Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Good with kids,
Good with dogs,
Good with cats,
House-trained,
Story
We have a transport leaving between the 1st and 3rd of November 2026 from where we are located in Southern California to NorCal, OR, and surrounding states as needed for our adopting families where we bring our dogs all the way to their homes 💗 For peace of mind we never ask for anything up front. The adoption fee along with your share of travel costs will be due the day we arrive in person ultimately finalizing the adoption then and there with you. We would love to add our puppies to our trip for the right families 💜
There are four beautiful little souls here at Bread of Life K9 Refuge who have been growing, learning, playing, and discovering the world around them, each with a personality entirely their own. Four purebred Miniature Schnauzer puppies, two precious girls and two handsome boys, born May 22, 2026, who have been loved immensely and given the opportunity to experience so much of what makes life wonderful during these first important months of their lives. ❤️
Meet Mavis, Winnie, Zuko, and Loki. Four siblings who share the same beginnings but have each developed their own little way of experiencing the world, connecting with people, and expressing the wonderful personalities that make them who they are.
One thing I do want to mention right from the beginning is that all four of our babies have their beautiful, natural tails! While many people are accustomed to seeing Miniature Schnauzers with docked tails, these four have not had theirs docked, and we think their little tails are absolutely adorable!
They are part of what makes each of them who they are, and we love seeing those happy little tails wagging as they go about their days. 🩷
And while I could tell you how beautiful they all are, because they certainly are, what I really want to share is who they are. Because choosing a puppy should be about so much more than a photograph. It should be about finding that little personality that speaks to your heart, complements your life, and feels like the companion you didn’t even realize you were missing.
Mavis is our smallest little girl, and there is something so incredibly special about her quiet, observant nature. She is naturally shy, but beneath that initial reservation is a playful, affectionate, and wonderfully sweet little girl who is constantly taking in everything happening around her. Mavis is a thinker. She watches people, studies the other dogs, pays attention to the routines around her, and seems to be learning something new every moment of every day.
You can almost see those little wheels turning as she observes the world around her. She doesn’t necessarily feel the need to be the first one to investigate something or the loudest personality in the room. Instead, she takes her time, gathers her confidence, and allows herself to experience things at a pace that feels comfortable to her.
And when that playful side comes out, it is such a joy to see!
I believe Mavis is going to absolutely blossom in a home where her family understands that confidence is something we help build through patience, encouragement, consistency, and love. She doesn’t need someone to change who she is. She needs someone who will appreciate the beauty of her softer personality while giving her opportunities to discover just how capable and courageous she can be.
For someone looking for a sweet little companion to share life’s quieter moments with, a friend to nurture and watch grow into herself, Mavis has so much love and companionship waiting to offer. I can only imagine the incredible bond she will develop with someone who takes the time to truly understand her. 🩷
Winnie, on the other hand, has places to be, people to see, and absolutely no intention of missing a single moment of anything happening around her! 😂
Our outgoing little girl is the definition of a cheerful shadow. If you’re walking somewhere, Winnie is probably right behind you. If you’re busy doing something, she’s going to make sure she’s involved somehow. And if you happen to forget that she’s there, don’t worry, she will find a way to remind you!
Winnie is social, playful, mischievous, and incredibly smart. She has this wonderful zest for life that makes even the most ordinary moments entertaining. She’s the kind of puppy who can turn a simple walk across the room into an adventure, find amusement in the smallest things, and somehow convince you that whatever you were doing can wait just a few minutes because she has something much more important planned.
Like playing with her, of course!
What I love most about Winnie is how much she genuinely enjoys engaging with people. She wants interaction, companionship, and opportunities to use that clever little mind of hers. She’s attentive, curious, and always looking for the next exciting thing to discover.
I can picture Winnie with someone who enjoys a dog with personality, humor, and a little bit of harmless mischief. Someone who will laugh at her antics, include her in everyday activities, and appreciate having a companion who makes it nearly impossible to have a boring day.
She’s the kind of little friend who reminds you to put down what you’re doing, enjoy the moment, and remember that sometimes the best parts of life are the unexpected little interruptions that make you smile. ❤️
Zuko is our smaller boy, and goodness, does this little fellow know how to make someone feel loved!
Zuko is playful, gentle, affectionate, and happiest when he knows exactly where his person is. He has developed the sweetest habit of walking right alongside me, looking up every so often as though he’s checking to make sure he hasn’t missed a single step of wherever we’re going.
If I move, he’s ready to move. If I stop, he’s right there wondering what we’re doing next. And if there’s an opportunity to be picked up and snuggled, well, that’s certainly something he’s not going to turn down!
There is something incredibly endearing about the way Zuko wants to be involved in his person’s day. He doesn’t need to be the center of attention every second, but he genuinely enjoys the reassurance and companionship that come from simply being close.
