Piglet

Description

* This dog will be at the Palo Alto Pet Food Express on Saturday, August 15th from 12–3 PM (unless adopted prior to the event). All DPS Rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, flea/tick treated, and microchipped prior to adoption. Adoption Fee: $800 Piglet is a tiny Pomeranian with a very big heart, a very fluffy coat, and a very carefully calculated personal-space bubble. This sweet 2–3 year old girl is one of seven Pomeranians who came to us from the same breeder, and naturally, we had to name the entire group after Winnie the Pooh characters. Piglet may be one of the shyest members of the group, but she is also one of the sweetest. When Piglet first arrived, she was very scared and unsure of everything around her. She wasn't quite sure what these humans were up to and preferred to keep her distance while she observed from a safe location. With time, patience and a predictable routine, she has started to come out of her shell. She now spends more time near her foster family, follows her foster mom around the house and likes being in the same room with her people. Piglet is still figuring out the whole "people are safe and wonderful" concept, though. Her foster family describes it perfectly: her body wants to get closer, but her mind isn't completely convinced yet. When they come home, she is genuinely happy to see them, and you can tell she wants to come closer. Then her brain seems to tap the brakes and say, "Let's not get carried away." She backs off and maintains her little comfort zone. We think that with the right person and enough time, that distance will continue to shrink. And that is what makes Piglet so rewarding. Her progress may not come with fireworks, but every little step is meaningful. A dog who was once afraid to be near you choosing to follow you into another room is a big deal. A dog who once avoided interaction deciding to hang out nearby is a big deal. With Piglet, you have to appreciate the quiet victories, because those are the moments when she is telling you that she is beginning to trust you. Piglet is not a high-energy Pomeranian who needs to be entertained every waking minute. Quite the opposite. She is calm, peaceful and perfectly content to lounge on the sofa while her person works or goes about their day. She enjoys spending time in the backyard, where she may wander around, take care of business or simply stretch out in the sunshine. In fact, Piglet has embraced the concept of sunbathing with the dedication of someone who has discovered a five-star resort. She has also mastered the art of being a quiet companion. Piglet doesn't bark, doesn't dig and doesn't chew. She isn't chasing squirrels or birds, and she isn't looking for chaos. She seems to have taken one look at the world and decided that she would much rather observe it from a comfortable position. At night, Piglet sleeps beautifully in her kennel and seems to find comfort in having a small, cozy place of her own. She wakes around 7 a.m. and is carried outside for her morning potty break before coming back in for breakfast. She has free access to the backyard during the day and gets another trip outside before dinner and bedtime around 10 p.m. She does well when left home alone and stays comfortably in her playpen. House training is still a work in progress. Piglet is not yet potty trained and currently relies on regular backyard breaks and a consistent routine. Her new family will need to continue working patiently with her as she learns the rules of her new life. She is also not yet comfortable walking on a leash, so leash training will need to be introduced gradually. Piglet has lived with many other dogs and is familiar with being part of a canine household. She has not shown aggression and has been wonderful with children, although she tends to maintain her personal-space policy with people in general. She has not been around cats while in our care, so we don't yet know how she would feel about feline roommates. Piglet is one of those dogs who may not immediately grab your attention by racing across the room or demanding affection. Instead, she quietly works her way into your heart. She is the little dog who will be across the room watching you, then eventually move a little closer. She'll follow you from one room to another without asking for anything. She'll happily lie nearby while you work. And when you come home, she'll be happy to see you even if she's not quite ready to run over and throw herself into your arms. That's Piglet. She doesn't need someone who expects her to become a social butterfly overnight. She needs someone who understands that confidence is built one small step at a time. Her ideal home would be calm and patient, with someone who can appreciate the process of earning her trust rather than expecting it immediately. We believe there is so much more of Piglet waiting to emerge. She is already showing us that she wants companionship. She wants to be near her people. She is happy to see them. She is learning to relax in their presence. Her heart is telling her that she wants to trust; her cautious little brain just needs more time to catch up. And someday, we hope that distance disappears completely. Because when Piglet finally decides that you're her person, we suspect you're going to have a very devoted little shadow following you around the house. She may never be the Pom who greets every stranger like a long-lost cousin, and she may never be the dog who believes personal space is a ridiculous human invention. But she can be the dog who quietly sits beside you, follows you from room to room and eventually decides that your home is her safe place. Piglet doesn't need a perfect family. She needs a patient one. And for the right person, watching this sweet little girl learn to trust may be one of the most rewarding things they've ever done.