About Draxx

Draxx is a bit of a cat stuck in a dog's body. He is quite the snuggler once he trusts you and loves to be petted. He wallers all over you like a fast moving cat and rubs and rolls around you. He also rubs your legs like a cat and is very people oriented. He will follow you everywhere checking out your every move. Draxx is great in a crate and is fully house trained. He rides well in a car although he will explore every inch of it including the back window if he isn't crated (see... just like a cat!). His favorite toys are stuffed ones that make a crinkly sound and likes to chew on bones. Draxx is a dog that would prefer his world to be small. He doesn't like to go outside any more than he has to and doing the same things everyday with the same group of people or dogs makes him ever most happy. He enjoys a routine and is very tolerant once he is comfortable. However... leading up to that point he can be a bit of a terror. He even puts up with dogs that are a bit much and basically ignores the grouchy ones but only after he gets use to them. Also like a cat, he can be a bit stuck up and bossy. He likes things his way and will let you know it. He has learned biting gets him what he wants (or out of what he doesn't want) so he has a tendency to be very snappy. He needs a confident leader to show him what is going to be tolerated and what is not. Draxx is smart and obedience training would be amazing for him as it could do wonders for his attitude and help him bond with his new owner. He can be a bit of a darter and dasher as he tries to avoid you and wearing a leash at all times is a must. Once he gets to know you, he will door dash to follow you. He can bark a bit when he is demanding you to cater to his needs but is easily corrected if you are on top of things when the barking begins. Once he bonds with his people, he can be a bit destructive if he can't get to you so the safest place for him when you are away is in his crate. We don't know what Draxx encountered in his short year of life... but he will use snapping and trying to bite anytime he encounters something that scares him. It's his go-to move with people and dogs. You have to go through this to earn his trust so only apply if you are willing and able to handle this type of behavior. Although he may be happy and trusting to snuggle and touch his mouth or even leash him up, trying to change his collar may cause him to want to bite. So you never know what will set him off. With dogs he snarls, shows teeth, and snaps, including without warning until he is feeling more comfortable with him. Then he is fine. This is his meeting ritual with all new dogs. Decompression will be vital to a successful, happy household. He is absolutely terrified of the groomers and will need one that knows how to handle his fearful ways. Being a Shih Tzu he will HAVE to be groomed. This is the same with vetting. He will need a Vet that can handle all 15 pounds of him and he will likely need a sedated and muzzled just for routine care. He resource guards his food and will snap if you try to take it from him. This is a behavior that may be able to be eliminated with lots of consistent desensitization. Even though he can be great with older kids once he gets to know them... it is probably best he not be living in a home. Draxx is a very special fella that needs a very special person (or persons) to be his forever family. They will have to be understanding, yet firm with him. If he thinks he can get his way he will not get better but worse. As he lacks very many manners, he might paw at his people to get attention so soft skin can easily be torn. He has a flight mentality when he is afraid so a fence is a must. He may not do well with very many visitors and might make it difficult for you to go on vacation. He would do best as either an only dog or a house with just one or two other smaller dogs that are willing to just co-exist with him and not get all up in his grill while he is still learning they are friends. Draxx has so much potential to be an amazing dog (who thinks he is a cat). As he learns he is safe, loved, and can't get away with being a jerk... we believe he will chill out a lot. However... the potential for him to have some of these behaviors remain for his lifetime is also possible so his people will need to be prepared for that. You may apply to adopt Draxx at www.pawpatroldayton/adopt. His adoption fee is $200 and he will be vaccinated, neutered, microchipped, and heartworm tested before adoption. Draxx isn't the dog for everyone... but could Draxx be the dog for you?

Montgomery County
Kettering, Ohio