Cockapoo puppies and dogs in Minneapolis, Minnesota

You can fill out an adoption application online on our official website. Meet Layla — A Gentle Soul Learning to Trust   Layla is a sweet but shy girl who’s just beginning to discover what it means to truly be a dog. Until recently, she lived in a breeding facility — one of those “moms behind the curtain,” raising litters of puppies adored by many, while her own world stayed small and lonely.   Now safe and loved in foster care, Layla is slowly finding her footing in this big new world. After two months, she’s finally comfortable lying in the same room as her human and, with some gentle encouragement, comes over for soft pets. Progress is happening — it’s just at her pace.   Layla’s journey reminds us that healing takes time. There’s no magic switch to make her a “normal” dog overnight. She needs a family that understands this — one that will offer patience, compassion, and space while celebrating every little victory along the way.   Because of her shyness, Layla will thrive best in:   A calm home with no small children A fenced yard, so she can explore safely A confident dog friend, to show her the ropes and help her feel secure A Note About Safety and Flight Risk   During her first month in foster care, Layla was a significant flight risk. Once she got outside into her fenced yard, there was no getting her back in — she would hide behind trees and go straight into flight mode. For that reason, her future family must be extremely cautious and understand she will need a long lead when outdoors, even within a fenced area. Her foster mom can provide detailed guidance on how to help Layla feel safe, build trust, and learn how to calmly come in and out of the home.   Everyday Challenges   Layla is still working on mastering everyday dog skills. She hasn’t yet learned how to navigate stairs — a single step down she can manage, but multiple steps, such as those on a deck or inside a home, are still too overwhelming for her right now. With time, patience, and encouragement, she may overcome this.   One of Layla’s quirks: she won’t eat from a bowl. It’s a reminder of her past — when bowls likely meant stress or fear. Her foster mom hand-feeds her by scooping her food into her kennel, and Layla happily gobbles it up! She’s also a bit picky about her meals, but her foster can share all the details.   Layla may be a “designer breed,” but she’s also a survivor — a gentle heart ready to learn that love can last forever. With understanding and time, she’ll blossom into the loyal companion she was always meant to be.    Visit this organization's web site to see any additional information available about this pet.Interested in adopting this lovable animal? Please go to our website www.wagsmn.org and fill out an Adoption Application.  Once the application is processed, a Wags representative will contact you, answer any questions you may have, and set up a time/location for a meet and greet!  A home visit is required prior to adoption.  Thank you for choosing to adopt! Breed and temperament determination:  Wags & Whiskers Animal Rescue attempts to determine breed and temperament using a combination of looks, information provided to us at intake, and our experience with the animal while in our Rescue.  We do not guarantee this determination. October 25, 2025, 12:12 pm

Miriam is a very sweet, loyal little peanut. She loves to keep me in her eye sight and will follow me around the house. She is an amazing snuggler and makes a great lazy day partner watching movies or just hanging with you. Miriam is new to Minnesota so I am not sure how she does on a leash yet for walking but we will walk soon when weather permits. Miriam is potty trained, is fostered with 3 resident dogs, a resident cat and foster kitten and does well with all of them. She mostly just does her own thing currently but anticipate she may start to play more as she starts to feel comfortable. She has not met my grand kids yet but is a very mellow, chill girl so I anticipate she will do fine with them. Currently she sleeps in a crate next to our bed with no problems and sleeps through the night, i anticipate she will do just fine without a crate and left out as well and sleep with you , unfortunately my two chihuahuas do not like sharing their bed with others, so that is not an option with us. I will update her bio as I learn more about her, but she is a true sweetie and while she may be a little shy, with time and patience and lots of love and cuddles she will blossom. Oh, did I mention she has the cutest little begging prance when she is excited? Absolutely adorable. Miriam is estimated to be 2 years old and 10 lbs. Since we don’t know the dog’s actual genetics, this is just a guess on breed and