overview

Zeus’ Story

Zeus came into the SNAFU Rescue via a commerical breeding auction. We want him to  be placed in a loving home and spend the rest of his years being a spoiled pet.

Zeus is a sweet, shy, and curious little Frenchie who loves to take in the sights and sounds of his busy foster home from his favorite cozy spots. Though naturally a bit timid, he’s discovering how to come out of his shell and gain confidence, especially with the help of his trusty cot. His cot is his den — a space where he feels secure and can unwind with his beloved chew bone or crinkle toys (and often will carry his treasured items there for safe keeping). It’s not unusual to find Zeus carrying a treasured toy into his cot, happily occupying himself and retreating there when he feels a little unsure of his surroundings.

When Zeus finds his playful side, he can’t resist chasing a ball around or grabbing his favorite toy for a spirited round of play. Outdoors, he transforms into a lively explorer, absolutely thriving as he roams around, sniffs out new scents, and gets his fill of fresh air. He’s prone to bursts of energy, zipping through the yard and showing off his silly, spunky side before winding down and returning indoors for some quiet time. He’s also learning the joys of chill time on the couch or his bed, just as happy to curl up as he is to get active.

Zeus gets along well with kids, but due to some resource-guarding behaviors, he would do best with school-aged children who can respect his space. When he becomes attached to specific items — his toys, treats, or even a special human — he can get a bit possessive. Because of this, Zeus will need a patient and experienced owner who can set clear boundaries, helping him understand which behaviors are appropriate. A confident, strong leader will be essential for redirecting and managing this tendency so he can feel secure without needing to “protect” his resources. He is a lover not a fighter but will share his displeasure when he feels he needs to with a growl or by posturing.  These unwanted behaviors are corrected immediately.  

Though initially shy around new people and places, Zeus warms up with time, especially if he has a calm and balanced dog friend to show him the ropes. Though Zeus has a friendly approach to life, he hasn’t quite learned social cues when it comes to other dogs, often getting a little too close or not respecting their space. He would benefit from a calm, passive, balanced dog to help teach him appropriate boundaries, but he’d do equally well as an only dog with a patient owner who can guide him through learning personal space and dog-to-dog etiquette. Zeus also doesn’t fully grasp personal space with people and will need a strong leader who can consistently set boundaries to help him feel secure and understand what’s appropriate.

Zeus is learning quickly despite his initially reserved nature, making great strides as he adjusts to the life of a cherished family pet after spending time in a commercial breeding kennel. He’s still mastering the basics, like getting onto the couch or navigating a flight of stairs, but his progress has been remarkable with the help of his foster family. As with all of our dogs, slow introductions to other dogs in the household are a must to ensure everyone’s comfort and safety. Needless to say, this precious sweetheart is well on his way to mastering pet life but will need his forever family’s continued help with gaining comfort and confidence in stressful situations. Although he is slowly gaining confidence, it is important to remember that he is dealing with a big transition and as such will need a patient and understanding family. His current furry foster pack has two larger dogs and he does good with them. A dog his size may be a better fit.  Zeus would do well with a furry pal to help him learn the ways of pet life and help him with his confidence, but he would also do fine as an only dog. 

Zeus’s foster family reports he is still working on potty training but he’s doing very well and is nearly trained.  He continues to make progress with a strict and routine outside schedule. It has helped him to have his furry friends for him to follow and mimic desired behaviors like going potty outside and sitting calmly when waiting for food or a snack. His adoptive family will need to be patient, willing, and able to keep him on a regular and consistent schedule for his continued potty-training success.  Zeus is crate-trained (without accidents) and although does not find immediate joy in his crate, he will quickly settle down after some vocal displays of displeasure. Since Zeus is a master snuggler, once he’s comfortable, we know he would love to share his human bed at night once he’s fully potty trained and confident in his new home.  In his foster home, he has happily slept in his crate overnight. For his safety, we recommend a similar arrangement when his humans are away from the home and/or when he is left unsupervised, so he is safe and secure while no one is at home. Zeus does not know danger and is still learning how to be a pet.

Medically, Zeus seems to be in great health. He has been neutered, palate shortened, and is updated on vaccinations/dewormings, heartworm tested, microchipped, and has been given the okay to adopt by our veterinarian.  

Zeus would do well in almost any type of home but would do best in a house with a fenced yard since he is working on perfecting potty training and doesn’t know danger. His family would need to be committed to many leash walks and exercise if they have a home without a yard; a fully fenced-in yard is recommended for his ongoing safety.  Zeus will use the stairs; he mastered them very quickly. He is not an ideal candidate for a share-walled/apartment living situation as he can be vocal when first coaxed into his crate.  He may also start to bark if he hears another dog walking through the hallways.  Work from home or a stay-at-home parent? Zeus would absolutely love that!  Being with his people as much as possible has helped Zeus gain confidence and trust those who love him most.  He may be a candidate to take to work with confidence building and needed training as he’s a pretty quiet and laid-back boy, but this will come in time. Zeus would happily curl up in a soft bed and snooze the day away with his trusted human as long as he had a few of his favorite toys to keep him company during the boring conference calls!  Ultimately, Zeus is looking for a patient family to call his very own, one that is willing to work with him to learn how to “pet”, one with an overall calm, quiet lifestyle, and one that is home often to offer his unlimited snuggles and potty breaks. This little darling will make a forever loyal and loving companion once trust is established.

If you feel like your family might be the perfect forever home for Zeus, please submit an adoption application for him today!!