He’s also such a wonderfully gentle little boy. He loves being held, settles into your arms so sweetly, and seems to find so much happiness in those moments of affection.
But don’t let his love for snuggles fool you! Zuko is still very much a playful puppy who enjoys having fun, interacting with his siblings, and exploring everything around him.
I imagine Zuko becoming that wonderful little companion who follows you from room to room, keeps you company while you’re doing things around the house, and eventually settles beside you when the day slows down.
For someone hoping to find a puppy who truly enjoys being close to his people, who finds comfort in companionship, and who has an incredibly affectionate nature, Zuko may be the little boy who steals your heart. 🩵
And then there is Loki.
Oh, Loki! 😂
Our biggest boy has a personality every bit as wonderful as his presence, and he certainly knows how to make himself memorable!
Loki is outgoing, playful, confident in his social interactions, and absolutely delighted when he has an audience. He loves being the center of attention, although he’s perfectly happy to share the spotlight with others. Just be prepared, because there’s a very good chance he’s going to find a way to outshine you!
He has that wonderful combination of intelligence, enthusiasm, and affection that makes spending time with him so entertaining. He enjoys engaging with people, playing with other dogs, and finding opportunities to make everyone around him smile.
Loki approaches playtime with his whole heart. When he’s having fun, he’s REALLY having fun! He’ll play with his siblings, enjoy his toys, and keep himself happily entertained until all that excitement finally catches up with him.
And one of my favorite things about him is what happens afterward.
You’ll find this big-personality little boy fast asleep, sometimes right over the very toy he was playing with moments earlier, completely content after another wonderful day of being Loki.
He has such a joyful spirit and genuinely seems to enjoy every opportunity to participate in whatever is happening around him.
I can see Loki thriving with a family who appreciates a social, playful companion and enjoys spending time interacting with their dog. Someone who will encourage his intelligence, give him opportunities to learn, and appreciate the wonderfully entertaining personality he brings into a home.
He has so much happiness to share, and I believe the family who welcomes him will have countless reasons to laugh, smile, and fall even more in love with him as he grows. ❤️
As different as these four puppies are, they share something very important. They have been raised with tremendous love, patience, attention, and the understanding that these early months of their lives help shape the dogs they will become.
Their story began with a woman who loved their parents and found herself navigating an incredibly difficult season of life. She owned both their mother and father and had every intention of having them spayed and neutered. Unfortunately, life took an unexpected and heartbreaking turn when her father entered hospice care. Her time, attention, and energy were understandably devoted to being by his side, and during that period, an unplanned pregnancy occurred.
These puppies were never the result of an intentional breeding decision. Their owner simply found herself facing circumstances she hadn’t anticipated while already carrying the emotional weight of caring for someone she loved so dearly.
When she reached out to us and asked for help finding these babies wonderful homes, I understood her situation on a deeply personal level.
Having walked through the experience of watching my own mother battle cancer and eventually enter hospice, I know how overwhelming that season of life can be. The emotional exhaustion, the responsibilities, the constant worry, and the feeling that there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to manage everything happening around you.
The last thing I wanted was for her to carry additional stress or guilt during such a difficult time, so we welcomed these four babies into our refuge and also arranged to have both of their parents fixed, taking that responsibility off her shoulders so she could focus on being present for her father.
Sometimes rescue isn’t just about helping animals. Sometimes it’s about recognizing when another person needs a little compassion, understanding, and support, too.
And I am grateful we were able to offer that to her while giving these four beautiful puppies the beginning they deserve.
Since coming into our care, Mavis, Winnie, Zuko, and Loki have been surrounded by the everyday experiences of living in a busy, loving family environment.
We are a family-run, kennel-free refuge, and our dogs are raised right alongside us rather than spending their days isolated from normal household activities. They experience the sounds, routines, interactions, and companionship that come with being part of a home.
These four have been wonderful with other dogs of different personalities and sizes, and they even love our cat! They have had opportunities to interact with men, women, and children of different ages, including our four-month-old grandson, and have shown themselves to be incredibly sweet, playful, and kind throughout those experiences.
Their socialization has been about more than simply introducing them to other animals and people. It has been about allowing them to develop positive associations, learn appropriate interactions, experience different situations, and gradually build the confidence needed to navigate the world around them.
Each puppy has approached those experiences in their own way, and we respect those differences. A puppy like Mavis may need a little more time to feel comfortable, while a puppy like Winnie may be ready to jump right into whatever is happening. Neither approach is wrong. They’re simply individuals, and helping them develop means recognizing what each one needs.
All four puppies are now crate trained and sleep peacefully in their own crates throughout the night, which is such a wonderful foundation for their future families to continue building upon.
