About Orson - Only $25!!!!!

ORSON (SH Chihuahua/Terrier mix) - AVAILABLE!!! Only $25 adoption!!! Orson came in to the shelter as an injured stray. He then landed on their euthanasia list because he was very fearful and defensive. That is when Safe Haven stepped in. Orson continued to be defensive when he came here and would not let anyone touch him for quite a long time. It was very obvious that someone had treated him very badly and he thought all people would hurt him. Over time though, we have gained his trust, and now he is a sweet, loving, happy little man. He has a quirky, funny personality which just adds to his charm. He loves to play with toys. Even though he is a very small dog, he can carry around a regular sized tennis ball! But I use the smaller balls with him. He loves to play fetch, and will bring it right back to you. He also really likes the floppy stuffed animals, and likes to shake them around. When he started to trust me, and let me handle him, he was still very afraid of the word 'No'. Which tells me someone was very harsh in punishing him. He has now learned that 'No' just means 'No', and that no one will hurt him just because he is doing something wrong. He also used to be very sensitive to your tone of voice, and I had to talk in a baby voice to him (which works really well with him) for a long time until he learned to trust me. So far Orson has learned to come when called, Inside (to go in the crate), Outside, and No. PLEASE NOTE: All of the pets at Safe Haven receive basic training when they come here. All adopters will be given a list of words that your new pet knows at the time of adoption. What each pet learns depends on how much time I have had to work with them, & if that pet has any additional issues that need to be focused on first. The pets here are always improving. Birthday: 4/27/16 Weight at last Vet visit: 9 lbs. Cats: Great with cats and looks at them as playmates. He is smaller than the average cat, so I would be more worried about a cat hurting him... Only bad thing is that he will get into the kitty litter, and that could clog him up (which is serious). I have cats at my house, & I just have a baby gate in the doorway to the room that has their kitty litter & food. The cats can jump over it, & Orson can't. Any home he goes to that has cats would need to do the same thing... Small Dogs: Sweet, submissive, and a little shy at first. Very interested in other small dogs and will come up and sniff new dogs from behind. Once he is comfortable with them, he is very playful. He has been playful with every small dog that he has met. There is something about Orson, that every dog that meets him just LOVES him! He fits right in with other animals. I would love to see him go to a home with another small, friendly dog that could be a role model dog and help him adjust to a new home. Large Dogs: He was avoidant and submissive of them at first, but now is great with them and will cuddle with them on the doggy beds. Kids: Older kids only please, because he is so fearful. Men: Unknown Women: Sweet and loving once he knows you Strangers: He's afraid of people he doesn't know. So you would have to take it very slow with him while he gets to know you. Food: I feed all the dogs on a rotational diet. Which means they get a different brand of high quality food each month. I do this because I do not think that one brand can provide all the nutrients that they need. Just like one food can't provide us with all that we need...Plus, who wants to eat the same thing every day? All dogs are fed breakfast (6:30 am) & dinner (5:30 pm), & are trained to eat out of their own bowl. He gets 1/4 cup for breakfast and again for dinner for a total of 1/2 cup of dry food a day. Plus for dinner, I add 1 tsp. organic coconut oil, and some type of organic veggie, or treat. So far he has tried and likes cottage cheese, organic green beans, pureed pumpkin (not the pie filling. That is bad for them. It has to be the pure pureed pumpkin), and wild caught Mackerel. Crate Trained: Yes, and he will fuss when he needs to be let out to go potty. He also knows the word 'Inside', and will go in the crate when asked. All the foster dogs are crated at night and when I am not home. House Trained: Yes, he has learned to use the doggy door here, and it would be best if the adopter had a doggy door so he could go out when he needs to. He also likes to go out and just sunbathe sometimes. Orson pees standing up, so sometimes it's hard to tell when he's 'going', but he has been watching the other dogs, and has started to lift his leg every now and then. Orson will even go out in the rain, which is a bonus (many dogs won't)! Leash Trained: Right now he's afraid of the leash. He will freeze in fear when you attach a leash to his harness. I am working with him on this, but right now, if I take him on errands with me, I carry him. Car: He's afraid when we go on car rides. He just lays there and shakes, but we are working on that and he

Maricopa County
Litchfield Park, Arizona 85340