About Rita

Rita is a 22-pound couch potato with a huge love of food. She is confident, adaptable, funny, and incredibly loyal once she decides you're her person. She can be cautious when encountering something new, but doesn't tend to be fearful and is easily reassured by a person she trusts. Rita is a constant companion who loves being wherever her people are. At home, she will happily follow you from room to room and then settle nearby wherever you settle. She would be perfectly content having a comfortable bed next to your desk, couch, or wherever you spend your time. She is generally a calm, low-energy dog who is happiest relaxing with her people. She sleeps peacefully through the night and, since becoming deaf, will often sleep right through her people getting up in the morning. She is also perfectly happy to rest or nap throughout much of the day. She loves: Being near her people Being brushed and scratched Sniffing and exploring Going for leisurely walks Treats and food! Rita is deaf and has adapted very well to her hearing loss. She understands visual and touch cues, including a downward snap/point for sit and tapping the top of her crate to indicate crate time. Because she cannot hear herself, she doesn't always understand when her barking isn't receiving a response. For example, if she is barking and you don't respond, she may assume that you simply can't hear her and continue barking. She has no recall, so she needs to be kept on a leash or in a securely fenced area. Interestingly, losing her hearing has actually made her more cautious in unfamiliar places. She stays much closer to the person she is with and no longer tries to escape or wander. Rita is house-trained and will go to the door when she needs to go outside. Because of her age, however, she cannot hold her bladder for very long, so she needs reasonably frequent opportunities to go out. She is also crate-trained and genuinely likes her crates. She sees them as a safe, comfortable space rather than a punishment. Rita doesn't particularly enjoy being alone, but she is patient and will wait for her people to return. She should be crated if there is not a yard and doggy door to avoid accidents but will not destroy anything. She would be happiest with someone who enjoys having a constant companion. Rita is comfortable around both dogs and cats, although she can be cautious when first meeting them. She does not have a strong desire to play with other dogs. If another dog repeatedly bothers her or won't leave her alone, she will generally try to get away rather than engage with them. She would therefore do best with calm pets who will respect her space and match her relaxed energy. She is protective of her food around other animals and will growl if another animal approaches her bowl. She will tolerate a person taking her food, but if she lives with another pet, the animals would need to be fed separately. Rita would very much like to have access to both bowls if given the opportunity! She is rarely protective of toys, although she may guard one while she is actively chewing on it. Rita is fine with children and has tolerated being petted, but she has not had significant experience with young children who might grab, hug, chase, or otherwise interact with her in unpredictable ways. A home with children who understand how to respectfully interact with an older dog would be the best fit. Rita gets very excited about car rides. She is enthusiastic but not destructive. She has primarily used her crate for very long car trips. She has never been trusted with the window open enough that she can climb through and she is smart enough to find the button to roll the window down so please use the child lock! Rita is perfectly happy on a leash and enjoys taking her time on walks. She likes to sniff and explore rather than rush through the neighborhood. Rita also has been on special food to help manage her tendency toward UTIs. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have more questions. Rita is being re-homed due to my health issues and NOT due to any problems with her personality or health. She is surprisingly healthy for her age.

Contact

Newport News (City)
Newport News, Virginia

Jennifer Quintanilla: 8048320816

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