Sussex Spaniel puppies and dogs in Minnetonka, Minnesota

Hi, my name is Misty. I'm a surrender from Missouri. "Hi! My name is Nellie! I came to SHH as Misty, but foster mom and dad call me Nellie! I came to SHH as a Fighter Fund pup because I have a genetic condition causing me to be deaf and blind. I already had my first big vet appt and they determined my condition isn't causing any pain (yay!), so I'll be ready to start looking for my forever home a lot sooner than they thought! Let me start by saying I know I'm ADORABLE (!) but my foster mom wants you to understand that my condition does require a very special home and she is going to be very picky in deciding who will be my forever family (as she should be). Nellie is an absolute gem and deserves the best life! She is so smart and acclimated so well to our home, lifestyle and routine. She's learning to go to the door when she has to go potty, has memorized the layout of our home and plays with our resident dogs like any other pup! However, with that being said, she does require a lot of extra precautions, on top of being a happy, wild, playful puppy. Her forever home needs to understand that right now, she cannot do stairs and does not understand ledges, railings, etc. and can squeeze through just about anything! Meaning, your house has to be one level or the entire thing has to be puppy proofed to the extreme for her safety. If she starts to chew on something she shouldn't or run towards an area that is unsafe, she cannot hear you if you're trying to get her to stop, so there cannot be any visible cords, sharp edges, breakable items, or anything along those lines within her reach. You also can't leave her on your couch or bed unattended, as she will try to jump off. She also has very sharp puppy teeth and her favorite things to chew on are your hands and ankles (!)- we're working on this constantly by giving her toys and other chew toys, but she will not be able to be around little ones unattended, as she does not understand she can't jump and chew on hands, ears, feet, etc. She is the SWEETEST thing though and is very attached to her humans- they provide her a lot of comfort, and if she cannot find you, she gets very nervous and will start crying. Right now, she comes to work with me all day every day, so is rarely ever left alone (which is another reason we'll be very picky...). Nellie is going to need a home that can spend most of their time with her. She cannot be left home alone for 8 hours a day. We've began putting her in a very safe pen area with a bed and plenty of toys for very short periods of time to work on self- soothing and being alone, but she's not a super fan yet. We also let her sleep in bed with us, so if you do not plan on allowing that, please know you will have very long nights, similar to a newborn. Every time she wakes up, she needs to feel you and know she's not alone, so if she is in a kennel, it will be a very big adjustment. We also think a home that has a dog to help show her the way and guide her is crucial. We currently use a lot of touch when it comes to letting her know where we are, letting her know her food is down, and even when wanting her to follow us, but we have 5 other dogs and they have been so important for her. They've helped build her confidence and will walk alongside her to guide her outside or to where we are. HOWEVER, she cannot hear a dog's warning/growl around food or toys, or when they don't want to play anymore, so a very patient and understanding dog is a MUST. Honestly, anyone would be lucky to have this amazing pup and she is such a fighter and doesn't let anything stand in her way! We just love her so much and know exactly what she is going to need and want those interested to have a full understanding of her needs and what we'll require in her forever home. Ideally, having experience with a deaf/blind pup would be a huge plus. Secondhand Hounds does require a home visit before being approved for adoption, and this will be very important for Nellie. We will need to make sure the house is safe and "Nellie ready. If you plan on applying, please be prepared for everything outlined in her bio, as we will not pick a home that isn't ready for her. We know she's stinkin' adorable, but please know that her forever family cannot let her cuteness be the reason they want to adopt her. We have fostered many times with SHH and are well-adapted to the adoption process- please know we will happily answer any questions future adopters may have once receiving your application. Also, please note that she does not get spayed until the end of March, so she will not be able to go to her forever home until the beginning of April. Can't wait to meet you! -Nellie and her foster family From the vet staff: "I arrived at Secondhand Hounds as part of the Fighter Fund Program due to being blind/deaf. The SHH Vet Team determined that my coloring (merle) is most likely the cause and that I have been blind/deaf since birth. It is important that my future adopter does their research on owning a dog that cannot see or hear. There are some important things to consider like keeping the configuration of my home the same so I can learn the layout as well as clutter free."