Morkie puppies and dogs in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Joey is as cute as can be, but to be successful with a new person, he needs someone with previous experience with shy/fearful dogs and is home much of the time. Joey is a 6 yr old, 10# male Maltese/Yorkie mix that came from a breeding operation, and he hasn't had the same socialization as a house pet would have had growing up. He is very shy with people, and although he's made some progress with his foster mom, it's been a slow process. Joey follows her around and wants to come close to her, but doesn’t really like to be picked up. He doesn’t like any pressure against his body but tolerates it - does best lifted up from under his belly area. He is a happy little dog that loves to run and play with the other canines in the foster home – he's cautious with people. Joey has learned to jump up on furniture, and at night he will jump up on the foster's bed (which is low to the ground) and sleeps with her and the other dogs. So he's making progress, and has the potential to continue trusting and interacting with his person, but it's going to take time and patience. His placement should be in an adult-only home, with someone that has experience with shy-fearful dogs . Joey is potty trained. During the day, he looks at you when he needs to go out (it's up to you to notice him there), and does fine on the flight of stairs to get down into the yard. If left for more than 4 hrs., he’ll use the pee pad. Because he's confined to the bedroom at night, he'll bark if he needs to go out. Joey needs a secure, small fenced in area to do his business because he doesn’t go on walks, and doesn’t do his business on a leash. Joey does come when foster calls him, but if he got out, he would be so frightened he would run off and not come to strangers. He rides in the front passenger seat of the car. Joey has spurts of energy when he will run and play with other small dogs – he really enjoys his relationships with the other dogs in the home, and should not be an only dog. No experience with cats. He is food motivated, which will be a help in training, but needs to watch his weight. Doesn't seem to shed, but his coat will mat. Unfortunately, he doesn’t tolerate brushing very well. Joey needs grooming about every 8 weeks. He is neutered, and had a dental cleaning done in January of this year – 27 teeth were extracted, 13 teeth remain. Current on distemper and rabies vaccinations. His microchip is registered to Second Chance. Transitioning into a new home might be almost like starting over again for Joey. This is a journey his new adopter can take him on. He needs a person that is familiar with dogs that want to trust people, but aren't quite able to do that without guidance, and a person that can keep him safe as he learns to navigate life. You need to accept him as he is, because change is slow. His adopter should have some experience with shy/fearful dogs. Gypsy is a delightful little girl. Very smart & oh, so cute! You can just check with the 3 little boy dogs that she lives with in her foster mom’s home. They think she is the greatest ever! Especially her best friend Joey. Gypsy is a Cairn terrier mix, and about 6 yr old, and currently weighs 13#. She has no interest in toys. Interests do include; lounging, food, following her foster mom around & playing with Joey & the other small dogs. She loves to be petted & tummy rubs are heavenly, but she is not a lap dog. Gypsy is a pretty quiet girl & rarely barks. She prefers her known familiar places & does not enjoy the uncertainty of new people or experiences. She walks OK on a leash, but doesn’t really enjoy it yet – afraid of birds overhead and cars on the road, and won’t do her business on a leash (so she needs a secure fenced yard for that). Her favorite place is her home. She is very food motivated & gets under foot when food is involved, so one must be steady on their feet. Her foster uses a piece of dry weight control food as a treat because she has gained weight and should drop 1-2#; too much extra weight puts stress on her legs, joints. Her foster home has a doggie door so she can go out at will except at night. Most homes don’t have this set-up, so she should be let out every 4 hours or so. She will use a potty pad indoors if available. Gypsy is very easy to have around, and so is Joey. Gypsy’s ideal home would be a quiet adult dog-experienced home where someone is home much of the time, a secure fenced yard so she can do her business and play, and her best friend and playmate Joey to go through life with. Gypsy is not a big barker, but will if new person comes into the home. Her foster mom says she has a "princess" complex - doesn't like bad weather and instead uses pee pads inside; if weather good, uses doggie door and doesn't need to ask to go out. The household routine is all dogs go out once in the middle of night. Gypsy is left loose in the house when her foster mom is gone (up to about 5 hrs) with pee pad down for emergencies. She sleeps in bed with foster and the other dogs at night on a heated mattress pad - bed is 18 inches off floor, so can get up without any assistance, but she might need doggie steps to get up on a regular bed. Gypsy rides OK in a car - sits in passenger seat, shakes a little. She has a sweet temperament, never snapped, never bitten. No exposure to cats - only plays with other dogs - no interest in toys or chews. Gypsy doesn't mind being picked up, doesn't like to be held or have pressure against her body, but loves to be touched and get pets on her terms. She doesn't know any commands, doesn't come when called unless food is involved (or she otherwise wants to). Her coat does not mat, and she doesn't need much brushing (likes being brushed). Gypsy will need to be groomed about every 3 months. Gypsy is spayed, current on vaccinations, and her microchip is registered to Second Chance. If you have any questions, or if you have a special place in your heart for special needs dogs and want to meet Joey and Gypsy, please call 651-771-5662. Because they are a bonded pair, they will only be adopted out together; the fee for the pair is $350 . A home visit may be required.

