Shih Tzu puppies and dogs in Florence, Oregon

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 Sugar to our trip for the right family 😊 Meet Sugar 🩵 Some dogs come into our lives with stories that remind us just how deeply animals love, how profoundly they can grieve, and how beautifully they can learn to trust again. Sugar is one of those dogs, and after spending the last three months getting to know this beautiful girl, I can tell you that whoever is fortunate enough to welcome her into their family will be gaining a truly special little companion. Sugar is a beautiful Shih Tzu girl, born October 12, 2023, weighing 14.04 pounds, with a gentle heart, a wonderfully expressive personality, and so much love waiting for the right person to call her own. Sugar came to us alongside her sister, Lucy, following the unexpected passing of their beloved owner, an older gentleman who passed away peacefully in his sleep. Their entire world had revolved around him, and from everything we were told, the girls had lived a very quiet, private life within the comfort of their home. When the time came to bring them into our care, it was heartbreaking. Both girls cried, screamed, and desperately tried to return inside the home where they had always known love and security. They couldn’t understand why their dad wasn’t coming back or why the only life they had ever known was suddenly changing. It was one of those moments in rescue that stays with you. We knew immediately that these girls weren’t going to need someone to simply provide food, shelter, and affection. They needed time. They needed patience. And most importantly, they needed the opportunity to grieve, heal, and discover that life could still be beautiful even after losing someone they loved so deeply. So that’s exactly what we gave them. For the past three months, Sugar and Lucy have been part of our family, and watching their transformation has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Sugar was the first of the sisters to begin coming out of her shell. Little by little, her curiosity started replacing her uncertainty, and before long, we began meeting the wonderfully sweet, affectionate, and surprisingly expressive little girl hiding beneath all that sadness. And let me tell you, Sugar has quite the personality! 😂🩵 While she isn’t much of a barker, she has discovered that she can communicate with us in her own adorable way. When Sugar wants something, needs something, or simply feels she has something important to say, she’ll talk to you! It’s one of those little quirks that makes her so endearing because you can almost imagine the conversation she’s trying to have. She’s also incredibly smart, and we’ve learned that she has her own ideas about how certain things should be done. For example, when it’s time to go outside, Sugar understands what we’re asking of her and has made wonderful progress with her housetraining. But sometimes, she would much rather have you accompany her than venture outside alone. And this girl knows exactly how to make that happen! She’ll patiently wait until you’ve walked all the way outside before deciding that she’ll join you after all. 😂 It’s such a funny little part of her personality, and I think it speaks to something very special about Sugar. She doesn’t necessarily need constant attention, but she genuinely enjoys knowing her people are nearby. Sugar is affectionate, gentle, and wonderfully laid-back. She loves being carried, cuddled, and included in whatever her family happens to be doing. She doesn’t need an adventurous lifestyle or a packed schedule to be happy. A peaceful home, familiar routines, a comfortable place to rest, and someone who enjoys her companionship would mean the world to her. And if you’re wondering how to win Sugar’s heart, I have a little secret for you. TREATS! 😂 This girl is an absolute treat goblin! She and her sister have made it very clear that delicious little rewards are one of life’s greatest pleasures. Treats have also been a wonderful way to build positive associations, encourage confidence, and celebrate the small victories that mean so much during their adjustment. Sugar is crate trained and sleeps comfortably in her own crate at night. Interestingly, when the girls first arrived, they shared a crate because being together was all they knew. But after approximately a month, something beautiful happened. As they became more comfortable and confident, they began choosing their own spaces. They no longer wanted to share a crate, preferring their own beds and the independence that came with having somewhere that belonged entirely to them. We happily encouraged this because it was another sign that they were beginning to discover themselves as individuals rather than depending entirely on one another for security. And that brings me to something very important about Sugar’s adoption. Although Sugar and Lucy are sisters and came into our care together, we have made the thoughtful decision to find them separate forever homes. Sometimes, when dogs experience significant loss or trauma