Crate training is something we take seriously because, when introduced positively, a crate can become a familiar, comfortable place where a dog feels secure. It can also be an incredibly helpful part of maintaining a consistent routine, especially during those first weeks in a new home.
Their house training has also been progressing beautifully! They are accustomed to a predictable schedule of going outside approximately every couple of hours to use the restroom, and they’ve been doing very well with that routine. However, they are still young puppies, and it’s important that their future families understand that consistency will remain essential as they continue learning.
A new home means new surroundings, new doors, different schedules, and an entirely different environment to become familiar with. Even puppies who have made wonderful progress can experience temporary setbacks during a transition, and that’s completely normal.
We want their families to continue offering regular opportunities to go outside, plenty of praise for successful potty trips, and the patience needed to help them fully master this important skill.
Leash training is still a newer experience for these four, and we will continue working with them in this area throughout the remainder of their time with us. Our goal is to help them become familiar with wearing a harness, walking alongside us, responding to gentle guidance, and developing confidence with something that will eventually become part of their everyday lives.
We don’t expect young puppies to have mastered every skill before leaving us. What matters is that they have been given a positive foundation and that their families understand how important it is to continue building upon everything they’ve learned.
Miniature Schnauzers are wonderfully intelligent dogs, and these four have already shown us just how attentive, observant, and eager to engage they can be. With continued positive reinforcement, consistency, patience, and age-appropriate training, they have tremendous potential to develop into well-mannered, confident companions.
Their veterinary care has also been completed with the same attention we give to every dog entrusted to our refuge. All four puppies have received their complete puppy vaccination series for parvovirus and distemper, along with their Bordetella and Rabies vaccinations. Each puppy has been microchipped, and their fecal samples were submitted for laboratory testing, with results returning negative for intestinal parasites.
They have all received wonderful examinations with our veterinarian and have been issued health certificates to accompany them into their new homes.
Their future families will receive their available veterinary records so they can continue their care with their own veterinarian and maintain their recommended preventive health schedules.
Because of their young age, Mavis, Winnie, Zuko, and Loki have not yet been spayed or neutered. Each puppy will be adopted with a spay or neuter agreement, which will require their new family to have the procedure completed at the appropriate age, in accordance with the terms of our adoption contract and veterinary guidance.
We believe it is important for families to understand this responsibility before committing to adoption. Their adoption is not intended for breeding purposes, and ensuring that each puppy is eventually spayed or neutered is part of our commitment to responsible rescue and preventing future unplanned litters.
And while their veterinary care, training, and socialization are important parts of everything we’ve provided, I think what matters just as much is the love these puppies have experienced every single day.
They have been held, cuddled, played with, encouraged, watched over, and celebrated through all their little milestones.
We’ve watched their personalities emerge, their confidence grow, and their relationships with people and other animals develop.
We’ve laughed at their antics, enjoyed their affection, and found ourselves stopping in the middle of busy days simply because one of them did something that made us smile.
They have been given the freedom to be puppies while also learning the routines and boundaries that will help them transition into family life.
And now we have the privilege of finding the people who will take everything we’ve started and continue helping these four little lives blossom.
I don’t believe every puppy is meant for every family, and that’s exactly why I wanted to share so much about each of them.
Perhaps you’re drawn to Mavis, our sweet, observant little girl who needs someone willing to appreciate her softer nature and help her confidence grow.
Maybe Winnie is exactly the cheerful, mischievous little shadow your home has been missing.
Perhaps Zuko’s gentle affection and desire to be near his person are everything you’ve been hoping to find in a companion.
Or maybe Loki’s joyful, outgoing personality and endless enthusiasm for life are calling your name.
Whatever the case may be, I hope you’ll look beyond their beautiful faces and consider the individual personalities, needs, and companionship each one has to offer.
These are four incredibly special little puppies, and my greatest hope is that each one finds a family who sees them for exactly who they are and is ready to love them through every stage of their lives.
Their adoption fee is on our website at the bottom of their adoption listing at https://www.breadoflifek9refuge.org/post/zuko-loki-mavis-winnie
It reflects the extensive veterinary care, completed puppy vaccinations, microchipping, parasite testing, veterinary examinations and health certificates, along with the months of daily care, feeding, training, socialization, and hands-on attention invested in preparing them for their forever homes.
We are looking for committed, loving families who understand that adopting a puppy means continuing the work of raising, teaching, and guiding them well beyond the day they arrive home, including honoring their spay or neuter agreements.
If one of these four beautiful little souls has spoken to your heart, we would love to hear from you and learn more about the life you could offer them.
Mavis, Winnie, Zuko, and Loki are ready for the next beautiful chapter of their stories.
And somewhere out there are four families whose lives are going to become a whole lot sweeter, funnier, and more wonderful because of them. 🩷🐾