size when grown. All dogs have had a vet examination, are up to date on all vaccinations, have been given dewormer and heartworm prevention. Dogs over 7 months have been heartworm tested. If you are interested in meeting this dog please complete the adoption application on our website at https://safehandsrescue.org/adoption-process/ and then we can contact you about setting up a meeting. We are also holding the following upcoming adoption events! Please note: All dogs/puppies will not be at every event, and some may find their home prior to the event. If you are interested in a specific animal, please check our Facebook page for confirmed attendance the morning of the event: https://www.facebook.com/safehandsrescue/ You do not need to have a Facebook account to check the Safe Hands Facebook page for attendance. We hope to see you at an upcoming Meet & Greet! Saturday, January 17, 11:00am-1:00pm, Bachman’s, 770 Prairie Center Dr, Eden Prairie, MN https://www.facebook.com/events/4444584499194329 Saturday, January 24, 12:00-2:00pm, Big Wood Brewery, 3429 Centerville Road, Vadnais Heights, MN https://www.facebook.com/events/841935055056592

Mia is a tiny sweetheart at barely 10 pounds, with our best guess being that she’s a Poodle–Shih Tzu mix. She’s been adjusting beautifully in her foster home and has shown herself to be a very gentle, easygoing little companion. So far Mia has been on the quieter side and loves being near her people. She’ll happily follow you around like a little shadow but when she’s ready to relax, you’ll usually find her chilling on the couch with her favorite blanket, perfectly content just being close. She’s doing great with potty training and has been very successful when kept on a regular schedule, with accidents easily avoided. Mia is also a dream in the crate: she’s quiet, sleeps through the night, and is happy whether she’s crated or snuggled up in bed with her people. Mia gets along well with other dogs and would likely enjoy a fur companion, but she’d also be just as happy soaking up all the love as someone’s devoted best friend. If you’re looking for a sweet, calm, and loyal little dog to keep you company, Mia might be your perfect match. Mia is estimated to be 2 years old and 10 lbs. Since we don’t know the dog’s actual genetics, this is just a guess on breed and size when grown. All dogs have had a vet examination, are up to date on all vaccinations, have been given dewormer and heartworm prevention. Dogs over 7 months have been heartworm tested. If you are interested in meeting this dog please complete the adoption application on our website at https://safehandsrescue.org/adoption-process/ and then we can contact you about setting up a meeting. We are also holding the following upcoming adoption events! Please note: All dogs/puppies will not be at every event, and some may find their home prior to the event. If you are interested in a specific animal, please check our Facebook page for confirmed attendance the morning of the event: https://www.facebook.com/safehandsrescue/ You do not need to have a Facebook account to check the Safe Hands Facebook page for attendance. We hope to see you at an upcoming Meet & Greet! Saturday, January 17, 11:00am-1:00pm, Bachman’s, 770 Prairie Center Dr, Eden Prairie, MN https://www.facebook.com/events/4444584499194329 Saturday, January 24, 12:00-2:00pm, Big Wood Brewery, 3429 Centerville Road, Vadnais Heights, MN https://www.facebook.com/events/841935055056592

You can fill out an adoption application online on our official website. Thank you for stopping by to see me!  Please fill out an application to set up  a private meeting.    Rigel is a gentle, reserved Miniature Poodle who needs time, patience, and the right people to help him shine. He may start out skittish, but once he chooses his person, he becomes a loyal little shadow who wants nothing more than to be close. Rigel tends to feel more comfortable around women and can be unsure of men at first, sometimes barking or growling when he’s nervous. With consistency and calm reassurance, he settles and has even been known to curl up next to his foster dad once he feels safe. Now that he’s gaining confidence, Rigel is beginning to show his playful side. He loves small stuffed toys, nightly chew sessions with bully sticks or pig ears, and cuddling on the couch or in bed. He enjoys being out and about as long as his trusted person is right beside him, and he rides quietly in the car. Rigel does best with another dog in the home—preferably one similar in size—who can help him continue learning how to be a confident house dog. He has lived with cats and done well, and he gets along with most dogs, though he avoids pushy or cantankerous personalities. A fenced yard is important for