Maltese puppies and dogs in Red Wing, Minnesota

Some dogs are able to recover from neglect or abuse faster than others…..if only they could tell us about those early years of their life. Cody is a 3.5 yr old. 13# male Shih Tzu/maltese former breeder dog that is still in the process of his recovery, and is hoping someone with patience and previous dog experience is able to take him and continue working with him. Another small, playful dog and a secure fenced yard are also requirements to help him be successful. Cody would not be suited to a family with children of any age because of his fears of new people, loud noises, and fast movements. He has been in his foster home for quite a while – he trusts his foster mom, and is relaxed and seeks attention from her, but transitioning into a new home could be like starting all over again. Let me tell you more about him. His foster mom is retired, and home with him most of the time. Cody prefers to approach her for cuddle time when she is sitting or laying down, instead of towering over him. He comes to her when she calls him inside the house, but doesn’t have recall when he is out in the yard, so he is either contained in a kennel area when out, or drags a long leash around in his fenced area so you can use that instead of grabbing at him when he’s out. If someone scares or forces him, or raises their voice, it takes quite a while for him to forgive you. He tolerates meeting new people, but is more fearful of men and might try to hide from them. His foster home has a doggie door that he has learned to use, but his new home might not; Cody is willing to go out into the cold for a short time, so you will need to establish a schedule that works for him, and have a potty pad down for emergencies. His meals are dry food soaked in water for 5 minutes – he can be reluctant to eat, and acts like he is watching for new people to approach. Cody is most comfortable around the resident dogs, and loves to run and play with them. The other dog/dogs in the home should be tolerant, playful, be good pack leaders and “show him the ropes”. Cody rides OK in the car, in a crate. In warmer weather, he has been taken on short walks – doesn’t understand the purpose of a walk when there is a perfectly wonderful fenced yard to run around in. Cody has a loud bark, so best suited to single-family home instead of a building that shares a wall with another family. Cody is neutered, and current on vaccinations. The heartworm test and tick profile are all negative. He requires grooming about every 3 months. If you have questions, or would like to adopt Cody, call 651-771-5662. His adoption fee is $300 .

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.    Gary is an 18‑pound gentleman of distinguished age who has fully committed to the art of relaxation. He is, without question, the King of Sleeping. If napping were an Olympic sport, Gary would bring home the gold, the silver, and probably a commemorative snack. When he’s awake, he transforms into a slow‑moving shadow who follows his human around with the dedication of a very mellow bodyguard. He loves short strolls outside where he can sniff the neighborhood news, feel the breeze, and pretend he’s still a spry young lad. Then he returns inside to resume his royal duties: couch snuggling, belly‑rub requesting, and gentle snoring. Gary has a few special senior quirks—he’s partially blind, partially deaf, a little wobbly, and needs eye drops and daily pain meds. Stairs are not his thing, but being carried like the tiny prince he is suits him just fine. He’s working on potty training and does well on a schedule, especially since he sleeps through the night like a champion. He’s friendly with everyone, polite with dogs, and happiest in a calm home where he can nap in peace and enjoy his favorite hobby: eating treats. All treats. Any treats. Every treat. Gary is a gentle, affectionate, easygoing old soul who just wants a soft place to land, a cozy lap to snooze on, and someone who appreciates the simple joys in life—like snacks, sunshine, and long, luxurious naps. 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.) September 28, 2026, 2:44 pm

Meet Layla! 💕 This adorable 11-lb Shih Tzu is a little girl with a BIG personality and she's discovering, possibly for the first time, just how wonderful life can be when you’re loved and cared for. Layla has opinions. She loves to “talk” to her people and will happily get in your face to make sure you understand exactly what she wants. (Hint: it’s usually food. 😂) Sometimes her talking turns into a very high-pitched little screech, but thankfully it generally lasts only a minute or so. Because of her vocal personality, she wouldn’t be the best fit for apartment living. Layla is also learning all about being a dog. She’s learning to play and snuggle with her 50-lb foster sister puppy and has learned to respect the personal space of the grumpy senior pup and respectfully co-exist with the resident cats. Her favorite things include her beloved Lamby stuffed toy, her people, her food (of course!), and a good snuggle. She’s a wonderful little cuddle bug and enjoys being close to her humans. She’s also a good girl in her crate, although she may give you a brief high-pitched announcement before settling down. 😉 Layla has come a long way from the skinny, itchy little dog who was found wandering all alone. She’s healthy, happy, affectionate, and discovering her playful side — and now she’s looking for someone who will love her quirky, talkative, food-motivated little self forever. Will that be you? Layla is from Texas. They arrive in Minnesota on 10/10/2026 and will need to be picked up from the Ruff Start Rescue office in Princeton, MN between the hours of 9am and noon. Please plan for their arrival accordingly as we cannot accommodate pickups outside of this time frame. Since they haven’t arrived yet, they are available exclusively through Ruff Start’s Foster to Adopt (FTA) Program. Visit our Foster to Adopt Program page to learn more. Once they get to Minnesota, they might require further veterinary care. Ruff Start’s veterinary suite is located in Princeton, MN, and, as the foster, you will be required to transport your dog to and from these vetting appointments.

