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My name is Pogo the 3-Legged Chug!

Posted over 10 years ago

My basic info

Breed
Pug/Chihuahua
Color
Black
Age
Young
Size
Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less (when grown)
Weight
Sex
Male
Pet ID

My details

Checkmark in teal circle Shots current
Checkmark in teal circle Spayed / Neutered
Checkmark in teal circle Housetrained
Checkmark in teal circle Has special needs

My story

Here's what the humans have to say about me:

*This is a courtesy listing. Please contact Deb at 916 996-6558 or dd8281@yahoo.com for more info. Do NOT contact the rescue.*

Meet Pogo Carboni!

Why Pogo? Well, he gets around beautifully on his 3 legs with a left-right-left-right to the front, and a BOING-BOING-BOING to the back! Carboni? Because he is silky, shiny, and black as hard carbon coal, BUT he is a diamond in the rough… a bit of loving pressure (and aware, and sensitive care) from you will turn him into the dazzling diamond he was meant to be!

He is about 2 years old, and 15 pounds, and the Vet says to keep him there to prevent extra wear to the remaining leg and hip. He’s a CHUG (Chihuahua x Pug mix) with a deep Big Boy bark, but somehow looks more like a miniature Pit Bull, except when he is looking intensely at you for a toy to be tossed, or for dinner to be set-down-- then he gets that wall-eyed Pug look to his gaze! Very Cute! He is a VERY loving, sweet boy, who attaches intensely and devotedly, and quickly. He’ll prove it if you don’t mind a good face-licking once in a while! He is gentle and easy going.

He is absolutely great with the dogs in his current Foster home, respectful and low-key, but he’d really love to be a one-dog-to-a-house boy with humans around more often than not. He’s great in the car and by choice goes to the elevated dog car seat to get a look at the world passing by! He is a great eater. But he does worry when his human is around but out of sight, so you must be tolerant of a VELCRO dog temperament; he just needs you near! Good news is that if you don’t like having him on your bed, he is happy to enter the crate when you go to bed for the night, and is quite and calm there.

Sitting and standing-still for too long are sometimes hard on him but if you can walk him at a brisk clip he is stunning, and he runs fast as lightening at the dog park where he sometimes joins the fray and even keeps up with his buddy, a Whippet!!!! But he is also content to explore the park on his own, checking in with his Person for occasional reassurance.

He is best wearing a harness on walks, as he “barks first” at other dogs and sometimes will slip out of his collar to let them know not to bother his human. (I will add that he is emboldened by the presence of his 2 foster-dog brothers who also bark at other dogs; he is much calmer on walks when it’s just the two of us!)

He makes himself quite at home on a sofa cushion or soft chair, so it’s best you allow him on the furniture, though he will willingly share “his” spot with you if it was YOUR favorite, too! He’s needs his family’s tolerance about that, because the pelvis bone on the amputated side has a natural point, and it seems to hurt him to sit anywhere hard. But if you set a pet bed where he seems to settle, he’s very happy to use it which protects the upholstery. He is now very consistent with his house training and has gone easily in and out of the dog door with no issues from day one! He also uses a potty pad, so I keep one out on the vinyl floor for those times the weather is bad or he gets too excited to go out. He does his best to aim for the middle, but balancing on his three legs does sometimes puts him at the edge or slightly over, so it’s best if a tiny “miss-aim” isn’t any trouble for you.

All in all, he adjusted to our routine VERY easily and quickly, and just like any dog, if you can design a routine and cues for mealtime, potty time and bed time, he is VERY responsive and wants to please. He will “Sit” on command, but it isn’t comfortable for him (again, that pointy pelvis bone) so I only ask him to SIT for a treat, or to calm him when he gets too excited at meal time, or when I first come in from work, so he doesn’t jump up at the back of my legs with gladness to see me. He “WAITs” for his food to be set down and to be given the “OK” to eat., and that goes a long way to make sure he can focus on commands even with highly motivating distractions! I am SO proud of him! He COMEs” for a reward, and understands the command to go out to the yard: “Pee-Pee time! Let’s GO!”

He would likely benefit from some integrative medical care as he ages, if his adopters could afford it; so much is being done with animal amputees now, and while he probably will not be able to have a prosthetic attached, there is chiropractic and acupuncture available to ease the extra strain on his remaining rear leg.

He also told his Foster Mom a Secret: “I’d LOVE to be an R.V. dog to a couple of adventurous, doting, Seniors who will toss me into a doggy backpack if I get too tired on the hiking trail!!” I believe he would, too! He would adore seeing the country from the laps of those who deeply love and appreciate his silliness, his enthusiasm for life, his beauty (with the head of a tiny Pit Bull!) his amazing hug-ability, and his antics with his toys! He is not the boy for just ANYONE, but Pogo is EXACTLY the right dog for that special SOMEONE! Maybe YOU!

He’ll BOING, BOING, BOING right into your heart; Promise!

Pogo is Neutered and UTD on: Rabies, DHPP, Bordatella, Frontline Plus Flea treatment; Heartworm test Negative and 6 month Pro-Heart vaccine. He’s “Ready-to-go!!!”

Pogo is at FOSTER: Contact Deb at 916 996-6558

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