Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Spayed or Neutered,
Story
From what we understand, Mochi (nee Amber) was born in a hoarder house/puppy mill in Texas, and had very little human contact for her first year of life. She seemed normal-ish if a bit fearful when we met her at her foster home, but she regressed pretty hard when we took her home. She was extremely fearful of people and didn't ever want to leave her crate except to eliminate, which she would do when she felt nobody was watching.
Over the last three years, we've gotten her out of her shell a bit. She went from panic pooping and dissociating whenever we took her from her crate to allowing me to bathe her and trim her nails. She started out not knowing any tricks or commands, but now follows "touch," "go to bed," "leave it," "sit," "dance," and "scoff." (don't ask) She has learned to trust at least one person (me), and will seek affection; asking for pets and returning little licks. She has a big doggy personality; she will beg for treats and perform the tricks/commands she knows in sequence, hoping to get a reward. She now comes out to greet us when we come home, running in a circle and barking with excitement. She likes to be chased and will try to goad me into chasing her, though she doesn't want to play chase for very long. We had her on a fluoxetine prescription to get her past the initial fearful stages, and she hasn't been on it for a couple of years now.
Unfortunately, Mochi still struggles with the remnants of her early life. She will often wait to eliminate until nobody can see or hear her, and will not always do it on the pee pad in her safe space. (We have the laundry room cordoned off for her so she can hide without other people or dogs bothering her. The only time she's bitten someone was when they didn't respect the sanctity of her crate.) She enjoys the backyard and will pee and poop there, and we've rewarded her fairly consistently for it, but it's not consistent. We are two working adults who do not have time to intervene in the kind of repeated and immediate way that she needs to become fully housebroken. She also doesn't want to trust that the two of us humans are not working against her; she will come out to play and be affectionate when she's alone with us, particularly me; she will usually hide in one of her "dog nests" throughout the house otherwise, and is not likely to come out unless we offer her a treat. She is very smart and knows her sounds, and will come if she's properly motivated.
What Mochi needs is an attentive owner or trainer, I think ideally a solo adult, who can help her finish growing into a respectable pet. She wants to be a good dog, but it's clear she's fighting her fearful instincts to do so. We sadly don't have the time or resources to provide this ourselves, though we are proud of the progress she's made so far. A home with non-carpeted floors would be preferable as well, as there will be a transition period with housebreaking - our trainer warned us that with dogs that were basically stray puppies, sometimes they never fully adapt to housetraining.
