Shar Pei puppies and dogs in Minnesota

Whalen is just 7 months old, but he has already seen more of the world than any puppy should. He came to BENCHS after being found dumped near a pile of food in a nearby town, left to fend for himself. Despite that start, Whalen has held onto something incredibly special, a gentle, soft heart that just wants to trust again. He is a sweet and sensitive boy who tends to be a little shy when meeting new people. He may hang back at first, quietly taking everything in, but once he feels safe, you start to see who he really is. A kind, thoughtful dog who bonds deeply and loves with his whole heart. We are still getting to know Whalen, so at this time we are unsure how he does with other dogs or cats. What we do know is that he is looking for a patient home that will give him the time and understanding he needs to come out of his shell and feel secure. Whalen is a bit of a mystery in the best way, we are not sure of his breed mix, but he has a distinctive, thick muzzle that gives a nod to Shar Pei features and makes him all the more unique. There is something really special about this boy. The kind of dog who may not be the first to run up to you, but the one who will quietly choose you, and once he does, it means everything.

Hi, I’m Thor… I’m a male Chinese Shar-Pei puppy with soft brown wrinkles and a whole lot of love to give. My owner was moving and couldn’t take me along, so I came to Animal Ark to find a new family. I’m still just a baby — curious, sweet, and learning about the world one sniff at a time. I’m a medium-sized boy, healthy, and ready to start the next chapter of my life with someone who’ll help me grow up confident and loved. The American Kennel Club describes my breed as steadfastly loyal to family, but standoffish with strangers. We are strong, regal, independent guardians famous for intelligence and loyalty. The Shar Pei is a serene dog, but they will meet a perceived threat with tenacity and vigor. Training and socialization are essential. If you’re looking for a loyal companion with a gentle heart and the cutest little face folds… I’m your guy.

Stella was given to me as a puppy and she's 5 now. When I got her it was just me and her, but several life changes into marriage and children has made things more challenging as she was thriving better in a home where she could get more attention and time as we have 2 babies under the age of two. She is loving, kind, playful, and cuddly, as well as a bit bossy and nosy. She would be great for anyone who can give her the time and attention she deserves as well as a family with older kids or no kids who are more understanding of dog needs. We are hoping to give her a good home as she is very loved and this isn't an easy decision for us but we want what's best for her. She comes with crate, food, blanket, and her allergy supplements. She's a good walk dog, couch dog, and pretty much anything you could ask.

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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.  Want to meet me? Come to the Underdog Headquarters (3345 Dakota Ave, St. Louis Park, 55416) on Sunday, April 26th from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm. Please email inquiries@underdogrescuemn.com for questions regarding the dogs. Bernard is a wonderfully sweet and expressive Shar-Pei x Pug who has finally learned how to be a dog, and he’s loving every minute of it. This big softie is incredibly affectionate — if you let him, he’ll gently kiss your face like it’s his life mission. He loves greeting his person with pure joy, sometimes so excited he forgets about going outside and instead insists on getting all his welcome-home pets first. Thanks to Embark, we did a DNA test to confirm her is 89% Shar Pei and 11% pug! He’s a happy, goofy boy who can match your energy perfectly. If you’re excited, he’s excited; if you’re calm, he’ll flop down and relax beside you — ideally in his chair, which he has very proudly claimed. He gets along great with cats and lets them do their thing, and he’s also made excellent progress with the other dogs in the home. He’ll even share gentle licks with them. Bernard listens well when treats are involved and knows how to sit, but recall is not his strong suit — especially around small critters. Given the chance, he will bolt, and the squirrels of the world definitely get a bark or two. He walks decently on leash but needs secure handling and careful door-watching. He’s still learning how to tell his person when he needs to go outside, so monitoring his water intake is important. While he has never pooped inside, he may pee if he drinks too much too quickly without a trip out. He also has a love for paper — any paper — and will happily snack on whatever he can reach, including toilet paper. Outdoors he enjoys eating grass and plants, so supervision is a must. Bernard enjoys soft toys and doesn’t destroy them. He loves chews too, but once they get narrow he’ll snap them and swallow the pieces, so those need supervision. You can absolutely be silly and playful with him — he thrives on that goofy connection. He may bark sometimes when left home alone, and while he’ll occasionally sleep with the rest of the household, he still gets a bit nervous around one of the other Shar-Pei. Even so, they’ve made great progress together. Bernard is a genuinely great dog — affectionate, silly, eager to bond, and full of personality. If his foster could keep another animal, he’d never be leaving. He’s more than ready to love someone wholeheartedly and make coming home the best part of your day. 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.) April 23, 2026, 7:25 pm

If you are looking for a companion to show you some real skills of thrilling fun energy.✨ Betsy is the girl for you! She has a lot of energy to show off, she isn't afraid to go on long adventures. She is ready! She is very smart, and funny. She is treat motivated and knows her basic commands, she plops down in a funny way when you tell her "down". Always makes you laugh.! She is very loving, sweet and a happy girl loves to be petted!💕 She behaves very well in her kennel, very low and quiet. Waits patiently for her turn to go outside to play with her playmates or go on walks. She is great with fixed dominate males that are bigger or her size. She loves to play fetch, has her eye on the ball, brings the ball back to you. She loves to be entertained with durable toys, doesn't mind having her space on a couch or somewhere with her toys. Betsy is ready for a home, she waits patiently and can't wait to meet you! 🥰