together, they can become so dependent on one another for emotional security that learning to build trusting relationships outside that bond becomes difficult. We witnessed how deeply these girls relied on each other when they first arrived, and over these past three months, we’ve worked patiently to help each of them develop confidence, independence, and meaningful connections with the people caring for them. The progress has been wonderful. We believe continuing that individual growth in separate, loving homes will give each girl the best opportunity to develop a strong, lasting bond with her new family. That doesn’t mean Sugar won’t miss the familiarity of her sister or that moving into a new home will be effortless. Quite the opposite. We want her future family to understand that the Sugar we’ve come to know and adore may not be the exact same Sugar they meet during those first few days. She may be nervous. She may be uncertain. She may need time to understand that the unfamiliar people and surroundings are safe. And that’s okay. It took time for her to trust us, too. We’re looking for someone who won’t measure her progress by how quickly she settles in, but who will celebrate every little step she takes toward feeling secure. Someone who understands that trust is earned through consistency, patience, kindness, and love. Because once Sugar realizes she’s safe, her beautiful personality begins to shine. Sugar does wonderfully with other dogs and cats, and she has been sweet with men, women, and children. She has a naturally gentle disposition and isn’t a high-energy girl. She enjoys being close to her people and having a peaceful, loving environment where she can simply be herself. Her previous owner hadn’t introduced her to much of the world outside their home, so some everyday experiences are still relatively new to her. Leash walking is one of those things. Sugar did not arrive leash trained, and while we’ve been introducing her to the experience, she’s still learning to feel comfortable and confident. Her future family should be prepared to continue helping her with short, positive experiences rather than expecting her to immediately understand walks in unfamiliar surroundings. Grooming was another adjustment for both girls when they arrived. Thankfully, we have an incredibly patient and understanding groomer who has helped them learn that being groomed doesn’t have to be frightening. We would love for Sugar’s future family to continue working with someone equally gentle and attentive so those positive experiences can continue. As for housetraining, Sugar has made wonderful progress! In her previous home, the girls had access to a doggy door and indoor potty pads, so they were accustomed to handling their bathroom needs independently without necessarily being asked. Here, she’s learned to go outside when prompted and has been doing very well with our routine. Her new family should continue providing consistency, patience, and plenty of opportunities to succeed as she adjusts to another new environment. Sugar has also received all of her veterinary care in preparation for adoption. She is spayed, current on her vaccinations, microchipped, and has received a professional dental cleaning and polishing. Her dental health is wonderful, and her overall physical examination went beautifully. She has been medically cleared and is ready to begin the next chapter of her life. What I want most for Sugar is a family who understands that the beautiful little girl they’re welcoming home has already experienced a tremendous loss. She doesn’t need anyone to feel sorry for her. She needs someone to believe in her. Someone who will give her the freedom to grow, the reassurance to feel safe, and the opportunity to discover that loving another person doesn’t mean forgetting the one she lost. I have watched Sugar go from a frightened, grieving little girl desperately trying to return to the only home she’d ever known, to a sweet, affectionate, expressive companion who is learning that the world has so much more love waiting for her. And I can’t wait for the day she realizes that her next home isn’t temporary. That the people loving her aren’t going anywhere. And that she can finally settle into the beautiful life she deserves. Sugar’s adoption fee is on our website at the bottom of her adoption listing at https://www.breadoflifek9refuge.org/post/sugar-1 It reflects the extensive veterinary care, dental care, daily care, grooming, socialization, and time we’ve invested in preparing her for her forever family. If you have a patient heart, a peaceful place for a little girl to land, and room in your life for a companion who will love you in her own wonderfully special way, our sweet Sugar may be exactly who you’ve been waiting for. 🩵

