Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
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Story
About Ruby Special Needs: Ruby is a very special girl who was born with some neurologic abnormalities: Holes in her skull with a small portion of brain protruding out: This has been surgically corrected and she now has titanium mesh covering the largest holes in her skull. This should not be an issue in the future for Ruby. Structural differences: Ruby’s brain is an unusual shape, with less than half of the normal amount of brain the average dog has. She is almost completely blind because the section of her brain that controls vision is missing. She has a limited capacity for processing and learning compared to other dogs. This will be a lifelong condition for Ruby. Hydrocephalus: because Ruby’s brain is smaller than normal, the missing parts have filled in with fluid. This condition is sometimes called “water on the brain”. Some dogs require a shunt (a tube placed into their head to drain excess fluid out) but Ruby’s hydrocephalus does not cause severe pressure inside her head, so she does not require surgical treatment for this condition at this time.What does this mean for her adopter? Cognitive challenges: Ruby’s ability to be trained is limited. She is not the kind of dog who will have a repertoire of fancy tricks. Potty training has been more challenging for Ruby than for other dogs, but her foster says she thrives on a consistent potty routine and does amazing as long as she’s offered frequent opportunities to go outside. She will reliably go potty immediately when let outside. She would do really well with someone who is home to let her out frequently; if not presented with ample opportunities to go outside, she does have pee accidents. She may never learn not to chew things or to eat people food, so her adopter will need to make sure her environment is safe for her (no chewable items or trash left out, keep her behind a baby gate during meals, etc). Walking off leash and having reliable recall may not be something she’s capable of. Her personality is very “go with the flow” and she’s more than happy to do whatever you’re doing. She loves to relax on the couch and would really like it if her adopter allows her to sleep in the bed, because snuggling is her favorite activity. Blindness: Ruby is almost completely blind, but she’s does have some very limited vision. She’s very capable and her blindness does not cause her any real trouble. She can walk on a leash and navigate new spaces very easily with a little bit of assistance. She sometimes needs to be physically guided into her crate or toward her food dish, because when she’s particularly excited, her wiggles + blindness make it a little more difficult for her to find her way. Long term health: Ultimately, Ruby’s situation is so rare that she is in uncharted territory. It is hard for even a veterinary neurologist to predict what Ruby’s future will hold. It is very likely that Ruby will develop seizures in the future due to her unusual brain, but we cannot predict when this may happen, or how severe they may be. Seizures are often able to be controlled with oral medication, but sometimes they cannot. Ruby’s adopter should be prepared for the potential for seizures, for needing daily medication, and for the potential of a shorter life span than average; just like any special needs animal, her adopter will need to be flexible, proactive, and be an advocate for Ruby so that she can receive the care she needs. Social People: Ruby loves everyone she meets. She greets people with very happy body language, and can sometimes be an excited jumper. Ruby’s foster has never seen any behavior that would be considered defensive, nervous about people, or aggressive, she seems to trust and immediately adore everyone she meets. Children: Ruby has lived with a 3 year old child in her foster home, and has done very well with him. She is mellow and non-reactive with her human foster brother, and often seeks out interaction from him. She can be a bit of a bulldozer when excited so young kids might get knocked over when she’s worked up, but she is not aggressive with kids. Dogs: Ruby LOVES other dogs. She is sometimes overly excited when greeting other dogs, and due to her neuro and cognitive limitations, she does not always understand other dogs’ communication. Being mostly blind, she can’t see their body language. She does best with other dogs who are playful and patient. Older dogs who are a little less tolerant of play are not likely to be a huge fan of Ruby, as she doesn’t really respond to dog-dog correction and will be persistent in trying to get them to play. She gets along very well with the younger dogs in her foster household, and is consistently friendly, with no dog-aggressive or reactive behavior. She would definitely enjoy sharing her home with another dog, as she finds it helpful to follow other dogs’ lead in the daily routine. Ruby has a friendly interest in cats, but as above with dogs, she does not always understand when to leave them alone. She has not shown any aggressive behavior with cats, but could definitely overwhelm a shy cat. She sometimes follows her foster sibling cat around a little too close, or will try to paw at her playfully which many cats would find scary. Ruby could potentially do well with a more confident, friendly, playful cat who wants to be friends.Crate training: Ruby’s foster has been feeding her every meal in her crate, so Ruby finds her crate a cozy place to hang out and will go in on her own if given the option. She will run inside it when she hears her food being served, and will nap in it with the door open during the day. She does sometimes bark in her crate when first left alone, but generally relaxes quickly and tolerates the crate really well. Overall personality: Ruby is a very delightful, affectionate girl. Her medical situation and limitations really do not impact her ability to be a loving, happy dog. She has a very happy-go-lucky attitude and enjoys a lot of the same things any dog does: couch naps, chew toys, wrestling with her dog siblings, and going on walks. Her personality is very pure and sweet, and her foster likes to joke that she must be missing the part of her brain that makes a dog grumpy.
