- Breed: Pitbull mix
- Gender: Female, spayed
- Age: 5 year old
- Size: 50 pounds
- Good with…
- Dogs? No small dogs…big dogs are a maybe!
- Cats? Sorry, nope
- Kids? Yes, 12+!
My name is Zazu, and I am a sweet, snuggly girl with a heart (and eyes) of gold!
History
I came to Ithaca, NY from a shelter in Virginia in 2020. My original owner kept me in single rooms in shared rentals, where I didn’t always have the space or socialization I needed. Since then, my owner has left the country and left me with my foster family. My foster family has known me for the past five years, but this is my first time living with them full-time.
Personality
I’m a sweet, affectionate girl with a big personality! I am a very expressive girl, and wear many of my emotions on my face. You will see me respond to all of my favorite words with my ears up and head turned to make sure I heard you well: “Walk” “Dog” “Hungry” “Breakfast” “Dinner” “Play” “Outside” “Look” and “Go” are some of my favorites! When you get dressed in the morning for work, or leave, I curl up in a circle on the bed with a sad face that says “Wish you were staying!” When you get back home, I get very wiggly and excited with a happy face that says “Yay! You’re Home!”
I bond closely with my people and thrive on gentle praise and routines. I like to stay close to my person even if I have space to roam, and I enjoy keeping an eye on your routines so that I can learn how to spend the day with you. I am also good at keeping myself distracted with bones and toys while you work. My foster family calls this my “job”. When I notice you are working from home, or are otherwise distracted, I will get to working on a bone of my choice. When you aren’t able to work from home, I am an excellent house-sitter. I have never destroyed anything in the house or shown any signs of separation anxiety when left alone, so don’t need to be crated for safety or to protect the home, but if a crate is available, I will sometimes use it to take a long nap.
When you aren’t busy, I have plenty of favorite games for us to play! My most favorite game is “Chase Zazu!” I like it when my people chase me around the house, the living room, or even just a table while I run away! It’s especially fun if you hide or surprise me from a different entrance! Of course, the “chase game” is only fun with people that I know and trust…otherwise I might not know it’s play, and might get scared! So maybe hold off on “chase zazu!” until I’ve been with you long enough that I know you are only playing. My second favorite game is wrestling with my foster parents. My love language is physical affection and playful tousling…just expect lots of kisses in return!
I love wearing sweaters, especially in the winter! I have such very short fur, it doesn’t provide any warmth against a NY winter! I’m also a huge fan of electric blankets in the winter. Once the electric blanket comes out, I run over and snuggle up on it for as long as you’ll let me. 😊
When I am very happy, I lay on my back with my eyes closed and relax. Sometimes I will do this with a toy in my hands to make things a little more exciting.
My original owner was a vegetable farmer who introduced me to various vegetable scraps over my time there. I love raw vegetables, especially root vegetables, as a treat. My original owner fed me one unseasoned cooked porkchop for my birthday each year, and I so hope that my new owner will continue that tradition (or something similar).
I am smart, food motivated, and thus a great learner! My foster family has taught me “sit”, “down”, “stay”, “leave it”, “drop it”, “roll over”, “shake”, and “wait”. I have a lot of room in my big head to learn more if you have the goods (treats!) and use positive reinforcement!
I love looking outside. My favorite hobby at my foster home is looking out my living room window at the yard. If you tell me to “look”, I will run over to the closest window to see what you see. I also love to sun myself on the porch, oftentimes upside down, and see what the world looks like from there. The world looks even better from a walk! I enjoy taking short walks with my person and smelling anything interesting along the way. I have a lot of excited energy when we start, even pulling some, but within 5 minutes, I slow down and often gently ask to stop altogether.
I love snuggling with you throughout the day, whether sitting on your lap or being your small spoon. At the end of the night I become very snuggly and have a hard time keeping my eyes open. I will push you gently with my nose to let you know I need your help to get under any blankets nearby. Once I tuck myself into the blankets next to you, I snore like a train until morning. Whereas most dogs will get you up early for breakfast, I am content to stay in bed well into the AM until you are ready to start the day with me.
Cohabitation
With people: I love people and bond quickly with my owner. I can be distant the first time I meet anyone new, but the next time I see them I will get wiggly and excited and happy to see them! So when you first come to meet me, I might be distant. That’s ok, just come a 2nd time please!
Sometimes I get too excited to meet people, and accidentally knock them over! For this reason I should not live with elderly, fragile, or mobility-challenged folks, or with kids under 12.
With dogs: I have done well with some big dogs in the past, but should not share a home with another dog. I don’t do well with other dogs when there are food, treats, or toys around. I resource guard and have pinned dogs to the ground in this situation. Though I have NEVER bitten or snapped at a dog in these situations, it’s clear that I’m stressed and also that I am causing the other dog stress. I would do great as an only dog!!!
With cats: Sorry, not a good mix. They trigger my prey drive, I see cats the same as squirrels.
Favorite Activities
- Licking (kisses)
- Sleeping under the covers
- Smelling interesting smells on walks
- Playing chase
- Chewing bones (especially shredded wood bones)
- Sunning
- Laying upside down
Why I am looking for a new home
My owner moved out of the country without finding a new home for me, saying it was too hard to do that. My foster mom had been friends with my owner, so stepped up to foster me. But as there are other dogs in her house (and I don’t live well with other dogs), it’s a perpetual rotation of dogs in crates to keep everyone safe. This is not a long-term solution.
Medical
I am in good health! I am up to date on vaccines, am spayed and fit!
Summary
I am a spirited, sweet, silly, loving girl who has quality snuggles and a big heart to offer to my new family. I have loved all the humans I’ve met and am excellently behaved. Life with my previous owner was tumultuous as we moved from place to place before she left the country. I am hoping to find my forever home with someone who is committed to being my person. I will fall in love with you fast and hard (at the 2nd visit!) – I only hope that you will feel the same about me!
If you are interested in adopting me, please fill out an online adoption application and live close to Ithaca, Syracuse, Binghamton, Rochester, or Elmira. We do home visits on every applicant, and can’t do home visits where we don’t have local volunteers.
