My name is CHIPS AHOY!

8 Weeks and 4lbs (As of 3/12/24), Terrier & Poodle, Female
Estimated full grown size: About 20 to 25lbs - Mom was about 20lbs 

Want to adopt? Submit an adoption application at socialteesnyc.org.

THEIR FOSTER PARENT SAYS: "Chips took a day or two to come out of her shell, but once she did it became clear that she's an incredibly sweet and intelligent pup. Chips loves to follow you around the house and will gladly sleep in your lap if you put her there. She'll whine a little bit if you leave her sight, but she won't full on bark and will quiet down very quickly within a minute or two. She's already improving on this front, so with a minor amount of effort (i.e. don't run to her when she's whining) I imagine she won't have any separation anxiety over the coming weeks and months. Best of all, Chips is extremely intelligent despite her age. It only took her a couple of minutes to learn "sit," and she's already getting the hang of "come." Chips also seems to understand "no" and will stop misbehaving when you say it. As she gets older I think Chips will be a fantastic dog!". 

Level of dog ownership experience needed:
INTERMEDIATE: As an adult, this dog will need significant structure and plenty of daily exercise, training, and mental stimulation –  60 to 90 consecutive minutes of movement in the morning plus potty break walks and brain games throughout the day. The adopter must have relevant primary care experience with a similar breed, temperament, and/or energy level. (Primary care experience includes ownership, fostering, or dog sitting as an adult, not a dog you grew up with.) Relevant puppy care experience is a huge plus, but bare minimum the adopter must have TONS of time and patience. Raising a puppy can be a lot of fun, but it’s also  tremendous work. Puppies’ personalities and exercise/stimulation requirements change dramatically between now and when they’re a year old as their bodies and brains develop, so an active lifestyle and the ability to adapt to a pup’s evolving needs are a must. We strongly urge professional dog training with a rewards based trainer from the get go. Adults only or kids ages 8 and up – all puppies go through a mouthy, rambunctious phase and often accidentally hurt children when playing. PLEASE DO YOUR OWN BREED RESEARCH to make sure you have a better understanding of the kind of temperament and exercise requirements this dog may have as an adult.

Energy level 
MEDIUM: Very young puppies sleep and nap a lot, but their energy level skyrockets when they become teens (4 months to around a year). As an adult, this dog will need significant structure and plenty of daily exercise, training, and mental stimulation – 60 to 90 consecutive minutes of movement in the morning plus potty break walks and brain games throughout the day at a minimum. (This is regardless of dog size – many small breeds were designed for lots of activity and will exhibit unwanted behavior when they’re understimulated.) 

Cuddle bug level: 

Medium — Likes to snuggle when  in the mood but often stays in own bed. 

Potty trained?

Working on This - Her accuracy on the pad has improved dramatically over the past couple days. Peeing on the pad is practically 100%; pooping is a little worse but has been getting better. 

Social with dogs?

Yes - - Some puppies are shy, others are bold, but all have the potential to be taught healthy socializing skills. It’s a huge part of raising a puppy and must be done carefully. How they interact with other dogs depends largely on how their humans help them learn to. 

Social with children?  (ALWAYS requires adult supervision)
Yes - - but most puppies are not a great match for a home with kids under age 6 because they go through intense mouthy play and rambunctious phases and often accidentally hurt young kids while playing. Children must always be monitored and taught to interact with dogs of any age respectfully.  

Social with cats?
Yes - - Almost all puppies have the potential to be friends with a cat. It’s on the adopter to know their cat’s temperament and preferences and to teach their puppy respectful manners. 

Mouthy behavior:

High! - - All puppies go through phases where they chew your stuff and grab your hands, arms, feet… puppies naturally explore the world, play, and test boundaries with their mouths. (It also happens when they’re teething.) Their teeth are super sharp though, so it can be a very painful phase for humans and other animals in the home. Proper training, outlets, and socialization are key.

Leash manners:

Currently a paws off puppy! In the middle of the vaccine series. 

Okay in the city?

Yes - this puppy will be okay to grow up in the city! 

Jumping to say hi?

Lower - pretty good about keeping all four on the floor 

Separation anxiety?

Lower - Chips will often whine if you leave her sight, but she doesn't completely freak out and will usually stop within a minute or two. As she gets older I doubt she'll have much, if any, separation anxiety.

Crate trained?

Yep/mostly – Seems comfortable in the crate, may whine a little at first but settles pretty quickly. We use the crate when we leave the pup alone and/or at night

How this dog ended up with Social Tees:
Most of our dogs come via partner groups who help us save them from shelters where they are at risk of euthanasia in Tennessee or St. Thomas. There are very few spay/neuter resources there and many more animals in those areas than there are people to adopt them. Rescue groups like ours bring them to the northeast where the desire for pets like these allows us to save their lives. 

PLEASE NOTE: We cannot guarantee any breed mix, exact age, or full grown size (if the dog is under a year old). We do our best with very educated guesses though! 

This animal is not at the Social Tees office, all are in foster homes.

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