My name is Cardinal!

If you love puppies, prepare to have your heart melted into a puddle. If you love small dogs, brace yourself for an overwhelming wave of cuteness. If you're into that scruffy-but-fluffy vibe, well, congratulations, you've hit the jackpot. If you’re the type of person who appreciates amazing markings—get ready to swoon. Basically, if you have a pulse and any capacity for emotion... buckle up, because you’re about to fall in love.

This adorable 6-week-old, 3.3lb Schnauzer mix is Cardinal, and no, he won’t be growing into a giant, fluffy Pyrabear. Nope, this little guy is on the "fun-sized" spectrum, estimated to top out at around 25lbs—basically, a travel-sized companion compared to our usual behemoths. I know, I know… a tiny Schnauzer mix? In this rescue? Look, when we saw their sweet little faces at the shelter, we had no choice but to cave. Blame their overwhelming cuteness and our inability to say no to a good rescue story. Thankfully, their amazing foster family stepped in to help, so here we are, introducing you to this pint-sized perfection. Now, when it comes to other dogs, Cardinal is more of a “let’s avoid the drama” type. If the dog is giving off grumpy old man vibes, expect Cardinal to pretend he doesn't exist. If another dog comes in like a wrecking ball, Cardinal will be the one subtly backing away like, “I didn’t sign up for this.” He’s not insecure—he’s just a firm believer in the art of conflict avoidance. With cats? Given his general “can we all just get along?” attitude, I’d say he follows the Love Thy Feline Neighbor philosophy. Kids? He’s not the type to come charging in for playtime, but if a lap becomes available, you’ll find him parked there like he reserved the spot in advance. As for meeting new people, Cardinal would definitely prefer a calm, quiet introduction—no chaotic, arms-flailing, “OMG PUPPY” energy, please. But if you are one of those high-energy people, don’t worry—he’ll adapt. Eventually. With enough emotional processing. Maybe.

Cardinal’s energy level falls at a solid 4 out of 10—somewhere between a well-fed housecat luxuriating in a sunbeam and a particularly unmotivated sloth reaching for its third midday snack. Activity-wise, if your idea of exercise is a nice morning stroll with a side of leisurely vibes, Cardinal is your perfect match. If you’re looking for a marathon partner… yeah, you might want to keep swiping. He’s still young and adaptable, but right now, he’s serving stay-at-home, Netflix-and-nap energy rather than hiking every weekend enthusiasm. That’s not to say he’s always lounging—just, you know, a good 70% of the time. The other 30%? Eating, chewing toes (yours, not his), being carried around like royalty, and then, of course, immediately falling asleep again. As for his ideal home setup? Honestly, he’s a puppy—he’ll adapt. Got a fenced yard? Cool. Live in an apartment? No problem. No fence but willing to do leash walks? He’s down. As long as he gets attention, snacks, and a prime spot to curl up, he’s pretty easygoing.

Alright, let’s have a little reality check moment here—Cardinal is adorable, no doubt. But he is also a puppy, which means his new family is signing up for the full puppy experience™. So, let’s go over a few important points before you start daydreaming about your perfectly trained, angelic little companion. Cardinal is a blank slate right now. He’s cute, he’s cuddly, and he has exactly zero opinions about the world—yet. It’s your job to make sure he meets all kinds of people, animals, and experiences so he doesn’t turn into that dog who acts like strangers are terrifying aliens or that the mailman is his sworn nemesis. Cardinal may be tiny now, but let’s not kid ourselves—he’s fully capable of becoming a tiny terror if you don’t teach him manners. If you think you can just “wait and see” and somehow end up with a perfectly behaved dog, well… I’d love to live in your fantasy world. Right now, Cardinal has absolutely no clue where he’s supposed to do his business, and he does not care. Your floors? Fair game. Your favorite rug? An excellent choice. Your patience? Already wearing thin. At the moment, Cardinal walks on a leash about as well as a cat being forced to take a bath. If you don’t work with him, he’ll either plant himself like an immovable object or decide that every walk is an extreme sport where you’re the unsuspecting participant. Look, it’s not if he chews something important—it’s when. Shoes, remote controls, furniture legs, your sense of inner peace… it’s all fair game to a teething puppy. If you leave something within his reach, that’s basically an invitation. The good news? He’ll grow out of it. The bad news? Your favorite pair of sneakers might not survive the process. Cardinal is adorable, sweet, and full of potential—but that potential goes both ways. With training, patience, and socialization, he’ll grow into a fantastic companion. Without it… well, let’s just say your future might involve a very opinionated, very mischievous little gremlin running your household.

Alright, folks, if you’ve made it this far and you’re still thinking Cardinal is the boy for you—you might just be Cardinal’s kind of people. Now, before you start planning matching outfits and making room on your couch, here’s what you need to do: fill out an adoption app ASAP at https://www.pyrpawsandfluffytailsrescue.com/adoption-app so we can send it over to his foster family for review. No app, no Cardinal—sorry, we don’t do “impulse puppy acquisitions” around here. And just a heads-up: this little fluff nugget is currently living it up in Broken Arrow, OK, so that’s where you’ll need to pick him up. No, we will not be shipping him via Amazon Prime, and no, he cannot be teleported to your doorstep—so plan accordingly. Oh, and one last thing—Cardinal won’t be ready to leave his foster home until around March 16th. That gives you just enough time to puppy-proof your house, stock up on chew toys, and say goodbye to your previously pristine floors. Sound good? Great. Go apply. He’s waiting. 😏