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 Lucy to our trip for the right family 😊 Meet Lucy 🩵 There is something incredibly special about a dog who doesn’t immediately ask the world for attention, but instead quietly watches, listens, and takes her time deciding when she’s ready to let someone into her heart. That’s our Lucy. Lucy is a beautiful Shih Tzu girl, born October 12, 2023, weighing 13.03 pounds, with one of the sweetest, gentlest little personalities we’ve had the pleasure of getting to know. She’s not the girl who needs to be the center of attention or the first one to greet everyone who walks through the door. Lucy is our observer. She’s the little girl who watches the world around her, takes everything in, and waits for someone she trusts to show her the way. And after everything she’s been through, I think that’s perfectly understandable. Lucy came into our care alongside her sister, Sugar, following the heartbreaking loss of their beloved owner. Their dad was an older gentleman who passed away peacefully in his sleep, leaving behind two little girls whose entire lives had revolved around him. From what we were told, they lived a very private, sheltered life together. Their home was their world, their dad was their person, and the two sisters had always had one another to lean on. When we arrived to bring them into our care, neither girl understood what was happening. They cried, screamed, and desperately tried to get back inside their home. It was heartbreaking to witness because they weren’t simply leaving a house. They were leaving behind everything familiar, including the person who had loved and cared for them throughout their lives. And while we couldn’t explain to them what had happened, we could promise ourselves that we would give them every opportunity to heal. We’ve now had Lucy and Sugar in our care for three months, allowing them to settle into our home, learn new routines, build trust, and slowly rediscover themselves. For Lucy, that journey has taken a little longer than it did for her sister. Where Sugar began showing her personality relatively quickly, Lucy preferred to hang back and observe. She needed more reassurance, more consistency, and more time before she felt comfortable letting her guard down. And we gave her every bit of it. Because with dogs like Lucy, the smallest moments can mean the most. The first time they choose to come closer. The first time they relax in your arms. The first time they follow you because they want to, rather than because they’re uncertain about being left behind. Those are the moments that tell you trust is beginning to grow. And Lucy has given us so many beautiful moments to celebrate. Today, she’s an incredibly sweet, affectionate, laid-back little companion who enjoys being close to her people. She loves being carried, cuddled, and included in the everyday happenings of the home. She’s not demanding or particularly energetic, and she doesn’t need constant entertainment to be content. Lucy is happiest when life feels peaceful and predictable, when the people around her are kind, and when she knows she has someone she can depend on. She’s also not much of a barker. While her sister Sugar has discovered the joy of talking to us when she wants something, Lucy is much more content to quietly observe and wait for us to lead the way. There’s something so endearing about her gentle little presence. And don’t let her quiet personality fool you, because this girl has one very important weakness. TREATS! 😂🩵 Lucy and Sugar are both absolute treat goblins! Delicious little rewards are a wonderful way to make friends with Lucy, encourage her curiosity, and help her build confidence with new experiences. Sometimes the way to a girl’s heart really is through her stomach! Lucy is crate trained and currently sleeps comfortably in her own crate at night. When she and Sugar first arrived, they shared a crate because they were so accustomed to relying on one another for comfort. But after about a month, we noticed something wonderful beginning to happen. The girls started wanting their own space. Their own beds. Their own little places to relax. And we encouraged every bit of that newfound independence. You see, although Lucy and Sugar are sisters, we have made the decision to find them individual forever homes rather than requiring them to be adopted together. This wasn’t a decision we made lightly. When dogs experience something as emotionally overwhelming as losing their person and leaving the only home they’ve ever known, they can become so dependent on one another for comfort that building new relationships becomes difficult. When Lucy first arrived, her sister was her greatest source of familiarity and reassurance. But over these past three months, we’ve watched both girls begin developing their own confidence, learning to trust us, and discovering that they don’t have to rely exclusively on each other to feel safe. For Lucy especially, this has been an important part of her growth. We believe that allowing her to continue this journey in a home of her own will give her the opportunity to form a beautiful, secure bond with her new family. But we also want to be very transparent about what that transition may look like. The Lucy you meet during those first few days may be quiet, nervous, uncertain, or hesitant to engage. She may look to you for