Toka

**Please read the whole profile before applying

Toka is a 3kg Chihuahua who has a personality bigger than his size. He can be a little pocket rocket who loves to play. He has been known to enjoy a good game of fetch in his previous home and likes to rumble with his foster carer. When playtime is over though, he is a cuddly couch buddy who will happily keep you company while you watch TV. This little fella will push himself into any warm spot he can find, whether that be in between cushions or under the covers – it’s just too cute! Toka has moderate activity levels but when it’s time to relax he will just chill out.

Toka’s biggest challenge is that he was not exposed and socialised early in his life and this has left him to be very fearful in new or unknown situations and environments. He will completely freeze up and wee himself in fear. If strangers do not read his body language and he will show aggression if he feels he needs to. It is therefore a firm requirement that any applicant must have extensive and above average knowledge of dog behaviour. His current foster carer has progressed him to a point where he can meet new people and is able to get Toka to warm up to them quickly but this will be something that will need ongoing management and a requirement for a quieter household.

Currently, Toka is living with 2 other dogs and attends doggy day care every day. Toka loves to play with other dogs – he jumps up, putting his paws on the bigger ones and loves to play mouthing rumble games. He plays really nicely with similarly sized dogs and those gentler dogs a bit bigger than him. However, he does find bigger dogs, particularly the boisterous ones, intimidating and will nip at their heels when fearful of them. Once integrated with the 2 medium sized dogs (border collies) he lives with, he discovered that he loves to snuggle up with them and even use them as a cushion. He is not a resource guarder and will happily share his humans with other suitable dogs.

Toka is very food motivated and responds well to basic training. Mostly he requires training that will continue to build his confidence and security. He will require an experienced owner with a lot of time and patience to work with him. Toka is crate trained and will sleep in his crate at night, but his foster carer currently lets him share the bed. He was surrendered after his previous owner moved into an apartment building and went back to full time work post covid and this led him to become a nuisance barker so he will not be rehomed into dense living unless there are exceptional circumstances where he will not be left unattended. In his current environment he will bark at strangers initially but settles within a minute. Toka enjoys going for walks and walks very well on the lead; however, this is done in a way where other dogs and busy environment are avoided. He is not suitable to go to uncontrolled environments like dog parks/beaches or into busy environments with lots of people.

We are looking for an exceptionally experienced owner for Toka who can manage his fearfulness in a quieter environment. He would absolutely thrive with another small playful doggie companion who can give him an outlet for his energy. He is an inside toilet trained dog and must be allowed to sleep inside. Toka is not suitable to live with children and has never been exposed to cats/pocket pets.

If you are interested in applying for Toka you will need to complete a dog adoption enquiry form on the Fetching Dogs website and include plenty of detail about your home and experience as we will not be calling applicants who do not supply details.