My name is Charlie!

Charlie is a tiny little guy at just 7 lbs and is a true little sweetheart. He is definitely a companion dog and just loves to be with his person. From his actions it would appear that he was always kept inside but slowly he is learning the ways of being a real dog. He is approximately 3 – 4 years old.

Here is what his foster family had to say:

Charlie is a pure gem. He is so precious that I want to keep him! I would if it weren’t for my sucky little dog at home. He came to us quite timid and scared of everything. Charlie has progressed so quickly in his short time with us and shown me that he loves to be loved. He is growing confidence quickly and willing to go up to strangers and greet them. He is starting to play and run around the house with energy as well as snuggle in his blanket. Charlie’s cutest thing is burrowing his face under a blanket when he naps.

I want the new adopters to know that Charlie needs a bit of time to warm up in new surroundings, but once he has become comfortable, he really wants to fit in to the family. He loves to follow me around and be near me in the room. He is a perfect companion and low maintenance. Charlie is with me all day at work and home and you would never know he’s there. He is skittish at first when strangers hold him, but if you keep a hand on his back he calms down quickly and appreciates the security feeling.

Charlie ranges with his energy level. He is a heavy sleeper and needs to be woken when it’s time to go to work with me. He sleeps in his bed at work and then wanders around when he wakes. Charlie has his most energy at supper time and early evening. He loves to be chased around the house and is cat like with chasing my hand underneath the blanket.

Charlie has been with my kids who are 3 and 10 years old. He is getting better at getting comfortable to lie on my youngest lap and fall asleep. He has growled when my son gets near him but it is lessening. He really is human friendly overall. He greets everyone who enters our house and workplace. He also has jumped up on my in-law’s lap and snuggled up for a nap.

Charlie is petrified of the vacuum and growls and circles it even when it is not running. For his own security I remove him from the room when vacuuming. He shows shyness when I go to pick up him to either take him outside or put him on the bed. He is really good with males and females. He has not hidden from people when they enter the room.

Charlie was scared of my big and small dog at first. He growled when they approached him, but now he sleeps in the same bed with them and beside them on the couch. He doesn’t go out of his way to socialize with them and sometimes seems to think he is the third wheel and will go sit off by himself sometimes. He ideally would be best in a house with no other dogs or at least not dogs that are in his face. Due to his small size, he seems to just do his own thing and I would worry he would feel ignored. Charlie has not been on a walk but has encountered a pup at my work, he just looked at him and no reaction.

There has been no destructive behaviour. He has never been crated at our house. He has not been left for long periods either. I take him out to pee prior to leaving and place him on the couch before I leave. He is still there when I return. He whimpers for a minute when I leave him in the office alone, but then settles in his bed. He is shaken by loud noises but he is getting better and more comfortable with this as he progresses. Charlie did not bark for the first 5 days when we brought him home. He occasionally barks when someone comes to the door but only one or two times which I believe may be triggered by my dogs barking.

I believe that Charlie was probably fed human food as he didn’t seem to like eating dog food and didn’t eat for the first few days without being hand-fed. He mooches for human food and whimpers when he smells it. We do not feed him scraps and he is now eating his dog food but I don’t think he likes it. Charlie does not know any commands but once he learned his name (which suits him so well), is getting great at coming when called (unless it’s time to go outside) then he cowers.

Charlie is on his way to being house trained. He needs prompting to go and carried out at the moment. It could be that in his previous home he was allowed to go on papers rather than being taken outside. He would need further training and a good routine to be completely dependable in this area and at the moment we just ensure he gets out regularly. We never crate him and I think it would be very sad if someone were to do that to him. He also does not walk with the leash so again it could be due to never being walked. He has not bolted on me outside. Charlie is quite happy to go back inside. I would be cautious though because he is really fast when he wants to be and has gone straight to the front door when opened. I believe the poor boy was just never taken outside before so this will continue to need work to get him used to going out. Charlie is an angel in the car. He sleeps in the front seat, with the seat warmer on and curls up in his blanket.

Charlie warms my heart. I want to keep him to be honest. He needs time to get to know you, then will be your best friend. We are quite close. He is good with males and females. He would do best without other dogs in the house, or dogs who would just leave him be. He is smart and a quick learner. Charlie would do best with someone who can be devoted to house training and be around throughout the day. I think being left home all day would make him feel sad and ignored. Charlie is a cute character and people easily fall in love him.