Ziggy, our 4th of July firecracker!

<EDIT> Ziggy has been adopted! 🎉

We had the privilege of fostering a dog over the 4th of July weekend, and I’m not exaggerating when I say: it was incredibly hard to let him go. His name is Ziggy, and he’s a young, 65-pound Malinois puppy with a heart full of potential. He’s the best. Like, truly. I’m writing this with a lump in my throat because if circumstances were different, I would have kept him in a heartbeat.

Ziggy came to us through Rocket Dog Rescue in Oakland, and he’s still looking for his forever home. So, if you’re reading this and have the right kind of experience (more on that in a sec), please consider giving this wonderful chaos gremlin the life he deserves.

Let’s get one thing straight: Ziggy is not for the faint of heart. He’s your typical Malinois puppy: smart as a whip, stronger than he knows, and completely unaware of personal space. But he’s also eager to learn and so incredibly goofy. He’ll make the right family ecstatic. The wrong family? Probably very overwhelmed and missing a few shoes or more.

Here’s a breakdown of how Ziggy did during his holiday weekend with us:

Leash

He hasn’t had any formal leash training, and right now, his walks are a mix of calm curiosity and bursts of excitement. So basically what you'd expect from a big puppy. In quiet environments, he’s actually pretty easy to walk and content to sniff and explore. When other dogs or people show up, he can get a bit overstimulated and really wants to say hello. He’s very social and doesn’t yet know how to regulate that energy. With guidance and consistency this is something he can absolutely work through. There’s a great walking buddy in there, he just needs help getting there.

Potty Training

Honestly? Flawless. Not a single accident. We stuck to a tight schedule, took him to the same spot each time, and he figured it out almost immediately. It’s possible he had some basic training already, but regardless, he was a quick study.

Crate Training

For a young dog who had been sleeping in a kennel for days (weeks?months?), Ziggy did really well. Like most Mals, he has strong Velcro-dog instincts. He basically wants to wear your skin and be wherever you are at all times. As long as I was nearby, he was totally content. I slept on the couch next to his crate both nights and he didn’t make a sound, slept through the night like a champ. When I left the room, he got a little upset, but nothing dramatic, and he did eventually settle. With a consistent routine and a bit of reassurance, I think he’ll be fully crate trained in no time. He just wants to know you’re not disappearing forever, and honestly, fair enough.

Chewing

Oh yes.. everything in the house was fair game, at least according to Ziggy’s curious puppy mind. At one point, I caught him proudly parading around the living room with a couch cushion in his mouth like it was a trophy. Thankfully, nothing went missing, but that’s mostly because we were on high alert and quick to redirect him. Crate training is definitely essential for this guy, not just to keep the house intact, but to help him learn what’s okay to chew and what’s off-limits. With guidance, he’s already showing that he’s very eager to learn.

Hiking

We took Ziggy on two hikes over the weekend and saw both his potential and where he needs some guidance. The first was a quiet forest trail, and he absolutely thrived. He was relaxed, curious, happy to explore, and really tuned in to us. It was a joy! The second was a much busier trail, and was definitely more challenging for him. LikeI said earlier, it's all excitement, not fear or aggression. With more positive exposure and some structured training, this is absolutely something that can improve. He loves being outside, and hiking is clearly his happy place. With the right person guiding him, he’s going to be an incredible adventure buddy.

With Our Dog

If you’ve read the “About” section on my website, you know our dog is a bit of a weirdo. But one thing she’s really great at is communicating exactly how she feels. So when Ziggy arrived with his endless puppy energy, I was ready to manage their interactions closely. Molly was quick to set boundaries and Ziggy was surprisingly respectful, responding well to corrections. There was no resource guarding and not a whole lot of tension. Just a young pup learning his place with clear guidance from both of us. They walked and hiked together, and honestly, they got along way better than I expected. Ziggy would do well with a patient, well-socialized dog and a guardian who’s ready to actively guide their relationship.

Socialization

A lot of things were completely new to Ziggy. Some stairs, especially the open ones, spooked him. Even some treats, like chicken feet, caught him off guard! He doesn’t know any cues or commands yet, so we focused mostly on basics like “sit” and on not knocking us over with his excitement. He also hasn’t figured out how to jump into a car, so we had to lift him in, which he wasn’t thrilled about. But once he was secured, he rode quietly and calmly.

At this point, socialization is far more important than "sit" and "paw". With a large, high-energy dog like Ziggy, the last thing you want is a powerhouse who isn’t confident or comfortable in new situations. It’s all about harnessing that energy (pun intended) and guiding him gently through new experiences, helping him build confidence and learn how to navigate the world calmly and happily.

I truly wish we could have kept him. He’s welcome back any time if a long-term foster isn’t found. But what he really needs is a forever home!

If that could be you (or someone you know) Ziggy is available through Rocket Dog Rescue in Oakland.

You won’t find a more rewarding project dog than this one.

Scroll down for some fun photos of our sleepover!