Mildred

Mildred is a three-year-old cream-colored Shih Tzu with the most charming overbite you've ever seen. Her adorable smile is just one of the many things that make her impossible not to love. When she's excited, she stands proudly on her hind legs, showing off the sweet and silly personality that makes everyone smile. As a former puppy mill mama, Mildred spent much of her life caring for others. Now it's finally her turn to be cared for. She is discovering all the wonderful things that come with being a cherished family member and embracing them one day at a time. Mildred is house-trained with regular outdoor breaks and settles comfortably in her crate at night and when left home alone. She has enjoyed learning to walk on a leash and is becoming a wonderful walking companion. She strolls along on a loose leash and loves exploring new sights and smells. Car rides still make her nervous, but with patience, practice, and plenty of positive experiences, her confidence continues to grow. Mildred would be happy as an only dog, soaking up all the love and attention she missed out on for so many years. She would also do well with a calm, friendly canine companion who could help build her confidence and provide companionship. Due to her past, Mildred is cautious around new people and especially wary of men. She needs time and patience to feel safe, but treats are the way to her heart. While she will happily accept snacks from visitors, she still prefers to keep a comfortable distance while learning that people can be trusted. Right now, Mildred has chosen a favorite person and is happiest by her side. She follows her from room to room, curls up by her feet, and loves snuggling beside her on the couch. She will bond strongly with her people. Mildred would like a woman as one of her primary care givers and if there are men in the home they will need to be patient and fully understanding that their relationship with Mildred will take time to form a bond, she will need to trust them and this will take some time. Sadly her experience with men has not been a positive one prior to coming into foster care so she needs to learn that men are kind. As her confidence grows, more of her joyful personality shines through every day. One of her foster family's favorite moments is coming home to Mildred's enthusiastic welcome - complete with tappy feet, happy zoomies, a wagging tail, and pure excitement. It's a heartwarming reminder of how far she has come and how much love she has to give.

Ideal Home

Mildred's wish list for her forever home is simple: a calm, quieter home where she can feel safe and settle into a predictable routine, a toy box she can happily empty throughout the house, a sunny spot where she can relax and soak up the warmth, a comfortable couch for afternoon snoozes, and most importantly, a patient family that understands trust is something she is still learning. A busy household with lots of activity and constant comings and goings would be overwhelming for her. She doesn't need perfection - just kind, loving people who will give her the time and reassurance she deserves. Mildred would do best in a home with children over the age of 12 and up who can respect her boundaries and allow her to settle in at her own pace. Mildred is quiet in her crate at night but can do some fussing during the day so best for her to be in a detached home or semi-detached that has good noise barrier. She also requires a secure fenced in yard for doing her business. She won't reliably do all her business while out on a walk so needs the safety of a secure fenced yard to go into after her walks to finish up. Mildred will need a quiet outside environment as well; a small town, rural setting, or quiet subdivision is needed for her to feel safe and not be overwhelmed. She also would not like to live on a busy road. She is not suited for big city living. Having spent 3 years living in a barn, she is gradually learning about the world outside and we don't want to scare her or overwhelm her with too much hustle and bustle and noises.

Ongoing Health

Mildred is spayed and up to date on vaccines. She is microchipped.

Training & Support

Mildred is house-trained and enjoys walking on a leash. She is still working on building confidence with car rides and can be cautious around new people, especially men.

Application Details:

• Applications start by contacting us through Wags.

Transporation

Mildred is located in Waterloo, Ont.