Critter Details

Fig (aka Ping, Pingus Amingus, Pig, and Piggle Wiggle) is a 7 year old ~35lb who I believe to be either a shiba or cattle dog mix. That’s right- she’s not a teddy bear. She has been spayed and is not up to date on her shots due to financial hardship and housing stability reasons.  Fig is an affectionate, intelligent, opinionated companion who enjoys cuddles, exploration, and unfortunately for one’s nose..bully sticks. In fact, any type of animal body part treat is right up Fig’s alley but her real treat of choice is scritches on the sides of her neck. If you get juuuust the right spot, she will lean so hard into your hand that she will fall over if you don’t hold her up. She gives amazing “hugs” where she will hold on to you with her paw(s) and rub her head into your chest. The fur behind her ears is so delicate and soft, it’s almost like you can’t even feel it when you pet her there. She has been so hardy and healthy. I could count the number of soft poos she’s had on one hand. She knows sit, down, wait, and scoot. She also knows “ok” as a release word if you make her wait for something. She doesn’t beg for food. In fact, you could leave a plate full of food on your couch, table, or anywhere within reach and she will not eat it; I have tested it. She is decent on a leash. If you tell her to ease up or give a gentle pull on the lead, she will come back. She learns new behaviors and commands quickly. She doesn’t chew belongings or furniture. She doesn’t potty inside or dig holes in the yard. Generally, she is very well behaved.  General behavior is one thing, behavior during anxiety is another. Because of the nature of our unstable living situation over the last few years, I have not been able to socialize Fig properly. She has severe separation anxiety and is fearful of noises she hears outside of the home. She will bark if she hears someone walking by. She will bark if she hears a car door open or close outside. She will bark if she hears someone talking outside or through the walls of an apartment. She is very wary of strangers. For a first time meeting, it’s best to be quiet and almost not pay attention to her.  Fig loves sharing a home with cats if she is able to keep a distance until they get used to one another. In fact, one of her best friends was a cat until about 6 months ago. If she sees a cat outside, it depends on how the cat acts. If it’s still, Fig will look and maybe gently pull to go say hello but will ultimately disengage. If the kitty runs, Fig has a lot of interest in the chase. She has never caught or hurt a small animal because she gives up before she catches anything but she does like to chase small animals outside.  Fig is nervous around other dogs but isn’t aggressive. She will pull a leash to sniff or greet another dog and if the other dog barks, Fig will growl or bark, herself.  Currently, Fig is living with and loving a rambunctious 5 year old child. When Fig met this child, she was not comfortable around him. She growled and barked every time she heard his voice or laughter. The first time Fig met a child, the child escaped supervision and hid. When I found the child and picked him up, he started to kick his feet and yell. Fig started to bark and follow us. The child accidentally kicked Fig a couple of times because she was so close to us and she bit his foot as gentle as a bite can be. Over the next year, the child would return weekly and little by little we were able to let Fig come closer and have more interaction with the child. Now they lay and cuddle together and Fig is very tolerant of any petting, cuddling, running, and laughing.  I would recommend Fig live in an adults only single family home unless you have a lot of time and energy to cope with Fig’s intense anxiety during the integration period if you have a child. I would not recommend her for apartment living unless you wouldn’t get evicted or penalized for excessive barking. When Fig is left alone, she is extra vigilant and will bark at even more things than when you’re present. She likes being outside and would do well in a rural setting where she has a lot of room to occasionally roam. She would do well with a person or couple who likes to participate in outdoor activities if you can manage her reactivity. She is *great* off leash and will come back to you and she makes sure she doesn’t venture too far ahead.  Fig has been my best friend through a lot of turmoil these last few years and I’ve tried my best to cope with her issues and fulfill the needs I could fulfill. I didn’t want to “give up” on her and fail her. Since we have moved into my current apartment, every time I leave, I have to put earmuffs on her that effectively make her deaf so she can’t hear noises when I’m gone so she won’t bark. I sometimes have to put a soft muzzle on her to keep her from barking if there is a continuous source of noise outside. I haven’t been able to afford regular veterinary care for her and I couldn’t afford an emergent event, should one arise. She’s been even more resilient than i could have imagined and has handled all of this as best as she can. I know everyone thinks this about their dog but in this case it’s true. Fig is the best dog in the world..and I realize that she shouldn’t suffer because of my inability to give her the care she needs or for the sake of my pride; She deserves better. She deserves to be accommodated for and catered to instead of being expected to cope with increasingly pressurized situations that she hasn’t been taught to cope with. she deserves to live an easy life. I can’t give her that. Maybe you can. Thank you for your consideration.