Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Good with dogs,
Spayed or Neutered,
Story
Meet Flossy
Flossy is adorable.
She is also a project.
And we mean that in the most loving way possible.
Flossy spent her life as a breeder dog and never learned that people could be safe or wonderful. She arrived terrified, running circles, growling, and wanting nothing to do with humans. A year later, she is still very much a work in transformation, but she has made progress that once seemed almost impossible.
Flossy is not a turnkey dog. She will not arrive and be comfortable in a week or two. Her adopter needs patience, understanding, and a willingness to let her set the pace. She may never be a dog who runs to greet you, curls up in your lap, or wants to go everywhere with you. Her version of trust may always look different.
She is terrified outside her comfort zone. Leaving the yard is overwhelming, and attempts at outings have left her frozen. She needs a very secure fenced yard and a home where adventures can happen at home. Flossy thrives on routine and predictability. She knows her schedule and expects meals on time. She may bark if you make eye contact or dinner is late, and she can have accidents when her routine is disrupted or she is startled. She also will not enter or leave the house if a person is standing in the doorway. These are not quirks that will disappear overnight. They are part of understanding Flossy.
She is not currently a good canine playmate and doesn't feel comfortable when dogs get too close. She lives with other dogs in her foster home, and she does well as long as they are respectful of her space. She needs respectful companions who give her plenty of space. A calm dog may eventually be possible, but careful management and introductions will be essential.
And then there are the tiny miracles.
After a year with her foster family, Flossy has recently allowed herself to be picked up and petted. She accepts affection while elevated on a bed, loves being groomed, and sleeps like a dream in a human bed. Then one day, she joyfully bounded to the end of the yard to greet her foster dad as he drove down the driveway. After a year, her foster family finally saw joy. Flossy is still a complicated little dog, and her adopter must be prepared for a long-term project rather than a quick transformation. But she is also incredibly cute, wonderfully funny, and finally beginning to understand that life can be good.
She needs a quiet, adult-only home with a secure fenced yard and someone who genuinely finds fulfillment in helping a fearful dog discover her own version of happiness. She seems to prefer men, so a male adopter may be especially appealing to her.
Flossy may never throw herself into your arms. But if you have the patience to celebrate the little things, she might someday let you pick her up, accept a few pets, or bounce across the yard to greet you.
For Flossy, those aren't little things at all.
