My name is Florence!

This little girl has been through it! I don't know what 'it' is, but she is a survivor. After being picked up as a stray, she spent about 4 days at the shelter before being sprung by a Pawfect foster. She was so severely matted that she had to be sedated to be shaved. She also had a huge burn wound on her back. A Pawfect vet partner gave her a laser treatment, ointments, and pain medication to help her heal. No one knows what caused the burn, but it was awful. She basically had no skin on her back. Thankfully, that has completely healed and she is very happy to not hurt anymore. We were shocked to see that her hair came back!

At some point, she had a person because she knows how to be a house dog, loves attention and toys, recognizes household noises, and is potty trained. Now, potty training is 90% the human doing their part. She will have an accident if you don't pay attention to her asking (she will usually go stand by the door, maybe even whine) or take her out regularly. Small dogs need to go out more often than big dogs. They just do. So, you have to be committed to that. She loves to go for walks. We typically do about a quarter mile with her in the morning and at night with quick pee breaks in between. But, she is always up for a walk! She can't do terribly long walks, though, as she does have a typical small dog knee condition (luxating patella). 

She is about ten pounds and will require regular grooming every 9(ish) weeks. 

She is tremendously sweet and actively seeks attention. She almost seems to prefer kids. But, she can be a biter and has a terrifying growl. So, I cannot recommend her to a house with kids and she needs a very patient/experienced adopter who can work with her on this. No one knows what all she has been through, but it has obviously been terrible. The growling/biting is typically related to possessiveness over her toys or new situations (for example, putting on a harness for the first time). She has 3 different growls that you will need to take the time to learn. One is 'playtime'; one is just talking; and one is her warning. It is imperative that her adopter be patient and forgiving. It will take a long time (more than a few weeks) to learn this conversation pattern. There will be bites along the way, but she's worth it.

She learns (and follows) routines well. But, she reacts badly (aggressive) to change. Her adopter will need to be patient while she learns your house rhythm. She does not do well with a crate, but would love to sleep with you.

She is great with other dogs. Hasn't met a cat. She's good on a leash, but will pull if she sees a bird or squirrel. Loves meeting new people and dogs on the street. Compared to other small dogs, she's not much of a barker, but she does bark.

She takes a small dose of gabapentin twice a day and will need to continue this for the rest of her life. It is a nerve medication that helps with both her knee pain and her stress levels that are a result of her trauma.