My name is Wrigley!

UPDATED BIO 08/22/09: Wrigley is a 8 y/o 8.5# Yorkie boy who is being fostered in West Palm Beach. Wrigley is hanging out in his foster home, fitting right in with the family of two-legged and four-legged companions. He has the routine of the household down pat, although sometimes he is still hesitant to go out in the back without his Foster Mom. He loves lounging in one of his many dog beds during the "dog day" of summer and still loves his trips to the dog park. Foster mom has discovered that he is actually fine with mellow big dogs, but loves to bark at the big dogs who run on the other sound of the fence at the dog park, and he still is fine with the little dogs - as long as they are neutered. He really is a friendly, great little dog, he just has some issues - but don't we all? Wrigley would do great in a quiet home with experienced, understanding dog owners.



UPDATED BIO 7/9/09: Wrigley is a 8 y/o 8.5# Yorkie boy who is being fostered in West Palm Beach. He was a little tubby when he came into rescue, he was able to lose some weight, but then has gained a little since he is in training using the clicker, positive reinforcement, and food. It's really hot here in Florida, and while Wrigley loves to walk when the weather is cooler, he is not so keen on it when it is over 90 degrees out - hey though, who can blame him? He and his foster brothers go to the local dog park several times a week for exercise and socialization; everyone there knows Wrigley and always asks about him. Wrigley likes the little dogs in the dog park and is great with them - as long as the male dogs are neutered, otherwise, he gets jealous. He likes to bark at the big dogs on the other side when they are rough-housing, but is pretty calm when things on the "big dog side" slow down. Wrigley is slowly learning to be accepting of the big dogs with treats, just as the big dogs are learning to love Wrigley as they get treats when they come over to the fence to greet him. Wrigleys activity level seems to be able to go either way - he seems to prefer to snooze all day in this heat, but is raring to go when I ask him if he wants to go to the park. Wrigley has met a lot of new people lately, both at the park and in the house. He is very friendly and outgoing - but he needs to be the one who is doing the approaching. He has some fear issues about being picked up or handled roughly, but he is very food-motivated, so people at the park who want to interact with him get a little food, ask him to sit, and then can feed and pet him on his terms. He greets everyone who comes through the front door with a wagging tail. He loves to chew on his soft toys and make them squeak, and he will also play a little tug-of- war with them. Wrigley is a very well-behaved little dog who doesn't bolt out the door, knows commands, sleeps in his own bed, and loves to go on car rides.


Wrigley's continuing cough has been diagnosed as a collapsed trachea; this is a common condition found in small dogs, and this is why it is always recommended that small dogs wear a harness when walking, not a collar! There is nothing that can be done about this condition at this time. The collapsed trachea causes him to cough a little more that a normal dog, but it doesn't affect his breathing.


Wrigley needs an experienced owner who has had training and positive reinforcement experience. He also needs an adult only household. Don't miss out on this wonderful little dog because of his 'issues' - he's very smart and will make a lovely companion for just the right home.




UPDATED BIO 06-03-09: Wrigley is an 8 y/o 8.2# yorkie boy who is being fostered in West Palm Beach, FL. Wrigley saw a pet behaviorist recently; she saw immediately that he was fearful when approached and confirmed that his problem does lay in fear. When he becomes fearful, he feels the need to defend himself, so this confirms his foster mother's feeling that he has definitely been physically abused in the past. He is following a behavior modification program which includes clicker trainer, positive reinforcement and SIT (Structured Interactive Training), along with several other behavior modifications. He learned to sit in a couple of days with the help of the clicker and food and now sits whenever asked - for example when he wants up on the couch, or when he goes out the door for a walk. He even went to the dog park the other day which he loved! He interacted with the other dogs just fine - although he did have to be the adult and tell the bratty puppies to back down - which of course they didn't! He also interacted with the people who were there with enthusiasm. All strangers that meet him are instructed to follow a "hand touch" technique and wait for Wrigley to approach them, and not intimidate him by approaching him.


Wrigley needs a home where his new owner has training experience and is willing to learn new techniques (positive reinforcement only) if they do not already know them, and someone who understands 'doggie language'. Wrigley is a very cute and sweet dog who gets along fine with small dogs and cats, who loves his walks and his belly rubbed, but his new owner needs to understand that Wrigley is not a dog that can be rough-housed with or yelled at; alternatively, he needs an owner with patience and understanding. His fear issue will probably never be completely overcome, but his behavior can be managed with an experienced, patient, gentle and understanding owner. Under no circumstances will we consider adopting Wrigley iinto a home with children under the age of 18! Qualified adopters will be asked to discuss their training qualifications.



