Shih Tzu puppies and dogs in Beamsville, Ontario

**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** For Adoption: Shandy! 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/. You may have heard of a “shandy”; a classically refreshing beverage that is best enjoyed while kicking back on your favourite patio. But this year, there’s a new, even better Shandy in town! For this particular Shandy, simply combine two parts gentle energy, one part cuddle-bug, and a couple dashes of sass, and you’ve got yourself the perfect addition to your summer: Shandy the Shih Tzu! Shandy is 4 year old Shih Tzu weighing approximately 16 lbs, with buttery soft white fur topped by splashes of cream beige patches. She might be a small dog, but don’t let her size fool you; this girl’s got a comically long body that equips her to go into ‘sport mode’ on walks and she’s ready to keep up with anyone! She is a big time cuddler and enjoys nothing more than finding a tiny crevice to squeeze into between the couch and her person. Throughout the day, you can find her on her favourite spot on the couch, snuggled in blankets, or following her foster mom around the house to observe her activities. She is the perfect cuddle buddy; she'll quickly leap up onto the couch, twirl around to get comfortable, and curl up in a position that allows her to rest her head on your body. Shandy’s other favourite place is the yard, and she loves to explore the garden as if it’s an adventurous jungle, eventually settling into a spot among the flowers when she’s ready to kick back and relax outside. Shandy is spayed, up to date on vaccinations, and received a clean bill of health at her vet check up, making her fully prepared to enjoy the good life from here on out. She is a great eater and loves to chow down on chicken, her kibbles, and is even open to testing out fruits (although, jury is out on whether she actually likes blueberries - she spit out the blueberry and nuzzled it under a blanket before concluding that it was, in fact, edible). Her excellent appetite may be a contributor to her muscle mass; the vet noted that she is particularly strong and muscular for her size! Before coming into our care, she was used for commercial breeding purposes where her job was to produce as many puppies as possible, all while living in deplorable conditions. As a result, she’s learning about what life is like as a cherished family pet. At first, Shandy had fear of common day-to-day happenings like hearing noisy cars, being near kids kicking a soccer ball, or passing by people on walks. However, her under-socialized past was no match for this curious, brave girl; she is now completely unbothered by loud noises and fully enjoys her time exploring her busy suburban neighbourhood, and now even finds soccer games interesting enough to stop and watch with an inquisitive, tilted head. Shandy is still unsure of men and has trouble trusting them. This will improve with time, and already is improving, but for now, men in her life need to be patient and prepared to build trust in small steps. In foster care, this has meant building up positive male interactions without expectations, like tossing high value treats to her and walking away. Her sass will be on full display if she feels men are not respecting her boundaries and/or she is not sold on their intentions; she will growl and/or grumble if men try to get in her space with pets or cuddles, or bark at them in protest if they talk to her with a higher pitched voice. When she growls, it’s a form of communication and she has not ever been aggressive or taken it beyond a ‘go away’ growl. She's simply not a fan of men right now, and not afraid to say it! Each week, she has become more accepting of the men in her life, and is slowly building trust. Potential adopters should be prepared that learning to love men will be a process for Shandy, and will not happen over night. Do not be offended or surprised if she chooses a woman as her favourite, go-to person in the initial stages of joining her forever home. Shandy would be suitable for a mellower family with (or without) kids over 12, and with (or without) another mature, calm smaller dog in the home. She is a lower medium energy dog who is happy to do whatever her favourite person is doing, and enjoys active hiking days just as much as she enjoys her time snuggled up on the couch watching TV. She will be good in a condo, townhouse or detached home as she is not particularly vocal unless she’s unsure of