Small Breed Rescue of East Tennessee

Hello There! My name is Mckenzie and I am a 1 year old 12 pound Terrier/Chihuahua mix girl. I did not have the best life before coming to SBRET, so I am still learning that people can be nice. Since I was not treated so great in my last home I am shy and scared of new situations. Men are particularly troublesome to me, due to my past, but with time and quiet patience, I will get more comfortable, even with them. One thing I really do not enjoy is being "chased." If you need me for some reason, (to put on the leash, go outside, etc.) I might worry it's a bad thing, and run away. Sometimes when you reach for me, I'll have a little accident since I'm nervous. My new family will need to be extra patient with me and give me time to get to know them and my new home.

OK, well enough about my past…let's talk about how I am these days! I have not met cats yet, but I do LOVE other dogs. I love to play with my foster brothers and their doggy friends; it is so fun to play chase and fetch through the house and yard! I'm pretty fast if I do say so myself, and I like to show off my speed! I also love to play with toys, I've never had toys before! I really love to play some ruff-n-tuff tuggie with my foster brothers, and I'll even entertain myself by tossing toys in the air and chasing after them. I collect all my toys and take them one by one to the humans' bed for safekeeping (I'm very busy, you see!) Bones and antlers are another favorite thing of mine. I LOVE to chew (which is good for my teeth), and will collect as many bones as I can…they are all over this house! Kids are fun too, but they'd have to be very understanding of my past and treat me gently and with respect.

My foster family says I am doing great with house training - as long as you take me outside (and go with me so I don't think I am missing any fun), I will go potty every time. I would prefer a fenced yard so that I can run and play like crazy and sniff around, I love smelling all the new smells outside. I have learned how to walk confidently on a leash and really enjoy going for walks on the trails. I do "alert bark" (low woofing) and put my "shark fin" up (the hairs down my back) when I hear strange noises, wherever they may be - in the yard, the house or on our walks. My foster family is working to teach me those sounds are no reason to get all worked up, but I don't quite believe them just yet!

When you have to leave the house I'll run and jump happily into my crate for a treat, and sleep or chew on a bone until you come home. At night, I'm happy to snuggle up in my crate and go to sleep without a peep. I'm usually a little ahead of everyone else and will quietly put myself to bed by going to my crate and falling asleep!

I'm also extremely smart, as you'll see in my video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDe0k8MHGes I've already learned how to sit, lie down, and stay. I could learn lots more tricks too – I'm happy to work for food and praise! My foster family thinks I could really use a “job” to keep my active brain and athletic body busy. I'd LOVE for you to play a sport with me - Flyball or Agility would be lots of fun, and it would help build my confidence and strengthen our bond!

So if you have room in your home, energy to keep up with me, and love in your heart, I'm the dog for you! I'm making up for lost time, so let's get started, I am ready to play and learn! SBRET has taken great care of me - I've been spayed, microchipped, am up to date on all my vaccinations, and am on regular heartworm prevention. My adoption fee will be the best $175 you've ever spent!