reassurance while simultaneously needing a little space to figure everything out. She may not immediately understand that she’s finally home. And that’s okay. It took Lucy time to feel comfortable with us, and we fully expect that she’ll need patience and understanding as she adjusts to another new chapter without her sister beside her. We’re not looking for someone who expects instant affection or immediate confidence. We’re looking for someone who understands that the most meaningful relationships are sometimes the ones that take a little longer to build. Someone who will allow Lucy to approach life at her own pace, celebrate her progress, and never make her feel that she’s falling short simply because she needs more time. Because the little girl we’ve come to know is absolutely worth waiting for. Lucy does wonderfully with other dogs and cats, and she’s been sweet with men, women, and children. Her gentle nature makes her a lovely companion for a family who appreciates a quieter, more relaxed dog. Her previous home was very sheltered, so she arrived without much experience navigating the world outside of familiar surroundings. Leash walking is still something she’s learning. We have been introducing her to the leash and helping her become more comfortable, but her future family will need to continue building that confidence through patient, positive experiences. For Lucy, we would much rather see someone take their time and help her feel safe than rush her into situations she’s not ready for. Grooming was also unfamiliar and challenging when she first arrived. Our wonderful groomer has been incredibly patient with both girls, helping them learn to tolerate and become more comfortable with the grooming process. We strongly encourage Lucy’s future family to find someone who shares that same gentle, understanding approach so she can continue building positive experiences. Her housetraining has also come along beautifully. In her previous home, Lucy and Sugar had access to a doggy door and indoor potty pads, so they were accustomed to handling their bathroom needs on their own schedule. Since coming into our care, Lucy has learned to go outside when asked and has made wonderful progress. She does especially well when someone accompanies her outside. In fact, our little Lucy is perfectly happy to be picked up and carried outside, where she can feel reassured by having someone she trusts nearby. It’s become part of our routine, and she’s been doing very well with it. As with any dog entering a new home, her family should expect an adjustment period and continue reinforcing the routines she’s learned with consistency, patience, and encouragement. Lucy has received all of her veterinary care and is ready to find her forever family. She is spayed, current on her vaccinations, microchipped, and has received a professional dental cleaning and polishing. Her dental health is wonderful, her overall physical examination went beautifully, and she has been medically cleared for adoption. And now, after three months of watching this little girl heal, grow, and slowly find herself again, I feel that she’s ready for the next chapter. What Lucy needs isn’t complicated. She needs kindness. She needs consistency. She needs someone who understands that being quiet doesn’t mean she has nothing to say, and that taking her time doesn’t mean she has less love to give. She needs someone who will sit beside her through the uncertain moments, gently encourage her through new experiences, and give her the freedom to become the confident little girl we know she’s capable of being. Most importantly, she needs someone who will give her the chance to understand that she’s home. Not visiting. Not passing through. Home. I often think about the little girl who arrived here so frightened and heartbroken, unable to understand why her world had changed. And then I look at Lucy today, quietly enjoying the companionship of our family, learning new routines, accepting affection, and finding comfort in a life she once knew nothing about. Her progress may have been slower than her sister’s, but it has been every bit as beautiful. I believe there’s a very special person or family out there who will appreciate Lucy for exactly who she is. Someone who won’t need her to be the boldest, most outgoing dog in the room. Someone who will recognize that behind those gentle eyes is a little girl with an enormous capacity to love. And when Lucy finally understands that she can trust you with her whole heart, I think you’ll realize just how precious that gift truly is. Lucy’s adoption fee is on our website at the bottom of her adoption listing at https://www.breadoflifek9refuge.org/post/_lucy-3 It reflects her extensive veterinary care, dental care, daily care, grooming, socialization, and the time we’ve invested in helping her prepare for this next chapter. If you have a peaceful home, a patient heart, and room in your life for a beautiful little companion who simply needs someone to believe in her, our sweet Lucy would love the opportunity to become part of your family. 🩵