ZOI AB#IN18-114-8 – F, 5 Months

Foster dog name: Zoi

Gender: Female

Age: 5 months

Size/Weight: 15 lbs. I can’t guesstimate her adult weight, but she is going to be a small setter.

Color: orange belton Her face is the most gorgeous creamy caramel color with delicate, gentle features.

Breed: English setter

Good with Children: We haven’t had any children around since we’ve had her, but Zoi loves everyone, and I’m sure that would include children. She is a puppy though, and she does the usual puppy jumping and biting. We’re working on that, but I wouldn’t let her play unattended with my 4 year old grandson. There is not a mean bone in her sweet little body, but she is just a baby herself. She’s great with our adult children and their friends.

Good with Dogs: She loves other dogs. She’s learning their cues when they say okay, that’s enough. I do keep an eye on their play. She made friends with our Newfie in 1 day.

Good with Cats: She barks at them because she wants to play, but she has shown no aggression. She doesn’t understand why they’re not as excited about her as she is them.

House trained: She is doing so well, but I am taking her out after she eats, drinks, wakes from a nap, or when she starts to walk “that way”. In the last week she has been coming to get me when she wants to go out or going to the door. It’s a work in progress, but she is doing well. I’m so proud of her! She is very praise motivated so being told she’s a good girl after going potty outside just tickles her little heart. The first week I kept her on leash and with me all the time. That worked well, but I don’t need to do that now.

Crate trained: The first night she barked for about 10 seconds and since then no barking at night.  I do have her crate right beside Frixos’ and in our room. A few nights she has even gotten in all by herself and gone to sleep. She sleeps till about 5:00-5:30. I think as she gets a bit bigger bladder, she’ll sleep longer. She has had no messes in her crate except one bout because of giardia induced diarrhea. See medical below. When I’ve had to leave the house for an hour or two she isn’t pleased to be crated, but she complains for a few seconds, and then settles right now with her toys and to snooze.

Leash trained: She does very well for a novice. There are so many fun things to investigate though! It’s hard to keep on task! She spends a lot of time looking up at me to see that she’s doing it right. So sweet!

Behavior: Zoi is a little cuddler. She loves to curl up in your arms or lap and sleep. The other night she slept in my arms for 2 hours while I watched a movie, waking only once to let me know she needed to potty, and then cuddled back up. She is very attentive, coming to find me and “check-in” with me. Her favorite place is wherever we are. She gets scared about going outside into the dark at night so we go with her and reassure her as she potties. She loves to curl up on the chair in my room or on the couch after playing for a nap. Zoi is very praise motivated, and really wants to please her people.

Activity Level:  Zoi is very playful but once the energy gets expended she’s ready for love and cuddles. One day she piled all of her toys on a chair before settling herself down on it. When she playfully bites with those razor sharp puppy teeth, I redirect her to an acceptable chew toy, and she is happy with that.

Fence:  I would highly recommend a fence for Zoi. She loves to run.

Medical History: Zoi is up to date on her shots, heartworm, flea and tick preventative. She is microchipped, and her number has been verified to be correct. She does have giardia and cocchidia and is being treated for both. She started a new medication for those yesterday, and she’ll be tested to be sure she’s clear before leaving the foster home. She does need to be spayed, has an umbilical hernia which will be repaired when she’s spayed, and has a small lump or cyst on her lower left eyelid which needs to be watched and may need to be surgically removed.  Zoi’s food intake needs to be limited. She will overeat till she gets sick. Whether that will remain the case or whether she will outgrow that as the effects of the giardia and diarrhea leave is unknown. But as of now she is being fed 1 cup of puppy kibble 3x a day.

Zoi comes from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. Since she was rescued as a young puppy it is doubtful she will ever develop it, but the parasite can remain dormant in the system for many years. So potential adopters must agree 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 usually costs $120 to $150.

Foster Comments: Zoi knows her name and comes galloping when I call her. She runs with her foster brother until they both need a rest, and then sometimes settles down by my senior Newfie for a nap. She gets so excited to be loved and cuddled and snuggles her head as close as possible. She’s a beautiful girl; very gentle and sweet. Zoi has a little heart on her forehead, a pretty delicate face with deep loving eyes, and is petite with gorgeous markings. She is a lap dog and with her small size that won’t change. With her desire to please she is going to be a wonderful addition to a family. I am so thankful she was saved with her sister, Zeta, and can spend her life being loved and loving in return. In the two short weeks she has been here she has won our hearts. There will be tears…I just reread this, and I don’t want to give the wrong idea. Zoi is a fantastic puppy, but she is a puppy. Yesterday she was on top of my dresser twice, she is into everything, and she has those sharp puppy teeth, but her behavior is normal exuberance and curiosity. There is not one tiny bit of meanness in this tiny girl. She is precious, but do plan on stepping up your pace to puppy mode with Zoi.

Adoption fee: $395

Dog Location: Ft. Morgan, CO

Volunteer transport can be arranged in the Continental US within a 1,000 mile distance between adopters & foster home. Typically, we are able to transport your adopted dog to within 2 hours of your home. *Dogs can be adopted outside the 1000 mile transport distance; however, adopters must be willing to either fly their adopted dog, drive to a location within the 1000 mile transport range, or make independent transport arrangements for their adopted dog.