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Noah is a 2-year-old Shih Tzu Maltese mix weighing around 9 pounds. He craves attention and constant companionship while being the best lovebug a person can ask for. But also likes to take naps when he decides he is tired. He is the best of both worlds when owning a pet.

He likes to follow people around the house and is content to lay next to them, but if they get up to walk around, he is right by their side. And because he wants so much closeness he is like glue to your feet that you have to watch not to step on his! There is a cliché that if you own a dog, you are never alone when you go to the bathroom and that is very true of Noah who will want to be there with you too.

Once Noah picks his person, he bonds quickly. The foster family noticed he wants to stick to his favorite individual wherever he goes, and if that person is not available then his next favorite person is who he wants. Noah can become overprotective of his favorite people if someone approaches them – but he is learning from the foster family this is not the appropriate behavior. The adopter will need to continue to enforce this correction. Noah thinks he is doing “his job” by putting his hind legs on the person’s legs and barking “mine”. But when he sees his protectiveness is not needed then he goes up to that same person on his own wanting to be petted by him/her.

When the foster mother works from home Noah positions himself on the floor near her computer chair settling in for the online meetings. He also loves her lap if he finds it available to sit on. Noah is smart and figured out if the office door is shut to paw at it saying “I need to attend that meeting too”.

Noah will be fine as the only dog in the adopter’s house or living with another dog. He previously lived in a house with two other dogs and a few older children so is accustomed to that. Based on the evaluation by his foster family he will fit well with a family where he will be assured to get his share of attention.

Noah is primarily a just-be-near-human dog. The fosters have seen him starting to have an interest in playing with dog toys such as carrying small ones or shaking them with his head (it is fun to watch). He is also learning to walk on a leash better since he realizes he can get more smells (he is a typical boy dog who likes to mark!).

He has some separation anxiety. When his foster family leaves the house, they put Noah in a crate to help him feel secure. They noticed he gets anxious when they leave such as whining. Usually he will settle down in a few minutes and go to sleep but other times he may continue to make noises. Noah has had a lot of changes recently so being left alone makes him a bit nervous.

Noah is about 50% potty trained. He will go to the bathroom outside if he is taken out regularly and then praised for it. But he does have accidents in the house since sometimes he needs to go right away. (FYI - Noah does sleep through the night in his crate without having to go.) Once he is neutered that will help with his control. The adopter will need to continue with Noah’s potty training especially since it will be a new environment for him.

Noah still needs to be neutered (which is included in the adoption fee) before his adoption can be considered as final. He can go to his permanent home now, but the adopter must be willing to take Noah to the rescue veterinarian clinic in Riverview, FL, for the neuter surgery, care for him during recovery, and take to the vet again for the stitch removal.

Noah’s adoption fee is $620. This dog comes microchipped, up to date on all necessary vaccines/rabies shots, heartworm tested, and neutered (which will take place after she in the adopter’s home but paid for by 4LD). He is currently being fostered in the Plant City/Valrico area.

The average lifespan for this small breed is 15 years. Therefore, Noah’s adopter will need to be prepared to care for him for around 13 more years so he will not have to move to a different home again.

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***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 team, 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 an 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.***