Daphne

Meet sweet, tiny Daphne - she's a 1.5 years old maltese/shih tzu mix that weighs only 5.5 pounds (small in stature but has tons of personality). She was surrendered by a breeder because she wasn’t going to be used in the breeding program, and she never lived in a home with a family until she came into our program. Having lived in a kennel, she socializes well with other dogs but is nervous and shy around people until she knows and trusts you. She is shy around men and needs a female as her main caretaker, and does best in a calm, adult home as she's easily overwhelmed by too much activity and noise. Daphne's favorite thing is following her two foster canine sisters. She thinks it's so fun to chase each other and wrestle. Toys are great entertainment too, and Daphne favors small squeaky toys and often gathers a collections of toys in her dog bed. She would do best in a home with another small, confidant dog companion. A secure fenced yard would be ideal, but would need to be inspected for gaps under the fencing or around the gate where she might squeeze through (although once she's content with her people, she doesn't try to run away). Because Daphne is so small, she requires supervision when she's in the fenced yard, as she could be preyed upon by large birds. Daphne is great with the cat. She sometimes crawls into the cat’s bed and sleeps next to her! This little cutie loves walks and does excellent on a leash. You will need to pick her up if a big dog comes near, as she's very little and gets scared. She does well in the car and likes going places, as long as her person is there (but perhaps should stay home on these hot, humid days). She is extremely happy living with a family now and having the comforts of home - Daphne prefers sleeping with her humans,but will also sleep in her bed on the floor. Daphne is puppy pad trained, and will potty occasionally if you take her outside, but she is not housebroken. There will be 3 ongoing expenses to consider when adopting her – the cost of the pee pads year-round, grooming 4-5 times a year, and she will require a monthly heartworm chew year-round this first year (came up from a hotter weather state) and flea and tick preventative in the warmer months. A single family home would be best for Daphne because she will bark when anyone comes to the door. Despite her size, her bark is loud and high pitched, like a squeaky toy, and might not be appreciated by neighbors in an apartment. She hasn't had any experience with stairs – it’s easier to pick her up since she's so tiny. She doesn't jump off the bed, so if she sleeps with you she needs to be lifted on and off of the bed. She is microchipped, spayed and current on all vaccinations, including distemper, rabies and bordetella. Her heartworm test and tick panel were all negative. In April of this year she had a dental cleaning – there weren’t any extractions. Daphne’s adopter must commit to taking care of Daphne for fifteen plus years, as these little dogs can live a long life. Adopter must be steady enough that she won't fall if Daphne gets underfoot, and must be able to pick her up quickly for the little dog’s safety. Daphne's adoption fee is $450 If you would like to meet Daphne or have any questions, please call 651-771-5662. A vet reference and home visit will be required, so adopters must live within forty miles of the Twin Cities metro area.