Brittany - Staying With Owner

Name: Brittany
Sex: Female (altered)
Breed: Peke
Age: 12 or 13 years
Location: Alfred, ME

Vet/Medical Info:  Brittany is up to date with her rabies and distemper; both are due again on February 17, 2014.  She has been spayed.  Her last HW test was in June of 2009 and the last time her owner bought preventative from the vet for Brittany was in 2006.  The vet noted in December of 2011 in the record that "the owner thinks she can't see" and that there is "decreased visual acuity." The last time Brittany was seen at the vet office was in February of 2012 for her ears.  Brittany weighs 16 pounds.

Owner Info: Brittany needs to be rehomed because her owner is moving and cannot take her.  She is currently at her owner's parents' home, but is not doing too well there.  Brittany is an indoor dog, housebroken and leash trained, and knows sit, lay down, no, get down, come here, go potty.  She is good with adults and teenagers, male dogs and cats, but is nervous around younger children, especially ones who are rough with her.  Since her eye sight has declined, she is more jumpy and a bit nervous when you first touch her and she doesn't see your hand coming at her. She is not naturally a nippy dog unless she is provoked. She has mostly snapped and bitten people (she has never broken skin) because they have teased her and she doesn't like it. Also she has snapped a few times because someone walked too close to her and she didn't like it, but she doesn't do that often. She has also snapped at her owner's young nephew because he teases her and chases her and she doesn't like it so she will growl and snap at him. She hates going to the vets and shows definite aggression towards them when they try to examine her, give her shots, etc. She also shows aggression to small children who chase her and tug at her and try to tease her, but she does love children who are calm with her and she will go up to them and ask to be loved. She does not like to be rough housed with and is not a big fan of being picked up and held. She is only possessive with her toys if another dog tries to take them. She is not food aggressive or toy aggressive with people. She also gets nippy when you touch her feet and try to clip her nails.  She is starting to have trouble getting down stairs and walking on sidewalks because she has a hard time seeing the edge of them. As long as you show her where her bed is, where her bowls are, and where the door is to go outside, she should be okay. The vet checked her eyes and said she is losing the pigment in her eyes and she gets bad eye discharge. She is supposed to have eye drops in her eyes but it is hard to put them in because she gets nippy. She has a hard time seeing up close and far away.  She is also prone to hot spots and ear infections, and is starting to get arthritis.  Brittany is a very loving and loyal dog and her impairment should not alter that. She will love the people that take her in and give her a good home.    

Her owner repeats that none of her bites have broken the skin. She has only bitten people who agitate her, she NEVER snaps at someone without a reason. Like if a stranger enters the home she is very friendly but if someone enters her space and she feels agitated she will growl first and then snap if you don't move away. She always gives a warning growl first.   She is a sweet dog unless she is provoked.