environment.
Please note: Taco will require integration assistance from the NZCR team. Any potential adopter will need to be prepared to spend time with Taco prior to taking him home on trial, so that he knows you and is comfortable in your presence
NOTE: Before applying for our dogs, please do read the above adopter requirements and ensure that you meet these. We are very clear about the homes we are seeking. We set the adopter requirements after consultation with the foster carers and consideration of the dogs, needs, welfare and personality. They are strict requirements - no exceptions. Please do not submit an application if you do not meet the above, we will simply respond to confirm the application is declined. Unfortunately, at times this has been the case and we have had to disappoint prospective adopters. This is why we are clear about our requirements prior and note them above.
Adoption Fee:
$500.00
NOTE ON THE ADOPTION FEES AND TRIALS: Our adoption fees are determined by taking into account age of the dog, overall health and funds expended to date on that particular dog. The trust uses these adoption fee funds on: desexing surgery, micro-chip and NZCAR registration, vaccines, Council registration, flea and worm treatments, plus any other essentials dogs require such as specialist medications or food, blood-testing, orthopedic surgeries etc. and any other dog disposables required for dogs in care. Please note: sorry we do not accept payment plans, as we need to be sure adopters are able to financially support dogs prior to adoption - sorry, no exceptions. Please note: the deposit needs to be made to the trust account prior to the changeover date of the dog going on trial. We do not accept cash payments on the date. The full100% of all adoption fees go towards the dogs in the care of the Trust.