Waddles - ShihTzu - female/spayed - adult/senior (5 years at least) - 12 1/2 pounds - grey and buff long, silky coat
When Waddles streams through her fenced yard, she resembles an animated little mop, until she flings herself on her back and rolls in the grass. She is an affectionate, curious, and comical creature who always appears to be pondering and reflecting - or at least, that is what her expression seems to suggest.
Waddles has clear, brown eyes and gives open and soft, full eye contact. She is calm and has a gentle, engaged demeanor. Waddles revels in petting, especially around her face and ears, and on her tummy, and although she is extremely affectionate, she is also very comfortable with her own company, and is quite content to go outside and stretch on her stomach, back legs extended back like a frog’s, and enjoy communing with nature on her own terms.
Indoors she is quiet, barking only when she needs to go out, or when the resident dogs in her foster home sound their own alert. She treasures her soft, plush bed. Waddles rides happily and easily in a car, and loads up nimbly, settles onto her seat, and remains there for the duration of the trip.
We do not have a great deal of back story on Waddles. She was left abandoned in a home, along with another dog, Dolly, also on our website, and was removed from those premises by Animal Control. Although she was tattered and matted by the experience, she was in good health. She did require a good dental cleaning and nail trim for nails that had grown excessively long. Our take on Waddles is that she once was loved and received regular handling - she enjoys being brushed, was not surprised at all when she received her new little harness, and she is quite pleased when her foster care provider picks up a leash.
Waddles is house trained and quite willing to go outside to do her business and explore. At times she will get a notion to scamper across the yard, and we are never certain what motivated her outburst of energy, but it is always a captivating sight. She is long-backed and short legged, and quite sturdy.
Waddles is well mannered in the house; her foster mom says “it is truly pleasant to have her around.” Part of it is Waddles’ sweet and unassuming nature, but much of it is the brightness of her personality, and the expression in her shining, thoughtful face.
We are touched by Waddles’ trust and faith, and by her exceptional courage and stability. Considering all that she has been through, we would not have imagined how gracefully she would navigate entering a new foster home with resident dogs and cats and strange humans; she has comported herself with earnestness, sweetness, and complete cooperation.
Due to her size, we would like to see Waddles go to an adult home, or a family home with gentle, dog-experienced children.
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