Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Good with dogs,
Good with cats,
House-trained,
Spayed or Neutered,
Shots are up-to-date,
Story
**IF THIS LISTING IS STILL POSTED THIS DOG IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. NO NEED TO EMAIL ASKING IF THE DOG IS AVAILABLE. PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS BIO THOROUGHLY AS INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY IS CONTAINED IN THIS LISTING**M
For Adoption: Pidge!
Please read our dog bios carefully to be sure that the dog you are applying for suits your family and lifestyle.
We at PDR believe in the benefits of post-adoption training for our dogs and their families. This allows
for continued socialization, learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. Post-adoption training is a requirement in our adoption process.
To apply for adoption and for more information on our process and requirements, visit our website at https://pounddog.ca/adoption-info/.
Meet Pidge — a 3-year-old Shih Tzu weighing a dainty 13 pounds. She is a striking salt and pepper girl, mostly black with a soft white muzzle and a charming white-tipped tail that she is just beginning to learn to wag. With her tiny stature and quiet dignity, Pidge is the kind of dog who draws people in without even trying — and everyone who has met her has fallen completely in love. She is gentle, she is careful, and she is slowly, surely, becoming herself.
Pidge came to us from a puppy mill, where she spent her first three years as a breeding mama. She arrived completely closed off and cautious, needing more than a week before she began to unlock and show us who she really is. That kind of shutdown is a normal response from a dog who has known nothing but the mill, and it is not a reflection of who Pidge is — it is simply where she started. What has emerged as she has begun to trust is a dog with a playful, flirty spirit just waiting to shine. She is slow to trust, and her new family will need to be patient and gentle as she continues to find her footing — but the rewards of earning Pidge's trust are already proving to be very much worth it.
Pidge would thrive in a calm, quiet home — ideally with an older couple, a single adult, or a family with teen children who understand the importance of giving a sensitive dog the space and time she needs. She does not do well with chaos or unpredictability, and a peaceful environment will be essential for her continued growth. She has shown no aggression whatsoever. She is fine with touch but does not yet crave it — though she is showing us more and more glimpses of the dog she is becoming, offering play bows, tail wags, and little yips that tell us she is warming up beautifully. She lights up when she sees her person, greeting them with unmistakable joy — and then, just as quickly, retreats back into her quiet, reserved self. She is shy and timid with strangers and does not initiate contact with new people, but we are confident that the right home and the right person will continue to bring her out. She wants to play with the other dogs in our home and has begun to engage them — and on a very good day, they even play back. She has not yet been tested with cats, so those introductions should be handled with care and patience but we expect she will be just fine with a dog savvy cat. Pidge will not enjoy a home where children visit often. She is timid and the noise and energy of children will be too much for her.
Pidge follows me outside when I grab her leash. It took ages for her to figure out thresholds are safe. She gives a very exaggerated hop over them to ensure she will clear it. Absolutely ridiculous but endearing. She has not yet developed a signal to let us know she needs to go out, so her new family will want to maintain a consistent schedule — she goes reliably every three to four hours and has had no accidents in the house. She is not confident on leash, and building that skill gently will be an important part of her transition into her forever home. She is walking short distances on leash but will panic if there is noise or movement near her. This works for her right now though as she is a low energy dog. Some short walks and some yard time suit her energy requirements well. Pidge is a quiet dog by nature — her voice is still very much her own, and she is only just beginning to find it. She does love to announce the arrival of guests but quiets down quickly. Pidge needs a very quiet home environment, inside and out. She will not be a dog that will do well in a busy city environment or on a main road or anywhere with a lot of traffic or outside noises. A rural home, small town, or very quiet subdivision will suit her best. She would be not be suited for a high rise apartment building or anywhere where she would have to go in an elevator or through a busy lobby to get outside. Pidge can also be vocal in her crate for a bit when she is left alone. She settles eventually but she is best for a detached home at this time, or a townhouse with good sound barrier. She will do her bathroom duties on leash but is more comfortable with access to a yard where she can roam around and get her jobs done.
One of the loveliest things about living with Pidge is watching her come alive. She arrived shut down and still, and now she play bows. She arrived unwilling to take a treat from your hand, and now she does. She has a playful spirit inside her — she just doesn't let it out very often yet. Every small step forward is a victory worth celebrating, and her new family will have the privilege of watching this little girl continue to bloom. She is comfortable and settled in her crate at night, sleeping without fuss. Her house training is going very well — she knows what to do when she gets outside and has been clean in the house throughout her time in foster care. Car rides are completely fine — she travels calmly and without stress. She does drool a fair bit in the car.
Pidge has shown a gentle curiosity toward the other dogs in our home and actively tries to engage them in play — and they are slowly coming around. She is relaxed in their company and shares space peacefully. As with any dog still discovering the world, calm and unhurried introductions to new dogs will always be the right approach. She would do best in a home with another small dog to be her role model , she will continue to come along faster with another dog to pattern off of. And if that dog would like to play a little bit, even better! Preference will be given to a home with another dog, but its not a must have...she can do well being the only dog in the home, it will just take her longer to build confidence, but with a patient person experienced with timid dogs, this would be just fine. Please do tell us about your experience with timid dogs in the application if this is the case.
Pidge has no formal obedience training yet, which is completely understandable given where she came from. As with all Pound Dog Rescue adoptions, her new family will be required to follow up with structured obedience training — and for Pidge, this will be a cornerstone of her success. Gentle, positive reinforcement training will help her build confidence, learn to communicate her needs, and deepen her bond with her new family. She is intelligent and observant, and with the right guidance she will flourish.
Pidge has been spayed and came through her surgery beautifully — calm, easy, and completely unfussy. She is up to date on all her vaccinations. Shih Tzus do not shed significantly, but their coats require consistent care — regular brushing at home and professional grooming every six to eight weeks will keep her looking and feeling her best. Her new family should establish a relationship with a calm, patient groomer who will take the time to make the experience comfortable for her. Dental care will also be an important part of her routine, as Shih Tzus are prone to dental disease.
Pidge needs a quiet, loving home where someone has the time and patience to let her continue to unfold at her own pace. She needs gentle hands, a consistent routine, and an adopter who finds joy in the small victories — the first time she wags her tail at you, the first treat she takes from your hand, the first time she play bows just for you. She is not a dog who will give her heart away quickly — but when she does, it will mean everything. She has already shown us that her heart is there, waiting, just beginning to open. Will you be the one to unlock it?
#rescuedismyfavoritebreed #rescuedog #adoptdontshop #pounddogs #pdr14years #pounddogrescue14yearsstrong
Name: Pidge
ID # PDR1567
Age: 3yrs
Gender: female
Spayed: yes
UTD vaccines: yes
Breed: ShihTzu
Colours: white and grey
Coat length: med
House trained: yes
Special needs: no
OK with kids: teens
OK with cats: yes
Ok with dogs: yes
Status: adoptable
Microchip: yes
Size: small
Location: Ayr, Ont
