Heidi is a sweet, cuddly 2 year old chihuahua / pug mix that weighs 13 lbs. She is fully grown and will not get any larger. Heidi is the type of dog who will spend every waking moment staring at her favorite person with complete and adoration. She loves nothing more than being held close and cuddled, and will share the sweetest kisses in return. She may act a little shy when she meets someone new, but it only takes a couple of minutes before her friendly and outgoing personality really shines. Once she is comfortable with you, she's bubbly and tries to jump in your arms the minute she sees you walk through the door. You'll know when she's really happy because she will make these quirky squeaky sounds. She is the perfect work from home companion because she would love nothing more than to sit on your lap or on the chair next to you all day while you work. She will occasionally get up to chew on a bone before hopping back up in your lap for a nap. She sometimes will even rest her head on your chest as if she is melting into you. She is a big fan of sunbathing in the backyard too and will sprawl out in the grass to soak up the sun. While she loves to be with her humans, she's not super confident enough to go on outings in busy public places. She is much more of a homebody that would prefer if her human is home with her more often than not. She is not a one-person dog by any means though, and she really welcomes affection from anyone who will offer it. When she wants attention from someone new, she will slowly walk towards them and wait patiently for them to reach out to pet her. Once she knows you'll give her some chin scratches or cuddles, she will melt into your arms and welcome all the love. Heidi would thrive with someone who is home often, such as a work-from-home family, retiree, or someone with a flexible schedule. Her ideal family is one that will cherish her affectionate, silly personality and make her feel safe, loved, and included in their everyday lives. In return, Heidi promises to fill your home with endless cuddles, sweet kisses, and the happiest little squeaks.

Heidi is lower to medium energy, so she's a perfect mix of active and laid back. She isn't big on running around or playing with toys, but she absolutely loves puzzle games and mental stimulation toys that involve treats. This girl would sell her soul for some yummy treats. Her favorite toys are treat dispensing toys, puzzle games, and snuffle mats. When it comes to exercise, Heidi is happiest taking leisurely walks at her own pace, especially along quieter nature trails or in low-traffic neighborhoods where she can sniff, explore, and enjoy her surroundings without too much commotion. She doesn't need an intense exercise routine to be happy and would much rather take a relaxed stroll followed by some quality time with her favorite people. She would be the perfect work from home companion because she is happy to hang out with her human all day. Give her a cozy dog bed near your desk, a couple of her favorite Bam Bones, and she is perfectly content to hang out with you all day while you work. She will need more practice and exposure to going to dog-friendly stores and outings in public places to continue working on important socialization skills. She's the type of pup that would love if her family enjoys leisurely outdoor time in the backyard. If you love to garden or spend time hanging out on the back porch, she is always happy to join you. She also loves having lazy days cuddling on the couch while you binge watch movies too. Heidi would also be a wonderful match for someone who enjoys a slower, more relaxed lifestyle. Whether you're gardening in the backyard, enjoying a cup of coffee on the back porch, or soaking up the sunshine, she would love nothing more than to be by your side. She enjoys spending time outdoors in peaceful surroundings and is always happy to tag along for a little fresh air.

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Heidi is dog friendly and cat friendly. She would prefer a home without young children or lots of foot traffic from kids going in/out all day. She would best with teenagers who will respect her boundaries and understand that she may take some time to be comfortable with them. She would be happiest if she was only in a home with adults who spend lots of time around the house. She was previously in a home with a few small dogs and enjoyed their company. She coexisted beautifully with them and was happy to share her personal space with them. She is a little more reserved with larger dogs initially and takes a little bit of time to get comfortable with them. Initially she will avoid them and walk away if they try to get too close at first. When she knows they are going to be gentle and respectful of her, she warms up more to them. She would thrive in a home with a smaller, lower energy, submissive dog that will respect her personal space initially. She would be perfectly content being the only dog in the home too. She had a cat in her first foster home and just kept her distance from her. She didn't try to interact with the kitty at all and just coexisted peacefully with her. She would be happy to share her space with a cat that has lived with dogs before and will just coexist with her in the home. 

Heidi is kennel trained, potty trained, and leash trained. She sleeps in a kennel at night with no fuss and will stay asleep all night, but has to be bribed with some yummy treats to go inside initially. She would really love to snuggle up in bed with her humans every night so she can get in as many cuddles as possible though. She has done well with leash training, but she is still working on building her self confidence enough to go on longer walks. She will need additional practice to perfect her leash walking skills in her forever home. She can get excited when she sees other dogs on walks and will bark at them so they keep their distance from her. She is easily redirected with some treats though and will stop barking when you toss a couple of treats on the ground nearby. She has done well with potty training and her fosters are teaching her how to use a doggy door to go outside when she needs to potty. If she doesn't have a dog door in her forever home, she will signal she needs to go outside by going to the back door and pacing in front of it. She does need a consistent schedule and be taken out every few hours while she transitions to a new schedule in her forever home. 

Heidi's ideal home would be one where she can be included in her family’s daily life and get plenty of love, cuddles, and attention. She would love to live in a home with a fenced yard so she can sprawl out in the grass, sunbathe and relax. She’d likely do fine in a low traffic apartment or townhouse in a quieter neighborhood. She would not do well in a busy city space with lots of traffic, loud noises, and people walking on the sidewalks. Since Heidi prefers quieter environments, her family should understand that busy public outings may take time and patience as she continues building confidence and socialization skills. She would thrive in a home with another friendly, low energy, submissive dog, but would be perfectly happy being the center of attention as the only dog. No public dog parks for this sweet girl because who wants to risk your pup catching a disease or being bullied on by other random dogs anyways. She would love a family who spends plenty of time at home and wants a sweet little companion by their side throughout the day. Whether you’re working from home, relaxing in the backyard, gardening, or unwinding on the couch, Heidi would be happiest simply being included in whatever you’re doing. With her sweet personality, love of cuddles, and adorable little squeaks, Heidi will bring endless love and companionship to the family lucky enough to call her their own.