k9cupid

Starling is a brave little six-year-old Shih Tzu whose sweet, silly personality has truly blossomed in foster care. When she first arrived, she was terrified of people and her new environment—but she has made incredible progress and is so ready to continue that journey in a loving forever home. These days, Starling seeks out her people and happily spends time nearby—especially if there’s a lap involved. Once she feels safe, her playful, quirky side shines through in the cutest ways: a little bounce here, a wiggly roll there, or rubbing her face along the ground in pure joy. It’s impossible not to smile around her. Starling has gained so much confidence in her day-to-day life. She proudly trots up and down stairs, is fully potty trained on a schedule, and does wonderfully with full access to the main floor while her foster parent is away. She loves exploring the yard, carefully sniffing every corner with growing curiosity and confidence. While she may be timid when first meeting new people, she warms up quickly and becomes a devoted, affectionate companion. She has shown friendly curiosity toward neighbor dogs with no signs of fear or aggression, suggesting she could thrive either as an only dog or as part of a pack. Starling is still learning that the leash isn’t so scary—she currently freezes when it’s introduced—so she’ll need a patient adopter committed to helping her build confidence at her own pace. She is crate trained, knows “go potty,” and is overall a wonderful, well-mannered little girl. She will also need regular grooming to keep her coat healthy and comfortable (her groomer reports she’s an absolute angel!). Starling has worked so hard to become the joyful little princess she is today. Starling didn’t just learn how to be a dog- she learned how to love, and now she’s ready to give that love to someone who sees just how special she is. With a gentle, patient home, she will continue to blossom into an incredibly loyal, loving, and delightfully quirky companion who gives her whole heart once she knows she’s home. 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***