Name: Tortellini
Gender: female
Age: 4 months
Breed: miniature dachshund
Weight: ~10lbs when adult
Disability: deaf and vision impaired
Dogs: yes
Cats: yes
Kids: older children who can respect dogs boundaries
Location: Mooresville, IN
Bio: Tortellini came to us after her owner bred her two dachshunds not knowing that the dad was a hidden merle. Some dogs will carry the merle gene but the pattern will not show on their fur. That's why when breeding full health testing and color testing is so important. Tortellini was the only impaired pup in the litter and the owner decided surrendering her to us would give her the best chance at finding an equipped home to take the best care of her.
Socialization/training: Tortellini didn't have a lot of socialization early on in life as she wasnt vaccinated but we have been trying to make up for it here. She has been around a lot of dogs of different sizes, ages, and temperaments and has also been around cats and children. She can have a little bit of stranger danger while in public but we have just been having people move slowly since she can't see and as soon as she knows she's safe she warms right up to anyone! One thing we've noticed is if it's dark and she can't see you and you go to grab her out of her crate she may growl and nip in defense so it is very important to move slowly with her and let her know you aren't trying to hurt her while she's getting used to you.
Crate trained: Tortellini is still working on her crate training. She tends to bark in her crate for a little bit but is settling down quicker each day. She will bark if she can see you outside of the crate and try to get you to come get her out. She also still has pee accidents in the crate (no poop) but she's pretty good about using a puppy pad so we just put a puppy pad down on one side of the crate and a blanket on the other.
Leash trained: Tortellini definitely still needs some work on confidence on the leash but with positive association training with the leash I'm sure she will pick it up quickly.
Activity Level: Tortellini definitely still has puppy energy. She bites and chases and can be very hyper but she also is totally happy to curl up in the couch and steal your body heat.
Fence: A fence is not necessary for Tortellini but she must be on a leash or in an enclosed area at all times because due to her impairments she could get attacked by a predator, get lost, or hit by a car very easily. She would do fine with a short leash walk every day and some playing with toys in the home.
Behavior: Tortellini is still very much a puppy. She can be very bitey which we are working to correct. This is not aggression but just her still learning to play appropriately. Because of this if you have small children you need to understand that she will probably go after their ankles for a while lol. She can be a little nervous in new environments and around new people but she overcomes this nervousness very quickly so we feel that with a owner that helps build up her confidence she will thrive. Please be aware of normal dachshund behaviors. They tend to bark, dig, they can have a little bit of an attitude so even though they are small training and boundaries are super important with this breed.
Adoption fee: $300
***WHILE WE DO ADOPT OUT OF STATE THE ADOPTER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PICKING UP. WE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME HELP BY GROUND OR AIR***