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.    Albany is a tiny Morkie with a big journey ahead of her and an even bigger heart tucked beneath her shyness. At just about 8- 9 pounds, she’s a delicate little soul who has survived more than she lets on. Missing most of her teeth, she sports a permanently peeking tongue, but she doesn’t let that stop her from enjoying life in her own quiet way. Albany is very fearful of human contact and still prefers to keep her distance, often scampering away when approached. She’s cautious with men, women, children, loud noises, and new environments—pretty much anything unfamiliar. But she’s slowly learning that safety exists, and she’s beginning to show tiny glimmers of trust: a tail wag, a quick dash toward her foster to sniff a hand, then a speedy retreat. These small moments are her version of bravery, and her personality is just beginning to come out.  When she goes outside, she likes to do the back scratch boogie, but only if no one is watching because well, she is still working on that confidence.   What truly brings her comfort is the company of other dogs. She blossoms around confident, friendly pups—playing, following their lead, and learning how to be a loved pet by watching them. A companion dog is essential for her continued progress. She would also do well with calm, patient adults who understand that trust for her will come slowly, in tiny steps, over time. This sweet girl is crate trained at night and sleeps quietly in her foster’s bedroom. During the day, she may bark a bit when crated but settles. Potty training is still a work in progress; she knows what she’s supposed to do outside but still has accidents, so diapers are helpful when she can’t be closely supervised. A fenced yard is required, as she is a flight risk and not yet comfortable on a leash.  Although she has started getting a bit better at it, she will still freeze when a car goes by so until she can master the leash, a yard will help keep her safe.   Despite her fears, Albany has shown moments of joy—playing with toys, interacting with other dogs, exploring the yard, and even showing a little goofy side. She has great potential with the right family: one that is patient, gentle, quiet, and willing to let her set the pace. With time, love, and a confident canine friend, Albany will continue to grow into the sweet, quirky little companion she’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.) September 28, 2026, 2:44 pm

In addition to the following profile for this dog, please first read the Adoption Information at http://www.shihtzurescuemn.org/adopt.html to understand the process, requirements and timeline for adoption. An adoption application can also be found in the Adoption Info section. If, after reading that information, you have any questions, please submit your question via e-mail and it will be answered. Please do not request a phone call. A personal phone call will only be made when an adoption application has been submitted and the foster parent wishes to consider the application. Thank you! Toby is a 10 pound, 10-year-old Maltese Shih Tzu mix with a sweet and affectionate personality. He is easy-going and full of love and is looking for his furever home. The thing he loves most is a cuddly blanket on a warm lap. Toby would do best in a house with lots of love and cuddles. He's always wanting to be near his family and loves to stay warm and close. Toby wasn’t initially interested in playing with squeaky balls and toys, though he was intrigued by them when the foster family dog played. It took some time for him to get comfortable in his foster home, but he’s recently started to play a bit with soft toys and gets along well with the small resident dog. Toby will continue to come out of his shell as he gains confidence and trust in his home. What Toby really enjoys is an outdoor adventure, wandering around his foster family’s fenced in yard. He's so fun to watch with his adorable prance. His greatest dream is to catch that squirrel in the backyard, but they're just too dang fast for this little guy. Toby has tried to be a bit of an escape artist so he should be kept on a leash if his yard is not securely fenced in. Speaking of leashes, Toby really enjoys his daily walks with his foster family. He walks very politely on the leash and loves sniffing all the neighborhood smells. Toby’s a great eater and does eat dry food but he prefers food that is softened with water or chicken broth. Toby is a sweet boy that wants to find that perfect home. Here are the requirements for Toby’s new family: - Toby needs a home where people are around most of the day since he can get anxious when left alone. - A calm home with gentle and patient humans would be great for Toby. Toby has a mild collapsing trachea and can occasionally have episodes of coughing when he gets very anxious. Keeping him calm and relaxed helps minimize the episodes. Day to day, Toby does great and has had very few coughing episodes. - Because Toby needs to be in a calm environment, an adults only home would be best. However, a family with children over the age of ten will be considered if they have had experience in gently and respectfully interacting with a small dog. - Toby must wear a harness any time a leash is used. With his collapsing trachea, a harness will avoid further injury to his trachea. Toby always wears a loose collar around the house for his name tag, but whenever a leash is used it’s attached to his harness. - Toby is house trained, but his foster family is still learning his signal to go outside. Right now, he gets taken out every few hours, and aside from a couple of accidents in the house when he first arrived, he’s done all his business outside. Toby needs a family that’s able to bring him outside every few hours. - Toby loves to be near his humans so a family that allows him to sleep in bed at night would be preferred. He sleeps on a soft blanket at the foot of the bed between his foster parents. He loves to come up and get belly rubs and cuddles before going to sleep and in the morning when he wakes up - An ideal home for Toby would likely include another small dog. He gets along well with his foster family’s shih tzu and seems to have gained some confidence with another dog in the house to show him the ropes. Toby being a solo dog is not a dealbreaker, however. - Interested adopters should live within a 40 minute drive from downtown Minneapolis and commit to attending the Shih Tzu Rescue Reunion held each year in September. We understand that there are quite a few requirements for Toby’s new family, but Toby is totally worth it, and he is sure to bring lots of love to the perfect home. He's an expert cuddler and can't wait to share all his love with you. Toby will be neutered in early October and also have a full dental, including some extractions. He is current on vaccinations, microchipped and on heartworm and flea/tick preventative. Toby’s adoption fee is $220.00 plus $19.86 in sales tax for a total of $239.86. To meet Toby, please complete an adoption application at the website listed in the first paragraph. Or you can also see him and the other dogs available for adoption from Shih Tzu Rescue of Minnesota by visiting with us at the rescue’s Meet and Greet from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon the first Saturday of every month at Chuck & Don’s, 8537 Lyndale Avenue S., in Bloomington, MN.

