About Sam

Sam is an 11 year-old Chihuahua. I have had Sam for one month so am still getting to know him. He has been very shy so far. He is curious and follows me around the house to investigate what I am doing. He has been slow to come out of his shell and shies away from affection. He will allow me to pick him up. He needs someone who will be patient and give him time to warm up. He is very food driven so treats grease the wheels to making friends. He is crate trained and asks to go outside to potty. After a vet check-up, I discovered he has some bad teeth - so he scheduled for a dental cleaning and some teeth extractions on October 23rd. He has an infection in his gum around one tooth, so he is currently on antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory for the issue. The vet said he should be much more comfortable after the procedure and will still be able eat solid kibble. He weighs just under 10 lbs ( he could lose a pound) and after the vet visit, has been given an excellent bill of health except for his teeth issues. He was never leash trained, so that has been our challenge as of late. He is a bit strong-willed, so does not like to do things that are not his idea and he wines and bares his teeth when I work with him on wearing a harness and leash. Once on, he is happy as a clam and enjoys walks. Sam is a cuddler too - even with his shyness, he will jump up on the couch and sit in my lap as well as hangout on the back of the couch, snuggled by my neck. He prefers to be inside, near me. He does well with the other dogs in my pack (corgi, spaniel, and golden in addition to his brother) but seems to be more human focused for socialization. He does not like taking his medications (they taste bad so I can't blame him) and is not very cooperative in taking them. He has a great, silly personality - he will jump up and beg while you are cooking (not on you, just jumps up next to you) and likes to 'sit pretty' in your lap. He came to me from a friend's father who moved into an assisted living community and could not take his dogs with him. For the first 11 years of his life, Sam lived on a ranch in eastern South Dakota with a retired ranching couple, so seems to be tougher than most chihuahua's I've known. He was the beloved spoiled dog of a very nice woman that doted on him. It shows that he's been spoiled so there is some gentle un-training of bad habits needed. He likes to do exactly what he wants, regardless of what you ask him to do - he has been responsive to positive reinforcement with treats and the other dogs as pack reinforcement. We are avid mountain bikers, long hikers, and outdoor sportspeople with a pack of 3 parge dogs so Sam would be happier in a home that goes on shorter walks (under 2 miles), are home with him more, and he is the center of attention. He had a hard time leaving his humans of 11 years, so has been slow to open up to us - and given a month or so to become comfortable in his new home, would really open up to be the sweet, affectionate little guy that he is.

Weston County
Newcastle, Wyoming