Thumbelina

If you’ve ever dreamed of welcoming a truly tiny companion into your life, meet Thumbelina, our teeny 3lb red, micro Toy Poodle with a heart far bigger than her size. She is just 2 years old, smaller than a toy poodle, and a delicate mix of sturdy and fragile. An enchanting little dog who will absolutely steal your heart.

Thumbelina came to us post puppy mill life after suffering neglect and isolation. She had been imported from Korea where micro sized dogs are all the rage, hoping to start breeding of the micro minis here but, thankfully for Thumbelina, she wasn’t a good producer and was deemed disposable.  Despite everything she has endured, she is joyful, affectionate, playful, and so eager to bond with her people. She loves to trot around, cuddle in close, and play with gentle enthusiasm. She socializes well with people even if she may be a little shy at first. With dogs she is confident and has shown a lot of bravery and curiosity towards every dog she has met. That being said, given her delicate little body, much care and supervision has to be given to ensure she will not be inadvertently stepped on or injured when interacting with people and dogs.

Thumbelina is pee pad trained and has had zero accidents in her foster home. She has not yet set foot on grass due to the winter weather being too harsh for her, so adopters should be prepared for a gentle, patient introduction to the outdoors when the temperature warms up and she is ready. Her family should be prepared for an indoor bathroom option for her on cold or rainy days as her little body just gets too cold too fast. Thumbelina is crate trained and loves her tiny house. She rarely makes a peep, other than a soft little ‘woo woo’ wee dog howl when you come home. She enjoys some small toys, cuddling with a Donald Duck stuffed toy, and loves being close to her humans. In fact, right on or beside you is where she wants to be whenever possible.

Thumbelina’s forever home must be one that understands her size, fragility, and history. She is not suited to homes with individuals under the age of 16 as her family needs to understand that living with a dog this small requires extra awareness and delicate, secure handling. She isn’t a dog that should be allowed to jump off a bed, a couch, or allowed to go unsupervised up and down the stairs. Her little bones are fragile and a slip or an unstable landing from a jump could result in broken bones easily. She would do well as an only dog or with a small, passive canine companion who isn’t into rough play, jumping on other dogs and is under 15lbs. Cats have not been tested; however, a quiet, non-reactive, dog-social cat may be a suitable match.

This wee girl could live in an apartment as she is a quite companion, or a detached home with a yard. She is not however a dog you would ever leave unattended in a yard. First of all, she could fit through any small gap in a fence or under a gate and given her small size, she wouldn’t be easy to catch. Second, birds of prey take quite an interest in little dogs like her. One of her foster brothers is the same size she is and when he is out in the yard, he can’t be allowed to wander too far from his people as the birds will be circling the yard looking for an opportunity to swoop in.

Thumbelina is still discovering the world, and she thrives with reassurance, patience, and gentle guidance. She is a sensitive little soul who blossoms with kindness and consistency. Despite her rough start, Thumbelina is a cheerful, cuddly, and playful girl. She loves to be held, enjoys soft toys, and delights in trotting around the home with her tiny prance. She bonds deeply and will be a devoted companion to the person or family who sees her worth and is ready to give her the safe, loving life she deserves. She is an excellent little adventure buddy and has been happy to go on outings and excursions with her foster family, meeting people with grace, curiosity and kindness. She travels well in the car and must be secured in a crate for her safety, but she doesn’t mind that at all, she just snuggles into her blanket and watches what she can through the window.

From a health perspective, Thumbelina has a strong heart and is a healthy girl. She does have a wonky little walk due to lack of muscle tone and not the best confirmation in her back end, but as she gets more exercise and builds muscle tone, she is getting more and more stable and her gait is evening out. She is a trooper, and she doesn’t want to be carried everywhere, thank you very much! When she came into our care, she had a loss of hair on her ears and some crusty spots that looked similar to frostbite. The cause of that is unknown, but they are getting better with time and some medicated ointment. She may always have her little Yoda ears but we think that just makes her extra adorable.

Thumbelina just had a complete dental done where she had 15 dental extractions. Due to lack of bone in her jaw because of her size, and some mobility in her remaining teeth, she will require ongoing dental monitoring and future dental care with a veterinary specialist. Her future family will want to ensure they do not fail to plan for this as dental health is critical to overall health, especially in these exceptionally tiny dogs.

Thumbelina is a rare little gem. Tiny, sweet, resilient, and full of love. If you believe you can meet her needs and provide the gentle, attentive home she requires, we would love to hear from you. Preference will be given to homes that understand the unique needs of toy/micro dogs and the lifestyle required to support them and live with them safely.