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Champ is a 4-year-old (vet’s guess) Jack Russel/Dachshund mix weighing around 20 pounds. Words to describe him are calm, loving, affectionate, happy, and enthusiastic. He is people-friendly and dog-friendly.

Champ is well-behaved and appreciative of having a home. He is an “everyone” type of dog equally compatible with and equally loving all members of his foster family. This dog is friendly to every person wagging his tail as someone walks by him inside the house or giving a greeting by getting up on his hind legs when someone returns home. And if there is an opportunity Champ will give a kiss such as on a hand if someone reaches to pet him or on an ankle that he can reach.

He really likes other dogs therefore would be great as a companion for a dog(s) already living in the adopter’s home. Champ wants to be part of the pack! At the foster home Champ will follow the other dogs wherever they go (such as outside or into the office) and sleeps near them at night. He likes playing with dogs with his mouth/paws and wags his tail while doing so.

While living at his foster home he sleeps in various dog beds (there are a lot to choose from and he switches from one to another enjoying himself). He loves exploring inside the fenced-in yard and rolls or sunbathes when the weather is nice. Then he likes to take short naps when he wants to relax. Champ is fine to be left alone because he is happy for a chance to sleep then has energy for his humans return.

Champ will be calm and lie quietly in the foster house when there is no activity going on. For example, when the foster mother works from home Champ positions himself on the dog bed near her desk settling in for a nap (warning he lightly snores). Then his eagerness to be part of the action and with humans makes him jump up walking next to the person to see where he/she is going. And after he realizes the person is staying in that room he will get into the dog bed that is located there.

During his vet exam it was discovered that his eyes have cataracts. The vet called it early onset juvenile cataracts since he is so young. She said she does not know if his eyes will get worse in a couple of years, or many years, or maybe never. The vet added that many dogs have a decline in vision as they age and his eyesight changes may just occur due to getting older not related to the cataracts. Currently his cataracts do not prevent him from seeing and interacting – it just something his new family will have to watch as he gets older then may need to take Champ to visit a specialist. .

Champ is used to going to the bathroom in the foster’s fenced-in backyard. He is learning how to walk on a leash but does NOT enjoy it. The foster family concluded Champ will need to live in an adopter’s house that has a fenced-in yard versus planning to walk him for outside for bathroom needs. Champ’s backstory is that he was “dumped” in a field and most likely hit by a car because when he was first rescued, he limped on his back leg and cried in pain (that leg is better now). Champ is comfortable being inside a house, riding in a car, within buildings, outside in a yard, etc. but when he is taken out on a leash onto a sidewalk or a road he becomes fearful and scared. If he sees a car he pulls back and crouches down as low as he can protecting himself. 4LD's guess is he may have experienced trauma so 4LD is suggesting that the adopter not try to walk Champ in unknown outside areas. He will be stress-free and content being inside or in a yard.

The average lifespan for this breed of dog is 15 years; therefore, Champ’s adopter will need to be prepared to keep him for around 11 more years so he will not have to move to a different home again.

Champ’s adoption fee is $400. This dog comes microchipped, neutered, up to date on all necessary vaccines/rabies shots, and heartworm tested being negative. He is currently being fostered in the Plant City/Valrico Florida area.

NOTE = Recently Champ attended an adoption event and thoroughly enjoyed himself. He thought each person at the event was there specifically FOR HIM so he gave him/her a greeting and kisses. And each dog at the event either got sniffs from Champ or were watched by him to see what activity was going on. The nicest part for the 4LD team working at the event was that when needed Champ would stay in his dog bed not making a sound so was labeled “the good dog!”.

***We are a foster-based rescue with no shelter or facility to view our dogs, and our address is a mailing address only. Please be patient as we are an all-volunteer rescue, and our rescue dogs are in various loving foster homes throughout West-Central Florida. As a general rule we try to limit our adoptions to within the state of FL. If interested in one of our dogs, please fill out a foster or adopt application at www.4luckydogs.org, and we will contact you by phone/text if we feel your application is the best fit out of the ones received.***