UPDATED BIO 05/08/09: Wrigley is an 8 y/o 8.2# yorkie boy who was rescued from a South Florida shelter, where euthanasia was likely to be his fate. You see, when the Vet Tech at the shelter tried to take Wrigley out of his cage so that he could be examined, Wrigley snapped at him. Though that happens daily in shelters, especially with small breeds who are very frightened in this scary and noisy environment, it makes a dog's chance of being adopted, or even rescued, very slim. UYR decided that Wrigley was worth taking a chance and bringing him home. It turns out Wrigley does have some behavioral issues. He is a very sweet little boy who likes to get belly runs and follows Foster Mom all around. However, Wrigley can only accept "lovin" on his terms right now. He has snapped at FM before, always when she is doing something to him that he doesn't like.


Wrigley will be seeing a Board Certified Doggie Behaviorist next week in an effort to understand his issues and help guide Foster Mom to be able to work with him on his behavior. We feel that Wrigley will need an experienced and patient owner who is willing to continue to work with him in the "Behavior Department"; but he's a smart little boy and we feel very optimistic that he can be adopted into a loving and fur-ever home. PLEASE NOTE: Wrigley cannot be adopted to a family with children. Please stay tuned for updates on Wrigley. He is a loving boy who needs to learn to be loved.





Update 04/01/09: Wrigley has adjusted just fine to his foster home. He is a very friendly and outgoing dog, and wags his tail and greets everyone who comes through the door. He is fine with kitties and the other dogs in the house, but it's probably best he does not go with dogs too young as he doesn't appreciate the other dogs engaging him too much in play. He has barked at larger dogs on his walks, so we think it's also best he go with small dogs his size. He has found the little squeaky toys in the house, and like any other dog, loves to chew and squeak on them. He also loves his walks, which is a good thing because he needs his exercise! He has also lost 1/2 pound and is down to 8.2 lbs. For the first couple of weeks, he seemed fearful of going out in the back yard, and his foster mother would just put his leash on him, and go out front with him. Now, for the most part, he is fine with going out in the back yard, and if he is hestitant, his foster mother goes out with him. He is a little insecure about being picked up, and needs to understand why he is being picked up and needs to be approached slowly and gently. He is not a yappie dog, but will let you know when he wants something - like when he wants to be fed, go out, or leave the vets office!


He sleeps in one of his little beds on the floor at night next to the bed, and during the day, snoozes wherever he sees fit. He will be going in the middle of April for a dental and might very well lose some of his toofers as his teeth are horrible. Don't let his age and gray muzzle fool you! He is a mature dog, but he has all the positive traits of having years of experience being a pet - he is completely housebroken, he know the ropes and how to act properly, he is crate trained and hops in his crate (for short periods like car rides), he knows what he wants and how to communicate with people, he walks pretty well on a leash, he has enough energy to be fun and go out and play, but not so much energy that he is exhausting and never stops.


Wrigley needs a home with special people who understand that he may have suffered some abuse in his past, and understand he needs to be treated gently. Please consider adopting this former stray dog!


ORIGINAL BIO 3/11/2009: Hiya - my name is Wrigley; I'm the newest yorkie boy here in Florida. The shelter guess-timated me at 8 y/o, and I'm a chubby 8.7#, but FM says I'm gonna go on a strict diet because I'm a little too round in the belly region! (the nerve!?) I was found wandering the streets all by my lonesome playing chicken with the cars. Some nice people picked me up and brought me to the shelter where I waited for my family to come get me. When nobody came to claim me as their very own long lost boy, I had almost given up hope. Then my FM came to get me! Yippers!!!! Boy, was I a happy little boy to be sprung outta that noisy and scary place. When the cage opened, I jumped into her arms like a froggy. When I first arrived at the shelter, I even tried to nip at one of the workers who came to give me shots. So, for now, I'm meant to live with big people only (none of those quick little people who run around and yell a lot... I think they're called "kids.") FM is going to continue to evaluate me; she thinks I'm very friendly, but scared from being in the shelter and that maybe I'm not used to being picked up and loved on too much. I showed her how sweet I am by giving her lots and lots of kisses on the car ride home (even though my breath is kinda stinky.... I need to get my toofers cleaned soon).


Wrigley's FM here:


It seems Wrigley may be housetrained - no accidents yet, and he seems like he knows where to do his "business." He also walks very well on a leash, and gets along just fine with other dogs. Right now, Wrigley doesn't like being picked up. If approached slowly, he does let you pick him up, and we will be working with him on this to show him that we love him and would never hurt him. Stay tuned for updates as we get to know him better.