Zelda the Dog
Age: 4
Fixed (Spayed/Neutered)? Yes
Declawed? Not Applicable
Weight: 25 lbs
Indoor? Yes
Microchipped? Yes
City in which animal is located: Ypsilanti
Rehoming fee? No
Please note: This is a courtesy listing on HSHV’s site. This animal is available through a private individual, NOT HSHV. For questions, please contact the individual below, not HSHV. Thank you!
Zelda is a playful and loving girl with anxiety. She has both social and separation anxiety that are being worked on and managed as much as possible. She is reactive to dogs on leash, but loves playing with other dogs and makes dog friends when she is able to be off leash with them in fenced yards and contained spaces. She would do best in a home with a playful dog that can help her get her energy out and that she can look to for guidance. She is an in-bed and under-the-covers sleeper with her humans.
She is incredibly wary of new people and strangers and takes some time to trust you, but when she does, she will fall absolutely in love with you. Typically this process is faster for women and children and when another dog is around that can show her the person is to be trusted. Allowing her to approach you at her own pace and limiting eye contact until she is comfortable, while giving/throwing treats, has worked best in the past. She is a nervous girl and will bark at unexpected noises, door knocks, or neighbors being loud, and does best in a location with minimal neighborhood noise. This has improved greatly over time and may continue to improve as she adjusts.
She gets along great with one of her two cat siblings (snuggling and playing) and while she continues to try and play with the other cat who isn’t a fan of her, she can be redirected. They do co-exist peacefully (sleeping separately on the same couch, etc.) when Zelda is not looking to play. When meeting new potential cat friends, Zelda gets very excited and needs positive reinforcement for being calm around them and redirection towards treats until then. She has been able to do this and make friends/stay calm around cats at her human friends’ houses.
She requires daily walks and enrichment for her energy levels at home, but when paired with another dog her needs are much more manageable. When we walk we try to go to locations with minimal dogs and are working on redirecting the leash reactivity with treats (usually string cheese or chicken jerky).
If you are interested in adopting Zelda, please contact Zach at 269-569-4682 or zwood425@gmail.com. This animal is listed as a courtesy on our site, but is available through this individual. For questions, please contact the individual listed, not HSHV. Thank you!