About Saphira

Saphira: DOB: Unkown. Between 1 and 2 but vet believes closer to 2. Colors: Black and White with 'freckles' on her nose and blue eyes. Saphira is a sweet and loving girl that is full of life and energy. She is sassy too and loves to talk, especially when treats are involved. She is not fully used to being inside as, from my understanding, she was left outside most days. She is not destructive anymore either�'�|but still has an inclination to chew on something she's not supposed to. She is extremely smart and loves to please and seems to enjoy learning new things. She is not kennel trained either but we are making progress in this aspect. She seems to be housebroken now that her UTI is resolved and she's realized she's safe inside. We have gone all week without an accident in the house, but she is not allowed upstairs for long periods at a time. At first this was due to her being afraid of the stairs; she would not come down them. But now it's because she is capable of having an accident (more so at night) as if she stays upstairs she may not make it to the door in time to go outside. However, she is no longer afraid of the stairs and loves running up and down them right before bed. She is full of personality and it's never a dull moment with her around. She loves to travel and see new places, although she's not the best of car riders right now. So far her favorite place seems to be the beach. She really loved running on the sand and trying to chase the birds. She is a people person and enjoys meeting new people as well. She is a little skittish about meeting new dogs but usually warms up quickly and is ready to play. She is NOT good with cats and I only say this because she came across one at the vet office and a stray/feral cat (assumed) on a walk. She would not settle down nor listen to any command given (at first). Her fur was on end and she was growling and barking at the cat. Her prey drive is extremely high as well, which I think her age has a lot to do with it. She chases squirrels, rabbits, and birds when able but she is getting much better at stopping when told. So far she has been around children between the ages of 18 months to 5 years old. She is better with the older kids though. Not to the point of being rough but her excitement tends to get the best of her and she can knock over the younger ones easier. She loves giving kisses and ears are her favorite. We have been working on setting boundaries for this and it usually takes her about 20 to 40 minutes for her to start realizing it. Walks are no longer a challenge for her. She used to constantly pull but is slowly learning leash etiquette. She still has an inclination to walk in front with the leash taught, but not to the point where she's pulling you along. I have learned that on walks to carry duck treats (so far she responds best to these) and can easily redirect her attention when needed. She is not completely treat motivated but between this and praise, she learns new things quickly. She knows basic commands such as sit and lay down or down. She does know speak as well. We have been working on stay as she likes to push her way past doors. She is getting better at this each and every day. Overall she's an amazing girl that just wants to please. Someone that is able to keep her motivated will keep her interest and she will respond amazingly to this. She definitely needs a lot of exercise and I think being a second dog (older) would be best. I suggest this because Rocky is pushing 6 and is quite content lying around the house. She gets her energy out and if she won't settle down, he will 'bark' at her a few times then she's lying down next to him relaxing. Things she's working on: Stay, not jumping on people (off), kennel training, riding in the vehicle, and reinforcing her chewing habits (trading items works great it seems. When I catch her in the act, she gets 'leave it' or 'no ma'am' and she stops chewing on the furniture. I then give her a toy or bone that she can. As mentioned earlier she has done fabulous with this and it's very minimal now.)

Fort Bend County
Sugar Land, Texas 77479