Ziggy in Illinois- ADOPTED!

Meet Ziggy: The Velcro Goofball With a Big Heart and Even Bigger Hops

At just a year old and 23 pounds, Ziggy is a sweet, goofy, high‑energy lovebug who is still very much a puppy learning how to dog — mixing his big heart with a dash of delightful mischief, spur‑of‑the‑moment puppy ideas, and a whole lot of charm.

Ziggy came to rescue after spending most of his young life crated — all day, overnight, and often alone. He arrived with an ear infection (so going forward will need his ears cleaned weekly) and welts around his neck from a prong and shock collar (used in his previous home), but somehow, he is still one of the happiest, most people‑loving dogs you’ll ever meet. The vet poked and prodded him during his first exam, and Ziggy thought it was a spa day. Now every time he goes back (for things that are decidedly not spa‑like), he struts in like a celebrity greeting his fans.

 

Personality: Sweet, Silly, and a Little Bit Chaotic

Ziggy is a confident, mischievous, Velcro shadow who wants to be wherever you are. He loves attention, loves being held, and loves giving kisses — unless there’s a toy, a Nylabone, or another dog nearby, in which case he will absolutely forget you exist for a moment before circling back for more affection.

He’s high energy but tires out quickly, which is adorable; he’ll play like his life depends on it, then suddenly realize he’s exhausted and needs a nap immediately. Sometimes he needs help remembering to take breaks, especially when playing with another dog.

He’s also a professional at squeezing himself into tiny spaces to nap, he runs hot (his first favorite bed was the marble coffee table), and he is very food‑motivated, which makes training both fun and effective.

 

Puppy Behaviors: The Honest Stuff

Ziggy is still learning household manners after being crated so much. He’s mouthy and nippy when excited (never breaks skin), and he can startle you with sudden jumps or play bites — including at your face if he’s really amped. It’s all playful, never aggressive, but because of this he needs a home with dog‑savvy kids 13+.

He jumps very high, jumps on people, and thinks everything is a toy — tassels, cords, sticks, your dignity. He’s learning what’s okay and what isn’t, but he’ll need continued guidance, patience, and consistency.

He also eats poop (foster home is working on this with a supplement), steals toys from other dogs’ mouths, and will try to steal their food too. Feeding separately is best.

 

Potty Training: A Work in Progress

Ziggy is partially housebroken. He goes out every two hours, usually pees right away, and knows “Go Potty” (as a suggestion, not a command). He’ll go days without an accident and then suddenly forget how bathrooms work. He doesn’t reliably signal when he needs to go, so his humans take him out often to be safe.

He needs someone home most of the time to help him continue building good habits.

 

Home Life & Crate/Playpen

Because of his past, Ziggy cannot be crated overnight — he had a full panic attack with wheezing and vomiting. But he does beautifully in a playpen, both overnight and when left alone. He settles quickly, doesn’t try to escape, and actually relaxes better in there than loose in the home.

He’s fine in a small travel crate for short trips (especially if bribed with a treat), and his fosters are working on building positive associations with the crate for daytime use.

 

Dog Friendships

Ziggy loves other dogs — including big ones. On walks he quietly watches them with zero reactivity. In the home, he runs straight up to them with the confidence of someone who has never once considered consequences.

His play style is jumping + play biting + chasing + more jumping. When he isn’t being supervised, he’s kept separate from the resident dogs so they can rest and enjoy some quiet time.

He’d do best with another young, high‑energy dog who enjoys rough‑and‑tumble play, but he’d also be fine as an only dog with plenty of human interaction.

 

Walks & Adventures

Ziggy loves walks, loves meeting people, and loves carrying sticks like trophies. He gets so excited when he sees the leash that he jumps straight into the air like a popcorn kernel. He pulls at the start of walks, pulls when he sees home, and pulls in the hallway to get to his apartment door — but after a few minutes he settles and pulls less. He will try to eat anything on the ground, including tree debris, so supervision is key — and he’ll benefit from continued leash training in his forever home.

He doesn't mind being in the car and has done well on all our quick rides, even sitting nicely to be picked up to be put in the car, but on a longer car ride he did get a little car sick.

 

Apartment Life

Ziggy currently lives in an apartment and is thriving. He’s great in the elevator, loves greeting neighbors, and knows exactly which building and door are his. He’s very quiet — he rarely barks, and when he does it’s usually a single “HEY!” from his playpen when he wants to play with the resident dog.

He doesn’t need a fenced yard, but if he has one he must be monitored so he doesn’t snack on landscaping.

 

Grooming & Vet Care

He’s been great for:

• nail trims
• bloodwork
• shots
• baths

Ear cleaning is fine as long as someone holds a treat. Nose balm is a “please stop dodging” situation, but manageable.

His vet thinks he’s wonderful (because he is).

 

Ideal Home

Ziggy needs:

• someone home most of the time
• patience and consistency with potty training
• continued work on manners and impulse control
• a playful dog friend OR lots of human engagement
• a family who finds his quirks endearing, not frustrating

He’d love a person who takes him out and about, loves saying hello to new people, and appreciates a dog who is equal parts silly, sweet, and spicy.

 

In Summary

Ziggy had a rough start, but he is pure joy wrapped in puppy chaos. He loves everyone, loves life, and is ready to become someone’s beloved sidekick. With time, training, and a whole lot of love, he’s going to grow into the most incredible companion — the kind of dog who makes you laugh every day and melts your heart every night.

If you’re looking for a sweet, goofy, high‑energy boy who will adore you, follow you everywhere, and occasionally try to bring a stick into your home… Ziggy is your guy.