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BackHoudini
Adoption in Progress
Description
Name: Houdini
ID # RT20250730-1
Estimated Age: 3 years
Sex: Male
Estimated Breed: Chihuahua Mix
Weight: Unknown
Good with Dogs: Yes
Good with Cats: Yes
Good with Children: Older children
Special/Medical Needs:
Estimated Energy Level: Medium
Current Location: Edmonton, AB
Are they good with cats? Yes, he tends to ignore them but sometimes will try to engage in play. If they aren’t interested he’ll leave them alone, especially if slapped at (he learns pretty fast when someone doesn’t want to be a friend)
Are they good with dogs? Yes! proper introductions, of course. He prefers male dogs, and does very well with our male pug. He’ll put up with girls but has less patience with them. He will do much better in a home with a dog friend, as he seems to gain confidence with another dog to lead the way. He will do best with a calmer dog, as he can get overstimulated quite easy and his brain shuts off. He needs someone to play with, but someone to also let him know it’s time to settle down.
Are they good with children? Yes and no. Houdini has done quite well with my teenager, and counts her as the “backup” human. He does seem to like my 5 year old granddaughter as well, but this took time. Even now with her unpredictable movements he does get fearful and will react if it’s not corrected immediately. He would be much better with older children and shouldn’t be unsupervised with smaller children. Also, he’s never been around male children, but we have noticed he does prefer myself and my daughter then my husband, but he’ll do in event that the main human and back up human are busy.. I don’t believe he was abused by a man, just a personal preference.
Do they bark? Yes, he does bark and at times can be a little yappy. This mostly happens when he’s anxious, like when someone new is here. He settles quite easily 99% of the time. He also howls at times when left alone, or whines. This has progressively gotten better with having a dog friend around.
Are they house-trained? 100% pee pad trained,he has had no accidents off the pee pad but I was told in his previous home, he used to use clothes and such if left on the floor. Because of his small size, I can not let him loose in my yard, we’d lose him fast! We’ve taken him on a few walks but no luck going outside yet to bathroom. This will definitely improve with more consistent training, and he’s super smart.
Are they good in the car? I have only taken him in the crate and he’s done really well but will whimper. I would suggest crating until he’s a more confident boy.
Are they good on a leash? He’s so good on leash and doesn’t excessively pull. If he does get a little ahead, he will stop until you catch up. He does way better on walks with a dog friend, as his confidence is so much higher
Houdini has been with me since the middle of July. He was extremely fearful and shut down for over a month. When we accidentally introduced our male pug (Kevin ran in the room before we could stop him) and Houdini came to life! He stopped cowering and growling and started to act more like a dog! It felt like a miracle! He has opened up to us after seeing the other dog interact with us and had really starter to show personality.
Your first step with this guy, is you’ll need to earn his trust. This is not the easiest of tasks. This is where an emotional support dog friend really helps! This may take a lot of patience and some time, but he does eventually open up . Once he decides you’re okay, he never wants to leave your side. He is super cuddly, gives hugs, and wants to keep your lap warm. He seems to prefer to have one human that he calls his own, but he will happily share this human with other animals. He does like to have a back up human as well, but they might not get as much affection. Signs of his fear can be growling, snapping and sometimes screaming like he’s being hurt. These are things we saw when he first came here, but are almost completely unseen today. This may start up again when moved into a new home, but they won’t last forever. He’s a tiny guy and has coping skills that he’s used for 3 years. We have worked hard to overcome them, but be aware this might be sometime he falls back into temporarily.
Houdini does have anxiety. He has the traits of excessive licking and tapping for pets. He also whines and dances and acts like he’ll die without immediate touching. I’ve been working on this with him, as it drives me crazy! He understands “stop” and will when you say, sometimes it takes a few times before he’ll settle, but it does work. He’s usually only overstimulated and anxious when he first comes out of his room and is happy to greet everyone. The commands he’s mastered is “Stop” and “Get Down” but can sit on command when his brain turns back on from his anxiety. He comes when called most of the time as well.
Houdini is quite thin, he’s a great eater but I have found that he does require a small can of wet food a day to help keep his weight stable. He does not like pate at all, but chunks with gravy is his favourite. Any potential adopter that comes for a meet and greet, I will make sure you have all the food info before you take him home. Before I started the wet food, his hip bones were poking out. He’s still tiny but much healthier looking. He absolutely loves dehydrated fish treats and goes crazy when he sees the bag (I’ll be sending a bag to his new home with him). Until he trusts you, he will not eat in front of you or take food from your fingers. Again, a little patience, and this is corrected quickly.
Houdini does not like toys, he won’t play with them, he’s not interested in anything given to him. He does love a good soft bed to sleep in, and is a boy who needs a crate. He feels safe in his crate, and seeks it out when he’s scared.
Going into a new home is going to require a lot of love, patience and space, but once you win this little dog over, he’ll be your best friend for life! He’s 100% worth the time and effort.