In addition to the following profile for this dog, please first read the Adoption Information at http://www.shihtzurescuemn.org/adopt.html to understand the process, requirements and time-line for adoption. An adoption application can also be found in the Adoption Info section. If, after reading that information, you have any questions, please submit your question via e-mail and it will be answered. Please do not request a phone call. A personal phone call will only be made when an adoption application has been submitted and the foster parent wishes to consider the application. Thank you! Maggie is a 9 year old, 11 pound female Shih Tzu/Maltese mix. She came into rescue when her owners weren’t able to take care of her anymore. She was very shy and apprehensive at first, but once she warmed up to her foster parents, she became a friendly and affectionate dog. She is well behaved and enjoys being with her foster parents. Maggie is interested in people and other dogs while out on walks, but she is very cautious when meeting them. It would be best if someone is home with Maggie the majority of the time, and she needs to be taken out about every four hours to go potty. She is good around other small dogs and older children, and she would be a good family dog. She enjoys interacting with her foster parents and likes to cuddle on their lap. And she has an adorable face like a little lamb, which is impossible to resist. She sleeps on her foster parents’ bed at night, and hopefully her adopters will let her sleep with them. She needs exercise every day; she walks over a mile a day. It would be ideal if Maggie’s new family will include her in their daily activities, and take her with them to dog appropriate areas. She especially enjoys running in her foster parents’ secure fenced back yard to chase the rabbits and squirrels, and It would be great for her to have a fenced yard but it is not a deal breaker. These are the requirements for Maggie’s new family: 1. Be home much of the day and include Maggie in your daily routine and activities. 2. Be committed to long daily walks and be physically able to provide the exercise that Maggie needs. A fenced yard would be great. 3. An adults only home, or a family with children over the age of ten who have demonstrated an understanding of how to gently and appropriately interact with a small dog will be considered. 4. Another small dog of similar energy in the home would be okay, but Maggie will also thrive as being the only dog in the home. 5. Live within 30 miles of Inver Grove Heights, MN, and agree to attend the annual Shih Tzu Rescue Reunion held each year in September. Maggie is a sweet, well behaved girl who wants to please her family, which she does best by showing her affection. She would love to spend the rest of her life being pampered and napping on someone’s lap, and she will make a great companion for someone who will love her in return. Magge is scheduled to be spayed and have a complete dental in the coming weeks. She is current on vaccinations, microchipped, and on heartworm and flea/tick preventative. Once she has recovered from her spay, she will be ready for adoption, but adoption applications are being accepted now. Maggie’s adoption fee is $220.00 plus sales tax of $19.86, for a total of $239.86. To meet Maggie, please complete an adoption application at the website listed in the first para-graph. Or you can also see her and the other dogs available for adoption from Shih Tzu Res-cue of Minnesota by visiting with us at the rescue’s Meet and Greet from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon the first Saturday of every month at Chuck & Don’s, 8537 Lyndale Avenue S., in Blooming-ton, MN.