Meet Chili! 🌶️❤️ This tiny 6-pound, 10+ year old Yorkie is as sweet and snuggly as they come. Chili’s whole world changed when his owner had to move into assisted living, and sadly no family members could take him. Now he’s hoping for a loving foster or forever home where he can feel safe and cherished again. Chili is a gentle little soul who loves to be held and adored. He’s great with other dogs and would be perfectly happy to share his home with a calm companion. He has a cataract in one eye, but it doesn’t slow him down or dampen his sweet personality. He’ll also be getting a dental cleaning when he’s neutered to help him feel his very best. If you have room in your heart for a senior sweetheart, Chili would love nothing more than to be someone’s treasured companion again.

Meet Riz! 🌸 This adorable 4-year-old, 10-pound Yorkie mix is as sweet as she looks! Riz can be a little shy at first, but once she feels comfortable, her gentle and loving nature shines through. She can be a little bossy with other dogs, so she needs to meet any canine companions. Riz has a calm, easygoing personality—perfect for someone looking for a companion who’s happy to relax by your side—but she still has a playful, fun-loving side that comes out once she’s feeling at home. If you’re looking for a small, affectionate pup who’s just the right mix of mellow and merry, Riz is your girl! 💕

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.  Honolulu is a tiny, trembling little puff of poodle who is working incredibly hard at being brave in a world that still feels very big and very loud. She’s the kind of dog who watches life from a safe perch—usually the couch—like a quiet spectator trying to learn the rules of a game everyone else already knows. Under her soft curls is a tender heart that desperately wants to trust, but needs time, calm, and consistency before she can take those steps. Right now, Honolulu is a professional observer. She spends most of her day lying in one cozy spot, taking careful notes on the household’s comings and goings. She likes other polite, gentle dogs who don’t invade her personal bubble—bonus points if they’re calm and confident, the kind who can show her that the world isn’t nearly as scary as it seems. Loud noises, sudden movement, busy environments, or any hint of commotion send her scurrying for safety, so her perfect home will be peaceful, predictable, and very patient. Because she is lightning-fast and an escape artist of Olympic caliber, she requires a fully secure 6-foot fenced yard, double leashing, and extremely careful handling. She has slipped out of harnesses and collars before, so her adopter must truly understand the seriousness of keeping her safe. She freezes on leash and is not yet comfortable walking, so yard time is currently her best way to get fresh air. Despite her fears, Honolulu has shown glimmers of what she may become someday. With the right dog buddy by her side, she quietly relaxes a bit. She eats only when no one is watching, so her foster family kindly gives her privacy at mealtimes. She is crate trained, quiet, gentle, and completely non-destructive. And when the home is calm and the pressure is low, she settles into her favorite activity: quietly lounging on the couch, taking comfort in being near—even if not touching—her people. Honolulu isn’t ready to be a typical lap dog, and she may never be the outgoing, social butterfly that some poodles are. But she does want to learn. You can see it in the way she watches other dogs, the way she edges a tiny bit closer each week, the way her tail relaxes when she feels safe. She is trying, in her own delicate way. Her adopter will need patience, gentleness, and a realistic understanding that progress may be slow—and that’s okay. Honolulu doesn’t need perfection. She needs safety. She needs calm. She needs another small, steady dog friend. And she needs someone who sees her not as a project, but as a quiet, sensitive soul who has survived a lot and deserves to bloom at her own pace. If your home is peaceful, your heart is gentle, and you have the time and dedication to help a scared little dog discover life’s softer side, Honolulu might one day trust you enough to show you the tiniest wag of her tail. And in her world, that would be a victory worth celebrating. 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.) November 15, 2025, 7:37 am