My story

　　Ipanema is a senior girl of approximately 9 years of age. We have called her `Ipa` as a nickname. She is very petite at barely 5lbs weight. Ipa is a little firecracker who yaps first and asks questions later. She is also sweet, loving, and more than anything, enjoys being your lap warmer. She prefers being near you, whether at your feet or touching you - but she has also done well being left alone (either crated or free range) during normal work hours. Ipa is low energy and does not play with toys yet, though she occasionally likes to crazily roll around in a dog bed. She is houstrained but might leave a poo if not taken out as expected on a regular schedule. Ipa will stay near you on leash, but she could potentially slip her collar if startled by the presence of strangers. She should only be walked in a secure harness and would benefit from regular positive reinforcement on walks.Ipa does great in a multi-animal environment and currently lives with small dogs, cats, and chickens. She will sometimes chase other animals but does not mean harm (and she herself has been chased by a young rooster). Ipa is often dominant towards other dogs and would likely live most peacefully with a submissive small dog. Interestingly, Ipa has shown a motherly interest towards very young foster puppies. She is too fragile to live with larger dogs. She can instigate fights over food but does fine being fed separately. She does not back down easily once she instigates a fight - hence it is important that she is fed separately and doesn`t start a scuffle with another dominant dog.Ipa had many teeth extracted last month and would require a dental recheck in the future. Because Ipa had very painful dental disease when she arrived at the shelter, she is still frightened by sudden movements towards her head. Petting motions that could be misconstrued as a slap also cause her to cower. Ipa squirms and vocalizes during nail trims. She is fearful of strangers and will snap at them. Therefore, it is important that new people are respectful of her space. Because Ipa is fragile and fearful, she would not do well in an environment with young children or adults who are unable to give her space. This includes any home that is regularly visited by children or people unable to follow instructions - unless the new owner is diligent about keeping Ipa separate and secure. Ipa does not snap at known people and just needs time and space to open up.

　　If you have any questions or would like to adopt IPA, please reach out to the adoption group directly. PetSmart Charities does not facilitate the adoption process. Thank you.