Romy

Please read our dog bios carefully to be sure that the dog you are applying for suits your family and lifestyle. At Pound Dog Rescue, we believe in the benefits of post-adoption training for our dogs and their families. This allows for continued socialization, and learning and helps to create a well-mannered and balanced dog. Post-adoption training is a requirement in our adoption process.         

Meet Romy!

Romy is 5 year old Yorkshire Terrier/Shih Tzu mix who weighs about 9lbs. She has a silky soft, white and tan coat and the wiggliest butt around. Romy’s deep brown eyes and sweet, toothless face reveal a quiet joy that is just starting to emerge. She is looking for a quiet and patient home where she can really settle in and let her personality shine.

Romy started life as a breeder in a large scale breeding operation. This life of neglect and isolation left our girl fearful and wary of people when she was rescued by Pound Dog. She has come so far in the short time she has been in foster care and with continued love, encouragement and training she is going to blossom into a lively, loving member of the family!

Now I know you’re all ready to submit an application to bring Romy home but please read her bio fully and make sure you are ready to give this special girl everything she needs to recover. Romy will need a home where her people understand that she is still afraid to be touched most of the time. She is happy to be around her people but hands are still a very scary thing for her. Her new family will need to commit to working with her as she finds her confidence as I suspect she will be able to get past these fears, but they have to love her just the way she is. Romy is a pretty quiet girl, only letting out little whimpers if she feels she missing out on something and the occasional, soft little howl when she’s worried she’s alone. She would be fine in an attached or detached home but an environment like an apartment building with lots of strangers would be too overwhelming for her. She has not yet mastered stairs but this will not be a problem for her in the future. She does not require a yard to patrol as long as she has a safe place to do her business. She would not enjoy busy city streets for her walks so a quieter home base would be preferred. She walks well on the leash now, only needing occasional encouragement when encountering something new. She gets excited when she sees other dogs but we have set an expectation that she does not get to meet every dog and this helps her stay calm. Other dogs are Romy’s absolute favorite thing in the world! That, and a good squeaker toy!

In the house, Romy is a happy girl who thrives on the routine of the day. She also took to living in a home quite easily and is comfortable with the sights and sounds of the house. She loves to be with her canine foster siblings and finds comfort in their confidence. When she sees one of them approaching she can barely contain herself and her little butt wiggles so hard she almost falls over. On any given day she can be found lounging on the couch, rolling around for a good back rub, or chasing toys on the ground, giving them a good gnaw. She has started to trusts me enough to allow for some simple petting and butt rubs but this is always at her discretion and I never force her to be touched. She has been very cooperative for grooming in my home and her new family will need to plan regular grooming to prevent her coat from getting matted. Her coat is still quite thin from her years as a breeder but with a continued high quality diet this will keep improving. Romy took to house training immediately and has not had an accident in her crate since the night she arrived. She is also completely crate trained and her crate is her safe place to go when she is nervous or uncomfortable. Romy eats and sleeps in her crate and she is also crated when I am not home or if I’m unable to pay attention to her. She may complain a bit of other dogs are out roaming around without her but generally speaking she is quiet and she relaxes in her crate right away. She also rides in the car in her crate for her safety and is a calm and quiet passenger. Romy needs continued exposure to new situations so she can further build her confidence and taking car rides to fun destinations is pivotal. This sweet girl wants so badly to participate in everything that goes on in the house and her only roadblock is building trust with her people so her new family needs to be ready to let her go at her own pace while still finding ways to encourage her forward.

Romy LOVES other dogs and we will be looking for her forever home to have a doggy partner in crime, one of similar size and energy. This dog would have to be well adjusted and ready to deal with all of Romy’s love as she is very affectionate with other dogs. She is easy going with dogs and takes correction well if she gets a little too excited. Having a balanced canine companion would be a great role model for Romy and help her continue to adjust to life with people. Romy has had no exposure to cats but I’m sure she would be fine with a dog savvy cat – especially one who wouldn’t mind a little love from a tender girl like her. When we are walking she is uninterested in wildlife and walks happily, getting to stop to sniff all the new smells of the world. She is not a dog who requires endless amounts of exercise but she enjoys a couple of good walks a day and a chance to experience the world. She may need a bit of encouragement when she encounters something new but this becomes less frequent as the days go by.

Romy needs to go to an adult home or one with older teens who can be taught to respect her boundaries. The quick movements of children would be way too overwhelming for this timid girl. A home with children that visit regularly wouldn’t be suitable for her either.  Her new family will also need to make sure her boundaries are respected outside of the home, directing unknown people to give her space. When we respect Romy’s wishes to not be touched, it shows her that we understand her and this helps to build trust, bit by bit.

Romy doesn’t know any formal command but she does understand her part in the routine of the house. She knows what is expected of her when we go outside, she knows to go into her crate on request and she has developed routines for herself of where she likes to sit at various parts of the day. A home with a predictable routine will be a great environment for her. Romy will also benefit greatly from attending a formal training class with her new family.

 Romy has been spayed and microchipped and she is up to date on her core vaccines. She had heartworm and fecal tests and both came back negative. She had a mouth full of completely diseased teeth so, at her recent dental, the only option was to remove all of her teeth. She is all healed up and none the worse for wear – she still finds great joy in gumming at a toy and chasing her tennis balls across the room. She still eats her high quality kibble, it just has to soak for a few minutes first and now I no longer have to hold my breath when she finds the courage to offer a few tender kisses to the tip of my nose!

I believe that Romy is a once in a lifetime dog who just needs the right family to help her find her place in the world. She has already shown so much bravery and she deserves a family who will step up beside her and be her advocate. She may not be a cuddle buddy right now but her desire to be close by gives me hope that someday she could be a content little lap dog. She is also going to be a loving and playful companion for the right little canine sibling, giving her love freely while she borrows a little confidence from them. Romy just needs someone who wants to play this vital role in helping a deserving dog rehabilitate from a difficult beginning. A home with patience, love and consistency will be ideal for this sweet girl. We’re going to chase a tennis ball around while we wait for your application and If you have experience dealing with a timid or fearful dog please be sure to highlight this for us – can’t wait to talk to you!