Nugget
Chihuahua | male | 5 Years Old | 15 Lbs
QUICK FACTS: ✔️ Good with other dogs! ✔️ Good with cats! ✔️ Can free roam when alone! ✔️ Good in the car! ✔️ Good for beginner dog owner! ✔️ Could live in an apartment!
Nugget found his forever family 4/26/2023!
Updates
Nugget starts his day when we wake up, usually around 7 am but he is happy to sleep in and cuddle on the bed! He goes outside to go to the bathroom and then it is time for breakfast. Nugget likes to spend the rest of his day snoozing on his foster parents lap while they work from home and taking time to himself in his doggy bed to relax with a chew. Nugget gets a midday break outside, and then dinnertime is around 5 pm. After another evening bathroom trip Nugget snuggles up on the couch to watch TV until it is time to go to bed either in his doggy bed or with his foster parents.
Nugget is a friendly little guy and does well meeting people inside and outside the home. He is mostly ambivalent with strangers but once he has gotten to spend some time with you he is a total cuddle bug! Sometimes he will bark at people outside at night or if he is startled by them but he is always polite with greetings.
Nugget has not spent significant time with children inside his foster home though he has met the neighbors children (under 10 years old) and done well. He doesn't appear to be fearful or overly excited about meeting children.
Nugget is a low to medium energy dog and spends most of his day relaxing. Shortly before arriving in Wisconsin, Nugget was treated for heartworm. While in foster care, he has been finishing up his exercise restriction so he has not been able to go on any long walks or play, so he may have a more playful side once he is allowed to! He will be able to return to normal activity and go home after April 28th. Nugget loves going outside and does get a little frustrated with the current short walks leading him to pull on leash and bark near the house. When he has gone for slow, easy short walks he is so excited to sniff and mark as many things as he can- we've found that taking him for a stroll down to sit in front of the nearby cafe gives him plenty to look at and sniff while keeping his energy down. I expect that once he can go on longer walks he will love going on adventures around the neighborhood and would probably be a good buddy for a shorter hike.
Nugget lives with two dogs in his foster home and while they sometimes bug him by getting in his personal space he has overall done well. He hasn't shown any interest in playing with them and definitely prefers to have a quiet place for himself and a person to cuddle with. With that said Nugget would likely be perfectly content in a home with other dogs as long as they aren't too rambunctious and can respect his space. Nugget will resource guard treats and toys with other dogs, so we have given him a separate space for those things and he has not had any issues.
There are three older cats in the foster home with Nugget and he has done excellent with them. He doesn't seem to really notice them and has not shown any interest in chasing or playing with them.
When alone Nugget can be left out and has not chewed on or gotten into things. He has a crate that he will go in but he doesn't seem to really like it, so we've used baby gates or play pens if he needs to be kept in an area. He will sometimes mark in the house (otherwise is house trained) so he has gotten used to wearing belly bands when unattended and that works to keep him from making messes.
Nugget has such a sweet and spunky personality! He will make a great companion for someone looking for a snuggly, goofy little dog.