Adoption information
About Barnaby & Rani
Barnaby & Rani – A Bonded Pair Looking for a Quiet Home
Barnaby
DOB: 10 June 2023
Breed: Chihuahua x Wire-Haired Terrier
Sex: Male
Desexed: Yes
Weight: 3.1 kgs
Rani
DOB: 5 June 2013
Breed: Foxy Terrier x Chihuahua
Sex: Female
Desexing: Not desexed — vet has advised she is too old for surgery
Weight: 7 kgs
Barnaby and Rani are a bonded pair looking for a very calm, patient and understanding home.
These two have clearly had some unsettling experiences and will need people who are prepared to give them time, space and security. They are not “walk in and love everyone” dogs. They are little dogs who need to feel safe before they can show you who they really are.
Barnaby is the younger of the two. He is initially very scared and may nip if he feels overwhelmed or pressured before he knows you. Once he has had time to settle and trust, his sweet little personality begins to shine. With people he knows, Barnaby is affectionate, loyal and keen to follow you around. He is house-trained, walks well on a harness, and is not fussy with his food.
Rani is the older girl and has a quiet comfort zone. She likes having access to her crate and will take herself there to rest. Her foster carer has provided a crate inside and another outside on the patio, and Rani will take herself out to toilet before heading back to her safe place. She also walks well on a harness and enjoys a gentle outing.
Both dogs are food-guarders and must be fed separately. Rani can be reactive if someone walks past her bowl, so her new family will need to be sensible and respectful around feeding time.
Rani is very attached to Barnaby and will bark if she cannot see him. Barnaby is a little more independent and is happy to wander around the yard, but these two are closely bonded and need to stay together.
Barnaby and Rani are not suited to a home with children. Barnaby is frightened by children, loud noises and busy environments, and Rani can also be reactive to children and other animals. We believe this behaviour comes from fear and stress rather than nastiness, but it still needs to be managed carefully.
They are also best suited to a home with no other animals. Their foster carer has tried careful interaction with other dogs, but it has not gone well. For their sake, and for the safety and comfort of everyone, Barnaby and Rani need to be the only pets in the home.
Their ideal home will be quiet, adult-only and low-traffic, with people who understand small, anxious dogs and are willing to let trust build slowly. They will need secure fencing, a predictable routine, separate feeding, and gentle handling.
In the right home, Barnaby and Rani will not be difficult dogs — they will simply be dogs who are finally allowed to feel safe.
They are looking for someone who can offer patience, kindness and a peaceful life together.
Their ideal home:
🐾 Adult-only home
🐾 No children
🐾 No other dogs or cats
🐾 Quiet, calm environment
🐾 Secure fencing
🐾 Separate feeding essential
🐾 Patient people who understand fearful little dogs
🐾 Indoor access and safe resting spaces
🐾 A home willing to keep them together
Applications are online only:
Medical notes
No known pre-existing conditions.
Adoption details
Dogs:
(1) The first step is to complete the online adoption application form at https://southerndownsark.com.au/apply-to-adopt/ Please answer all questions and include photos of your yard and fencing.
(2) All applications will be considered by our Adoption Team, following which a "meet and greet" will be offered to the top-ranking applicant.
(3) If the “meet and greet" is successful, the applicant may adopt the dog and take him or her home the same day.
(4) For successful interstate applicants, different arrangements may apply and will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
Cats:
If you are interested in one of our cats or kittens, please click on the green "Enquire about ...", button, tell us a bit about yourself and the home you can offer the cat, and one of our volunteers will be in touch.