Dottie
Adoption Status: Accepting Adoption Interest
Gender: Female
Breed: Bichon Frise
Age: Est DOB: 01/2019
Weight: 12 lbs
Dog Friendly: Yes- needs another dog in the home
Cat Friendly: Unknown
Kid Friendly: Older to No Children Ideal
House Trained: Doing great!
History: Dottie is a super adorable little girl who needed a second chance to a good life. She is working hard on her trust and confidence building and hopes to find a patient family of her very own soon!
A Note from the Foster: A very special lady made the journey from Missouri to Minnesota and for the past month, has finally been getting all the love and medical care needed to move on from a life of neglect and unethical treatment in a commercial breeding environment.
I first met Dottie at Hope’s Garage when a petite, overgrown mop looked at me with fearful eyes as I gently scooped her up from her crate to go outside. Her beautiful white fur was matted and stained yellow from urine. She had no idea who to trust, or how to be a dog. Leashes were foreign, human touch caused her to flinch, and she snapped at me when I tried to escort her inside. Still, I knew there was a loving little soul and touch of sass waiting to emerge. So, I chose to foster her to show her a glimpse of the good life.
Of course, no rescue story is complete without a makeover. Dottie had a professional groom and did great! The filthy fur of her past has been shed, instantly improving her demeanor and confidence. After a week of decompressing and finding her “safe spots” in our home, some of her fears turned into sparks of interest. Glimpses of her personality started to appear as the days went on, and it became clear that my resident dogs are a source of comfort and guidance for her as she navigates this new world. I have witnessed her thirteen-pound body be the “big spoon” to my 70-pound German Shepard curled up in one bed.
Crate training was successful, and she typically sleeps through the night without a peep, with an occasional dainty whine/groan if she needs to potty. She would prefer to have her crate in your bedroom, as she protested when I moved her across the hall to her own private bedroom. I took this as progress! When I am home during the day, she can be trusted to roam with frequent potty breaks. She has been crated for 6+ hours and is fine, although her preference is to have her people around.
She now feels comfortable enough to lay on the bed or couch to snuggle while we read or watch TV. She has not figured out how to jump up on furniture, but there has been recent interest in learning how if her little legs allow. She knows how good belly rubs feel and will roll over for a pet. She absolutely loves gentle head rubs and will look at you adoringly while doing so. Her beautiful, curly hair is growing back to what a healthy Bichon Frise should be.
Dottie proved her resilience while healing from dental surgery recently. She now has four remaining teeth (and no stinky breath) after major dental work with extractions. I have been helping ease her recovery with soft foods and treats and her healing has gone remarkably well.
She is food motivated and will be easy to train with patience and routine. I was blown away with how quickly she mastered walking on a leash and going up the front steps (has not figured out indoor stairs) she knows her name and will come trotting to the door when called in from her potty break. Dottie had her first experience with snow (and zoomies!) It was very special to witness normal, puppy-like energy from a dog so shut down and scared just one month prior.
It’s the perfect time for her to find her forever family/person, as she continues to trust and accept love from humans. Her confidence continues to grow daily, and she is the perfect age (6 years young) to be part of a family committed to helping her thrive.She would do best in a quieter household where she can continue to work on daily routines. I would not recommend small children because she does startle very easily and if there is too much commotion, will retreat in her crate and hide.
Dottie’s Wish List:
- Home with other fur siblings for comfort, companionship, and guidance.
- Low-key, quiet environment where she can soak up loads of attention and focus on training.
- Confident owner who is also patient and understanding that things my need to be on her terms while integrating into a new home.
- A fenced in yard or walking companion to explore this new world!
- Sweater collection for next Winter, because while snow is fun, she likes to be cozy.
- Ok with cuddles next to you, but not quite ready to be picked up often. With time, I believe she will tolerate being held and maybe even learn to enjoy it.
If you are looking for the sweetest little marshmallow fluff companion, apply to learn more about adopting Dottie! She is ready to bond with her forever family and show you the sweet side of rescue.
Adoption Fee: $500 + tax
Adoption Status: Is this dog available? Submitting an application is the best first step to learning if a dog is still available. There is a chance this dog could have a pending adoption when your application is submitted, however our team will offer approved applicants to be put on a waiting list for that dog. Additionally, we can make recommendations on other dogs that may be a match. Pending adoptions do not mean the adoption is finalized. Why did we implement this change? We implemented this update because, unfortunately, dogs were pending for applicants for several weeks and then the applicant would change their mind. This happens more often with puppies, as applications are submitted impulsivly more often for them. Our process is great because it takes a little time, so impulsive decisions fade. However it was unfortunate for the dogs, and the foster homes, as then the process needed to be re-started. By securing a wait-list we are able to move forward more quickly if a pending adoption falls through. This is a new process for us, so your feedback along the way is helpful! Thank you for supporting rescue and adoption!
