Milo is an adorable 10-year-old Chihuahua who came into rescue as he was scared of the child in his home. Milo is in an Oldies Club foster home in Nottingham, waiting for someone to offer him a permanent home.
As Milo is frightened in the car, we are looking to rehome him within a 2-hour drive of Nottingham.
Summary: Tiny little Milo is good with dogs (smallish, calm ones) and cats, but needs a child-free home. Sensible older children who visit occasionally would be OK. He loves a good walk and enjoys getting out to the park or the countryside for a run in the grass and a sniff.
Settled gradually in foster care: Milo was nervous and confused initially but by day three had started to settle at his foster home. After about a week he was like a different dog, much more confident and relaxed. After three weeks he was fully settled and had learnt the routine. Milo is toilet trained but does occasionally have accidents in the house.
Can be left for a few hours occasionally: Although he generally needs someone around most of the time, Milo can be left alone for up to four hours when you do need to go out. He is crate trained but doesn’t need to be crated while home alone. He may whimper initially but does soon settle and sleep. He is excited to see you on your return. He would prefer not to be left every day for long periods. He craves human company and would be better suited to retirees or home-workers.
Good with dogs: Milo is good with other dogs and he could happily live with a calm dog. He has spent a lot of time with an elderly pug in foster care. He mostly ignores her but seems to gain some confidence in her presence. Due to his size, he can understandably be a little wary of larger dogs on walks. He may cower away initially but once he knows a dog is friendly he’s fine. His foster carer tends to pick him up if a larger bouncy dog approaches. During foster he has never barked or reacted to another dog. He is quite submissive.
Good with cats: Milo has been living with a cat in foster and has also regularly visited a home with three cats. He is very good with them. He is smaller than a cat!
Needs an adult home: Milo hasn’t been around children in foster. He previously lived with a young child and found this difficult. We therefore think it only fair on Milo that there are no resident children in his forever home. Visiting older children (aged 10+) who are supervised and sensible would be OK but they must understand that Milo isn’t a toy to be picked up and carried around.
Loves walks: Milo enjoys his walks. He’s still very spritely and often mistaken for a puppy! He walks well on the lead and loves to sniff. He’s not been off lead during his time in foster but has been walked on a long lead. Milo has been having a total of 20-40 minutes of walking, once per day or broken over two walks. He would happily do longer, but likewise he can cope with shorter walks. He enjoys quick walks around the block but he also loves countryside/park walks where he can run through the grass and have lots of good sniffs!
Frightened in the car: Milo doesn’t like the car. He travels on the back seat, clipped into a harness. He will shake and whimper. This has improved slightly during his time in foster so may continue to improve with gradual exposure.
Milo’s favourite pastimes: Milo loves nothing more than cuddling up on your lap, lying next to you or spreadeagled under a blanket. He likes to lie on his back and have his tummy stroked. He will follow you around and always likes to know what you’re doing. He’s a very chilled dog in the house. He settles and snoozes while his foster carer works from home. He enjoys pottering and sniffing around the garden. He likes being out and about and has enjoyed visits to the pub and coffee shop during his time in foster. He may be a little anxious in busy/noisy places.
Milo’s dislikes: Milo can be a bit wary of sudden noises or movements. When Milo is anxious or excited he displays humping behaviour towards people, including visitors to the house. He has recently been neutered which should hopefully help.
Milo’s ideal home: Milo would suit adults who are seeking the companionship of a loyal little dog. What he lacks in size he makes up for in personality. He would love a home where someone is around most of the time. He needs a home with a secure garden for him to enjoy running about in. He will do well in a calm household.
Sleeping arrangements: Milo sleeps downstairs in the living room in his crate. He usually wakes at around 5.30am and needs to go outside. He may toilet in his crate if he isn’t let outside at this time. After going to the toilet he will settle again in his foster carer’s bed and sleep until it is time to get up.
Health notes: Milo has been neutered and vaccinated while in foster care. He is microchipped and has had flea and worm treatment. Milo has no health problems. He is a very healthy dog and passed all his health checks. He has had a dental and had some teeth removed during his time in foster.
More from Milo’s foster carer: Milo is affectionate, funny, outgoing and cute. You wouldn’t know Milo is an ‘oldie’. He still appears to be very youthful and full of energy. Chihuahuas often live well into their teens. Milo is a brilliant little dog with a lot of love to give. He has been a joy to foster.
If you would like to offer Milo a permanent home, please read our Adoption Procedures for information about the adoption process. You can then contact the Oldies Club rehoming team as follows:
Email: rehome@oldies.org.uk for an application form.
Or phone 0844 586 8656, leaving a message including your email address, and we’ll email an application form.
Milo can be rehomed within a 2-hour drive of Nottingham, subject to a satisfactory home visit. Note that you will be required to travel to the foster home to collect him.
If you would love to offer a home to an oldie but your circumstances aren’t suitable, perhaps you would be kind enough to sponsor one of the special oldies we are caring for that, due to health problems, are unlikely to be offered a permanent home.