him, as he loves the freedom to explore safely. Potty training is coming along nicely with a schedule, and he knows cues like “outside” and “go potty.” Crates are not his favorite and he takes time to settle, but he does well when riding in one in the car. Rigel is a sweet, intelligent little dog who blossoms with patience. Once he bonds, he is affectionate, cuddly, and devoted. He will thrive in a calm home with considerate older kids or adults, a gentle canine companion, and someone willing to give him the time he needs to trust. With the right family, Rigel will become the loving, loyal companion he’s meant to be. Please note that some of our dogs are obtained from shelters, surrendered to our care, or released from breeders. Each animal's bio is based on our experience of the animal within our care, an educated guess based on physical characteristics, temperament and information shared. Each dog receives basic grooming when coming into rescue, but for some dogs they have not received grooming attention until recently and grooming may be required shortly after adoption. This will be at the adopter’s expense, so we encourage you to research the breed and be prepared for grooming expenses. Underdog cannot guarantee hypoallergenic or non-shedding qualities of any dogs in our rescue. Some of the animals come from situations where they are lacking experience in a home and confidence in humans. In turn, they require another companion dog and/or a fenced in yard in their forever home in order for them to feel safe. If you are interested in a particular dog whose bio states those needs and do not currently have them, please understand that your home might not be the right fit. Please use the filter on our Adoptable Dogs page to find the perfect match for your home.   ***Be sure to check your spam/junk folder as sometimes our emails end up there*** Visit this organization's web site to see any additional information available about this pet.If you have other questions about me you can email Underdog Rescue at <inquiries@underdogrescuemn.com> ADOPTION EVENTS:      Adoption events are updated at the top of each dogs animals' as their foster home signs up. Check back for updates on which events they will be attending. If an event is not listed within their bio above, the animal is not planning to attend.  Please understand that all of our pets are in volunteer foster homes and sometimes "life" happens and the foster family cannot make it to their scheduled adoption event. If you are traveling from a far distance to meet a specific animal, please understand we cannot guarantee event attendance. We recommend filling out an application and we will set up a private appointment. Private appointments are only scheduled after an application is submitted and approved. ADOPTION PROCEDURE: The first step in our process is to complete an online adoption application on our website: http://www.underdogrescuemn.com/adoptionprocess/   Note: In most circumstances Underdog Rescue will only adopt within 60 miles of Minneapolis, MN.  All of our foster animals can be seen by appointment with an approved adoption application. Contact us at http://www.underdogrescuemn.com/contact-us/ if you have further questions. FOSTER CARE: All of our animals are fostered in individual homes or doggie daycare facilities. While they are in our care, they are part of our families and given lots of love. We work on training, crate-training and socialization prior to adoption, but each bio is written by the foster as they see them, in their home. Each animal's behavior is evaluated and we have a sense of its temperament and personality, but it cannot be guaranteed. We look for adopters who will give each animal the wonderful life and permanent home that he or she deserves in time and with patience.  If you have an interest and ability to be a foster home, please visit our website  www.underdogrescuemn.com/foster-applications  and fill out a foster application. NUTRITION: Nutrition is vital to the rehabilitation and life-long health of our pets.  All of our foster animals are fed a premium diet such as NutriSource, Canidae, Orijen, Nature's Variety, Fromm, Pure Vita, Stella and Chewy's, Primal, or balanced raw diet.  All adopters are required to continue providing premium diets for the life of the animal. YOU CAN HELP: Not able to foster or adopt right now? Please consider sponsoring an Underdog. Your donation will help us buy dog food and pay for medical costs. Visit this link  www.underdogrescuemn.com/donate   to donate.  (Please note: A Paypal account is not necessary to use Paypal. When you get to the Paypal page, just use the link to the left of their login to make your donation via Paypal without an account.) January 12, 2026, 5:05 pm