Rizz's journey began in an Alabama shelter, where she arrived as a neglect case. The shelter staff quickly fell in love with her sweet, affectionate personality and reached out to ABMR. Just as the shelter promised, Rizz is a heart wrapped in fur. She absolutely soaks up affection, loving nothing more than leaning in for a full-body squish. Rizz's foster is working on teaching her to ask nicely for attention with all four on the floor since she has never met a stranger and has no concept of personal space. In fact, Rizz is hoping to audition for the role of your personal stalker. She will quietly follow you around, almost as if she's hoping that if she's quiet enough, she won't be relegated to a crate or kennel. She probably didn't have much, if any, exposure to being an indoor pet, so she's working on basic house manners like paws off counters, the sanctity of garbage cans and sinks, and sitting nicely at doors. Furniture and cozy blankets are new to her, but she's definitely a fan. She has a surprisingly good off switch for an adolescent Malinois, and is content to chew on her favorite toys like Benebones when just hanging out. Like most Malinois, if left to her own devices, she will destroy almost any toy that is intended to be interactive. She loves training time and shows real potential to be a fun, sporty girl. She enjoys using her nose to explore, and has even been started on odor. Weather permitting, she'll also be started in tracking. She loves outdoor playtime, especially with frisbees, Holee rollers, and Jolly Balls, and will happily bring you a toy for a game. She prefers treats or hugs to toy trades. She loves to zoom around the yard with a toy, or play with it like a cat. She's responsive in large fenced areas, keeping track of where her people are, checking in on her own, and recalling with enthusiasm. Rizz has shown unwelcome predatory and provocative behavior with small dogs, so she won't be placed in a home with small pets that she might endanger. The shelter she was in reported she was able to be part of like-sized dog playgroups. Her boisterous, adolescent, bull-in-china-shop ways means that it is best to do proper introductions. Rizz is alert and calm with delivery folks, tree trimmers, neighbors, and even noisy snowmobiles and UTVs. There's a very solid core of resilience in this girl that transcends her minimal socialization and exposure to the world. She's thoughtful when exposed to novel events, not timid or spooky. Rizz is about 23" at the shoulders and a very lean 42 lbs. She will probably be closer to upper 40s once she's at a good weight. She is very accepting of grooming and handling, including baths, blow drying, and dremeling of toenails. Rizz is located in Wisconsin and is almost ready for adoption. Reasonable transport can be arranged for her forever family. Would you like to be Rizz's everything? For more information, please contact coordinator Carol Aulick at caulick@malinoisrescue.org. You may complete an adoption application at: https://malinoisrescue.org/forms/form?formid=6574 More about Rizz - WI Affectionate, intelligent, playful, social. Good with like-sized dogs only. Good with older/considerate kids only, good with adults. Will not be placed with small dogs and other small pets.
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