We're seeking a new home for our beloved little guy. Mack has been a treasured family member for over seven years, at our suburban home with a large fenced-in yard. Now we're downsizing and relocating to an urban area with no yard; an environment ill suited to his temperament.
Mack is super smart, high energy, and playful and fun, but also has a lot of anxiety, and is easily triggered by various stimuli, such as other dogs and animals, groups of people, etc. His ideal new home will be suburban — even rural — with a fenced-in yard, no small children, and possibly one other small dog. (He's lived with his fellow terrier mix "sister" for the entire time he's been with us.) A neighborhood overflowing with other dogs will be stressful for him, as well as for the new parent(s).
Here are some scenes from Mack's daily life
Pet's Name:
Mack
Dog: Primary Breed:
Other, not listed
Primary Breed (if not in list):
Terrier mix
Birthdate, estimate is okay:
11/11/2015
Age Category:
Adult
Where did you get your pet?:
A pet store adoption event
Adoption Day, when did you adopt your pet? An estimate is okay.:
1/1/2017
Gender:
Male
Size (at full grown):
Small
Weight (in pounds) at full-grown size. Example: 35:
20
Primary Color:
Black (Mostly)
What are your pet's favorite toys and activities?:
He loves chewing his little Lamb Chops, and squeaking his pink ball while waiting for breakfast.
Has your dog received any formal obedience training?:
Yes
What commands does your dog know?:
Sit, Shake (paw), Down (low to the floor), Off (of the sofa), Back up (from the door before walks), Wait (stay sitting), Okay (to release)
Has your dog ever exhibited any challenging behaviors, such as biting a person or another pet? If so, could you please share some details about the situation?:
Mack has had a handful of non-vicious biting incidents. At a home gathering, he bit the hand of a young man who reached to take a brownie out of Mack's reach (an instance of guarding). Years ago, he nipped a teenage daughter on three occasions when coaxing him off of the sofa for bedtime. This issue has been remedied by banning him from the furniture, and attaching his leash while in the house. He now goes to bed without incident. He still lives with much anxiety, does not do well with groups of people or dogs, and has many triggers. He judges people quickly upon sight, and is either extremely curious to meet them, or is threatened by them and barks. When stimuli is controlled, he's attentive, and extremely affectionate. He is easy to fall for. But he requires a patient and loving parent.
How does your dog react to being left alone for short periods?:
He often finds a warm patch of sun or his blanket and rests.
Are there any specific triggers that cause your dog anxiety or stress?:
Mack is a high-energy, anxious guy. Triggers that agitate him include the doorbell, dogs and other creatures seen through the front window, squirrels, dogs seen on walks, vacuum cleaners, manhole covers, etc. He's also nervous at parties.
Is there a particular routine that works best for your dog in terms of feeding, walking, and sleep?:
We walk Mack and our Olive early each morning after breakfast … he loved to play in our large fenced-in yard (house just sold). In the evening, he lays on a cushion on the floor at the foot of the bed, before retiring to his crate in the main bedroom of the house.
Medical History and Care:
Vaccinations up to date
Spayed or Neutered
House/Litter-Trained
Microchipped
Special Diet
Special Needs
Never Vetted
Unknown
Does your pet have any history of health issues or medical conditions that potential adopters should be aware of?:
No
Personality:
Playful
Constant Companion
High Energy
Medium Energy
Low Energy
Stubborn
Timid
Needs Training
Friendly to Strangers
Good with Other Dogs
Good with Young Children
Good with Cats
Bonded Pair
Requires A Fenced Yard
Crate Trained
Purebred
How is your dog with cats?:
Not sure: Haven't had enough interaction to determine.
What's the most endearing thing about your dog?:
Mack is great at melting hearts by staring into someone' eyes, and putting his paw onto their arm or leg to get a scratch.
What criteria are important to you when considering an adoptive family or home for your pet?:
Mack's ideal new family would live in a single family home with adults or grown children, with a fenced-in yard. They wouldn't rely on day care or kennels, and may well work from home.
Is there anything else you'd like your pet's new family to know?:
Mack has not socialized much with dogs other than our 10-pound terrier mix rescue, Olive. They get along well, but don't play (mostly because she doesn't play). Mack is insatiably curious about other dogs, and provided he doesn't deem them threatening, he is very interested in a sniff. He's not built for crowds or groups of dogs.
Why are you rehoming your pet (primary reason)?:
Housing is Inadequate for Pet
Rehoming reason details (if necessary):
I'm in the process of downsizing from 4 bedrooms + a large yard in the suburbs of Chicago to 1 bedroom with no yard, in a densely populated and more-urban area.
If applicable, do you have the legal right or necessary permission from the breeder or rescue organization to rehome this pet? :
Not Applicable
Yes
How long will you be able to keep your pet before you may need to consider surrendering him or her to a rescue?:
Three months
Who is your veterinarian?:
Wheaton Animal Hospital, Glen Ellyn, IL
What do you feed your pet?:
A rotating menu of various flavors of Fromm's kibble
Do you have pet insurance for your pet? :
No
Would you consider a long distance adoption?:
Yes
No
Maybe
City, State:
Evanston, IL
Zip Code:
60202
How did you hear about us?:
Google Search
Service Level:
Priority Service: Fast-Track with Maximum Exposure