NIKKO

Foster dog name: Nikko

Gender: Male

Age: ~5 months (approx. DOB July 2018)
Size/Weight: ~25 lbs (and growing daily)

Color: Brown & White

Breed: English Setter Mix (looks like a Brittany setter)

Good with Children: Nikko has no small children in his foster home, but has had exposure with the small neighbor kids that are 2,4 and 8 yrs old. He enjoys playing with them. Being a puppy, he is very energetic and as he is growing quickly, he would need to be watched around smaller kiddos just to be sure he does not knock them down. He still has sharp little  puppy teeth but didn’t seems to mouth them.

Good with Dogs: Yes. Nikko is in a house with three other dogs. Biggest one being 95lbs and the smallest 45lbs. They play very well together. She is a typical puppy so older or less friendly dogs might find her annoying.

Good with Cats: Unknown.  There are no cats in Nikko’s foster home, but he is a young puppy and could probably learn to live comfortably with cats. He is very mouthy with his foster dogs and they tolerate him, so the cat would have to be ok with him being very courious about them. But a good swipe from a cat would put him in his place quickly.

House trained: Almost. Nikko is still a  puppy and is still learning about potty training.  He does well if he is taken out frequently and he is learning quickly to go to the door and nose a jingle bell strip! He has had a few accidents, but is a quick learner.  He does keep his crate clean and does not mess in there at all.

Crate trained: Yes.  Nikko will go into the crate when we say “kennel”.  He  might fuss for a few seconds, but settles down pretty quickly and does well through the night.

Leash trained: Getting there. Nikko loves to go on long walks and a harness leash works best. He enjoys walks with his other fur foster sister and walks right beside her. He is learning not to pull with a sharp pull and release of the leash. 

Activity Level: Average.  Nikko is a pretty laid back pup. He loves to play and run with the others, but then is also content to lay and chew on a toy. He naps a lot and actually likes to lay with/on his room-mates!   

Fence: Preferred.  A fenced yard is always preferred. He will track a bird outside the fence and chase it until it flies away. 

Training/Behavior: Nikko has been with his foster for two weeks at the time of posting, and, like any puppy, he would benefit from an obedience class. He is a very quick leaner and will need someone that can be constant. He still chews on things, but he is easily redirected with an appropriate toy.  He is not a biter, but his pup teeth are sharp. He will pick up anything to chew on. He has a keen nose and likes to counter surf to see what the smell is, but with a firm “OFF”  he gets down.  His new family will need to work with him on this.  He is a smart puppy and learns quickly.  Overall, he  is friendly and loves everyone (dog and human).  He is a very happy and social puppy.

Medical History: Nikko is a healthy pup and up to date on all his vaccines. His nose has a small part missing from it. Nikko will need to be neutered in his new home. He is from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. He was removed from Greece as a young puppy, so it is unlikely he would ever develop Leishmaniasis, but the parasite can remain dormant in the system for many years, so potential adopters must be willing to commit to annual testing for the next 7 years.  Typically, the test needs to be sent to a special lab, but any regular vet can draw the blood and send it to the lab.  The test typically costs $120-150.

Foster Comments:
Nikko is a sweet, loving pup. He gets along great with everyone he meets. He is learning his pecking order in our house and is very submissive. He is a really quick learner and is treat motivated. We have had him a week and he has already learned how to sit, stay (for at least 20 seconds) and waits with the other dogs to eat until instructed. He loves his crate and will go right to it at night and when we leave the house. He would sleep with us all night, but we don’t want to start a bad habit for the new owners. He is quite the snuggler and even makes little purring sounds when he sleeps on you. This little guy will steal your heart. 

Adoption Fee: $395.00

Foster Location: Brownsburg, Indiana