KIKI HAS A BITE HISTORY

Kiki was surrendered by her elderly adopters two years ago for being too much for them to handle after she nipped the cable guy. She's not the same dog she was when she came in. She is able to trust people and she has even learned to play with other dogs. She doesn't take a good photograph, but in person she's a very pretty pied girl.

Other dogs with behavior issues have come and gone, but Kiki remains on the shelf. We can't think why. She's a smart girl and a sweetheart who loves her people, loves tummy rubs, and is great company. She's very easy going 90 per cent of the time, and the other 10% she's asking for tummy rubs or a walk or her toy. She is a good girl and she needs her own family.

Though we thought she had some allergy problems, it may be that Kiki has a little fungus that makes her feet itchy. She has just completed a course of medication, and she gets twice a week special shampoo that has made a big difference! 

In early October, Kiki had surgery to remove the mammary glands on her right side. The tumor was caught early and the vet says she has a 75-80% chance of never having a recurrence. If there is a recurrence, another surgery could remove the tumor. Breast cancer in dogs is different from breast cancer in people. 

Kiki's early life was spent making puppies. She also had a terrible leg injury that resulted in a long scar along her left rear leg. As a result, she hates being on the exam table at the vet's and she'll need a kind vet who will allow some long term desensitization. Lots of trips to the vet where getting on the table means treats, treats, treats! Great treats, too! We are talking about whole sardines, cantaloupe and smoked salmon—like that. Caviar.

Kiki has some hearing loss--we think. She might just be very stubborn. She responds well to high pitched sounds like whistles, and she knows some hand signals—the same signals all the resident dogs know: sit, wait, go there, come here, what on earth do you think you are doing?, etc. Her ears are easily infected, so regular cleaning is important. Kiki has no problem letting her foster mom clean her ears or examine her.

Kiki is mostly housebroken, though every once in a while she will find an out of the way spot to poop. Why she does that, we don't know. A good schedule and closing doors has been a help. She's good in an ex pen. She is ok in a crate, but she doesn't like it.

Kiki is a smart girl and she loves intellectual stimulation. Her foster mom claims she could learn a million tricks if her foster mom were smart enough to train her. She loves to go for walks, enjoys chewing her nylabones, destroys stuffies ruthlessly, and loves a tummy rub. She loves to be held on her back like a baby. In the morning, she'll come to you and stretch up your body and pat you while she smiles. Your heart will just melt.

Kiki's hearing problems and dominant personality mean she can be fearful of other dogs. She should be an only dog. After 10 months in foster care she finally initiated play with her foster brother. But prior to that there had been some knock-down drag-out fights that we wouldn't want to see repeated in an adopter's home. In one of those fights her right ear was damaged and it's not a crinkly ear, rather than a bat-ear. She's still very cute. And because she's been a nipper in the past, we won't place her in a home with kids. But if you are a strong leader and you like a classic Frenchie girl—by that we mean she can be a bit bossy--you should consider Kiki. She's a loving dog.

Kiki barks only rarely, and mostly because the resident dogs are barking, so she'd be a good apartment or townhouse dog. We'd like her to have a fenced yard or area, but it is not required if she gets walks. She is happy to sleep all day, so a working family would be fine. She's a great companion and a lovely snuggler. Here's what her foster mom says about Kiki:

“Kiki is a funny girl. She has these little mannerisms that crack me up: the morning greeting, the mealtime dance of delight, the way she slams her bottom on the floor when it's time to go for a walk so I can put her lead on. She learns so fast she puts my dogs to shame. She's mostly a very mellow dog: give this girl a sunbeam and a can of sardines and she is in heaven. I hope someone recognizes her value. She's a dear little bug and she deserves a home.”

Kiki's hanging out in western Oregon, waiting for someone to love. She won't be shipped. 

FBRN does not ship dogs as cargo. Except in rare or unusual cases, adopters are expected to pick up their dogs from their foster family. In rare or unusual cases, FBRN may be able to assist in transporting a dog to a volunteer near the adopter's home, but the expense of transporting the dog must be the responsibility of the adopting party.