Slinky

Weight: 6.5 kg

Shoulder height: ~ 30 cm

Slinky is a small phenomenon. The witty, lively, but also very sensitive little man chooses his people 100% himself. Some he doesn't like at all, sometimes even pinching their trouser leg as he walks by, and he is difficult or even impossible to change his mind. Even strangers who simply want to touch him are not his thing, which he will make clear with a snap if his previously displayed signals are not recognized or are ignored. Good knowledge of canine body language and enough empathy to understand Slinky's idiosyncrasies are essential for his new owners. Slinky is not well suited for beginners, households with children, or generally busy homes with lots of visitors. Slinky is affectionate with people he likes, as long as they don't plan anything "scary" like cleaning his ears or anything else unpleasant that would require him to be restrained. Then we have to muzzle him too. He enjoys gentle petting, is very attentive, orients himself very much towards us, and is especially easy to work with using treats. Slinky has a handicap in the form of mild motor impairments. He sometimes makes sweeping movements with his legs and needs a little longer than many other dogs for certain movements or reactions (e.g., quick changes of direction when playing with other dogs). Slinky has undergone several veterinary examinations and has also been assessed by a specialist veterinarian for neurology. We cannot yet identify a "clear" cause. Slinky can manage his daily life with these disturbances almost without problems, as long as there is no significant worsening. The degree of this peculiarity has remained unchanged since his arrival with us in the summer of 2024. Slinky gets along well with other dogs at the animal shelter. He just doesn't like to be crowded and won't let anyone push him around. Dogs that are physically superior to him and exploit this should not be allowed to interact with him. Slinky generally enjoys going for walks and usually walks alongside or behind his human on a leash. However, he also has days when he's less keen on long walks, especially when feeding time is approaching. It would be almost suicidal to stray too far then. ;) Slinky is very greedy. He also enjoys running around the dog park with his buddy and doing little jumps in the air. After an adjustment period, Slinky will probably be fine being left alone. However, as is typical for terriers, he does prefer a noisy environment. He doesn't destroy anything here at the shelter. House training still needs work; he often marks in his room. This could, however, also be triggered by the many other dogs around him. Slinky travels well in the car, but gets excited. Slinky came to us as a stray (Bulgarian chip number) after he was found wandering around a rural community, unowned and panicked.