someone. Ideally her forever home will have a secure fenced yard, as that will be a great tool for settling in. The first two weeks of foster care, she stuck to the yard before she got comfortable cruising the neighbourhood. Shandy’s curiosity and bravery make her a great adventure companion and walking buddy. She is a fitness queen, and has no problem trotting along on a 2 KM+ walk, taking occasional stops to soak in the outdoors and sniff the flowers. She walks well - and quite fast considering her size - keeping pace the whole time and not pulling. It's quite comical to see her little 16 pound body trailblazing along the trails like a graceful gazelle. She is unreactive to other dogs or people on walks, but occasionally will stop and stare when certain things are interesting or odd - like bigger dogs or loud people. She genuinely enjoys walking - although she never demands it - and would love to continue her twice a day ‘bigger’ walks in her forever home. Shandy is the only dog in her foster home, but would be fine with other dogs in the home if they are a similar size and temperament, and properly introduced. She has met other small dogs on walks, and has been completely indifferent. Plus, being from a mill, she was around many other dogs in her past life. However, some larger dogs seem to make her a bit nervous, and she hasn’t been keen to stop and chitchat with owners of dogs that are 3x her size. We believe this could be due to her past; she has a small scar on her head and the vet staff noted that it could from a past dog bite. She is unreactive to cats that have been passed on walks, and given her size and temperament, would likely do well in a home with a dog-savvy cat. Shandy is crate trained and sleeps quietly in it overnight. She doesn’t seek out the crate on her own, but will go in if lifted – once she’s in, she cuddles up in her blankets and enjoys quiet time. She is periodically crated throughout the day to help build confidence being alone, and is happy to kick back and relax during these periods. Although she’s been great in the crate, she does get offended if she is crated for more than 4 hours during the day. In these cases, she will serve you some “how could you?!” energy when she is out and may choose to protest this by ignoring you for a while. For this reason, someone who is home more often than not would be best for Shandy. Shandy is house trained and does well with her bio schedule. When she needs to go in the morning, she will start running around near the door. She can hold it for quite some time but until she learns to officially alert that it’s time to do her duties, she should be on a bathroom schedule (every 4-5 hours, and immediately after waking up). Sassy Shandy doesn't mind meeting new people in the house, but generally will select a spot to observe her visitors before interacting. Usually this is behind a couch, in a corner, or peeking through her crate. Once she feels safe and has determined that the guests are worthy of her time, she will trot around the house and do a quick 'perimeter check', quickly making an appearance in the room where the guests & entertainment are happening, briefing observing what the hoopla is about, and then swiftly returning to her chosen observation post location. Visitors who come bearing high value treats may convince Shandy she can take a few more breaks from her guest monitoring duties. Shandy will make an excellent travel companion and does well in the car. She was car sick once, but all other car rides have been a breeze and she’s happy to chill out in her carrier or while otherwise secured in the back seat. She has been in 1.5 hour car rides and was happy to hang out and relax the whole time. Shandy is a super sweet, go-with-the-flow girl who will be a loyal, gentle companion. With time and patience, she is going to blossom into a super well rounded dog; she is already a gem and is going to shine even more with each passing day. She will thrive in a forever home that is committed to her ongoing confidence building and socialization. Whether it’s snuggling up on the couch, or hitting the hiking trails, Shandy is ready to take on the world by your side. Name: Shandy ID # PDR2076 Age: 4yrs Gender: female Spayed: yes UTD vaccines: yes Breed: ShihTzu Colours: tan and white Coat length: med House trained: yes Special needs: no OK with kids: teens OK with cats: no Ok with dogs: yes, small Status: adoptable Microchip: yes Size: small Location: Oakville Adoption fee: $700

