Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Not good with kids,
Good with dogs,
House-trained,
Spayed or Neutered,
Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Meet Ringo! This dapper little guy came to us through one of our vet partners after being surrendered by his owner. It was clear he had been neglected and undersocialized. When he arrived, Ringo was emaciated at just 10 lbs, with a severely matted coat. He was so fearful and anxious that he had to be sedated for a medical groom. His former owner admitted she couldn’t afford vet care and hadn’t realized how underweight he was. She also shared that he would sometimes vomit after eating too fast, so she started feeding him less—only making things worse. Fast forward three months, and Ringo has made a remarkable transformation! Now a healthy 17 lbs with a gorgeous fluffy coat, he has adapted well to home life, thanks to the loving and attentive care of his foster parents, Inge and Allen. They’ve nurtured him and helped him gain confidence while teaching him the rules of home life. Ringo is fully housetrained and has excellent house manners. He can be trusted with free roam in the home and has never chewed or destroyed anything. He also loves going on walks and has good leash manners. He’s become familiar with the crate, rarely barks, and sleeps soundly through the night. He is hesitant around visitors and needs time to trust new people. While Ringo enjoys pets and sharing affection, we’ve also learned that he can nip if physically moved from a place he deems high-value—such as a couch or bed. He once nipped Allen’s finger when being removed from his lap because he wanted to stay put. While these incidents are infrequent, they still need to be addressed. To support Ringo and his foster parents, we brought in a trainer to assess his behavior and provide guidance. Inge and Allen have been working on setting clear boundaries, keeping a loose leash on him for easier handling, and restricting access to the couch until he learns to share space respectfully. With this structure in place, Ringo has already shown improvement. FOSTER MOM UPDATE - 3/25/25 "Ringo is just so very sweet most of the time and has been on his best behavior since our training session. I truly believe he was abused in the past. He did leave a mark on Allen’s finger when he tried to move him, but he won’t bite just to bite—even if you take his toy. He’s also good when I put the leash on his collar. We’ve only seen this behavior when we physically try to remove him from our lap or his favorite couch or chair. Most of the time, you can simply stand up and tell him to come with you, and he will—but physically moving him remains unpredictable. I tend to be stricter with him (Allen is still learning how to say ‘no’ to him). Ringo listens to me 99% of the time. He used to put his paws on my lap while I drank my morning coffee, but now, when I tell him ‘no,’ he immediately lays down beside me and stays there. We’re working on the couch behavior, and it’s improving. We also now only scratch under his chin instead of the top of his head, which he associates with praise. Ringo is a quick learner. The biggest challenge has been when Allen heads to the couch—sometimes Ringo beats him there and is reluctant to get down. Since training, we’ve been keeping a leash on him for easier redirection, and for the most part, we’re keeping him off the furniture. This morning, Allen was watching the news when Ringo jumped up beside him. Allen got up, told him ‘Down,’ and Ringo listened! He hopped off and went to play with his toys. He’s truly making great progress!" ****** Ringo will do best in a calm, adult-only home with owners who understand his quirks and are willing to work with him. He would be fine with another calm dog or as an only dog. He has already made great progress and just needs a patient, experienced owner who can reinforce his training while providing a loving and structured environment. In the right home, Ringo will be a devoted and affectionate companion, ready to share his sweet and playful side with those he trusts. BREED ESTIMATE: Poodle Mix with Shih Tzu (ShiPoo) or Maltese (Maltipoo) GENDER: Male APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 17 lbs APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 7 years old COAT TYPE: Medium-long fluffy coat ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/neutered/microchipped LOCATION: Rock Hill, SC FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to https://adopt.worthydog.org and complete the application. You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to https://foster.worthydog.org and fill out an application. Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area. March 25, 2025, 4:51 pm