Meet Pepper, the sweetest soul you'll ever encounter! This gentle girl is as loving as they come, with a heart full of joy and a spirit eager to please. Whether it’s walking by your side, playing tug-of-war with her favorite bunny toy, or simply cuddling up for some affection, Pepper’s main goal is to make you smile. House and leash-trained, Pepper is the perfect companion for those quiet mornings or leisurely strolls, though she might get a bit excited when she spots a squirrel! She's incredibly easy to teach, and her gentle nature is evident in every interaction—she'll even let you put your hand in her food bowl without a fuss, rewarding you with a loving lick. Pepper’s day is a delightful mix of walks, playtime, and snuggles. She wakes up ready for her morning walk, enjoys her meals with a wagging tail, and loves to spend her afternoons playing with her toys or relaxing by your side. But what truly sets her apart is her unbreakable desire to be your “good girl.” This beautiful pup is ready to fill your home with warmth, joy, and a whole lot of love. If you’re looking for a loyal and loving companion, Pepper is the one. She deserves the very best, and she’s waiting to meet her forever family!

  Maverick aka Mavi is a stocky little guy who loves everybody.  He is estimated to be about 10 years old and weighs in around 15 lbs.  He loves meeting other dogs although doesn't interact much with them after the initial greeting. He lives with two small dogs and has no problem sharing space; he shows no guarding issues with humans or other dogs.  Although he is not a fan of going for walks, he enjoys exploring the back yard and is good for going outside during the day. He wears a belly band diaper at night because of occasional accidents. He is not a snuggler so does not sleep with his people, but does like to have his bed in their room.  It is not known if he is good with children or cats but based on his laid back personality would probably be fine although a home with toddlers children would not be recommended.  He is not a fan of nail trimming and does not like his face touched but allows face kisses and ear scratches.  Grooming is better tolerated after some Gabapentin and Trazodone but still requires patience.  Mavi is an amazing boy who catches on quickly to changes in routine and would bring joy to any home.  PS he snores        Hello my name is Maverick and I’d like to tell you a little about myself As you can see by my pictures I only have one eye. To keep my other eye healthy my foster mom puts drops in it twice a day, I can get around the house and outside just fine, but my foster mom or foster dad have to carry me down the porch steps, so I don’t fall.   I love to lay in the sun and am pretty laid back (although not much of a cuddler) and enjoy as many scratches and pets as you have to offer. I enjoy meeting new people (especially when they have a treat for me). I also like meeting other dogs, my tail starts wagging right away. When I came into the rescue my foster mom took me to the veterinary clinic she works at and I made lots of new friends there – both human and canine   At night I wear a belly band and when they go to work because I have had accidents, so this helps. I’m not a picky eater and like my senior diet. I love my treats and will sometimes use my voice when I want something, otherwise I’m a quiet guy. I like to spend my days hanging out in bed or on the floor near my foster family. I hope you like the photos and video of me I can’t wait to meet you so you can see in person how great I am, my foster mom says so.  Thank you for reading my bio.  Woofingly yours, Maverick    August 19, 2024, 10:02 am

Theo, an 8 pound Shih tzu came into our rescue from a puppy mill in June. When Theo first came into foster care, he was very shy and apprehensive. After a couple weeks, although not totally trusting he has come a long way.  Running up to his foster family for chin scratches and hugs. Theo likes all dogs that he has met so far and very interested in every human that he interacts with.  He is very interested in the resident cat but this may be because he’s never seen one before. Theo is said to be 9 years old and will be ready for adoption.  Theo is blind in one eye but gets along quite well.   Theo is a fun loving little guy that really appreciates the simple things in life. Theo will need continued support with his housetraining but is starting to catch on. Theo is not leashed trained and would do best in a fenced yard with no escape routes. If you think you’d be a good match for Theo, please fill in an application for our review. August 19, 2024, 10:02 am

Sassy is an approximately 5-6 year old Shih tzu who has come from a puppy mill. She is a delightful, sweet girl who has thankfully been released from a life of breeding and producing puppies for profit. While initially shy, she has blossomed into a fun, happy girl with a zest for life with a tail that just never stops wagging! She's been spayed, had a dental and is now up-to-date with all her vetting. She has a small cherry eye that we are working on getting repaired but does not interfere with her vision or cause pain. Sassy had a grooming prior to coming into rescue that entailed a very short cut due to severe matting. She's still a bit itchy but getting over that day by day. She has medications for skin repair that will be passed to the adopter. Sassy is pretty much housetrained now and goes out with the other dogs to do her business.  She is not vocal or destructive when left alone.  She is a wonderful house guest and is easy to live with and even easier to love as per her foster family. Sassy now knows how to walk on a leash.  Although she can still be skittish it becomes less and less each day. Ideal home would be a house with a fenced yard, another dog in the home and no toddlers (due to their noise level, not because she would be aggressive with them) If you are interested in meeting Sassy, please complete our adoption app at: https://www.speakingofdogs.com/adoption/dog-adoption-application-2/  August 19, 2024, 10:02 am

I’m ready to be fancy like the Ritz Carlton. You see I want to be spoiled and to feel like a princess because I had the complete opposite for the last 5 years of my life. I’ve been kept away from anything that should bring me joy; Fresh air, walks, good food but… most importantly love.  Like other puppy mill dogs everything is new to me. Every movement, every sound and every look, I’m unsure and I run. But dont think that I like running, I’d be happy to be on the couch and lay low. A fenced yard is ideal as that’s all the exercise  I need.  I’m not trusting of all humans yet but I’m slowly getting there each day with my foster who knows a lot about pups like me. Maybe you have another pup I can learn from? That would help pave my way to success, as that’s what I deserve. I’m hoping my new owner has the time to show me love and patience as I continue to figure out this new world. It can’t be as scary as where I came from but I need to be shown that with some guidance.  If you feel your home would provide lots of nurturing and dedicated care please contact my adoption coordinator Lauren and hopefully we can be the right match.