Meet Coco — A Tiny Diamond in the Rough

She may be small, but Coco has so much potential. Coco is a beautiful, petite Miniature Schnauzer who will soon be 2 years old and weighs less than 10 pounds. With her lovely gray coat, bright intelligence, and calmnature, Coco is a very special little girl who is looking for something equally special—a patient, experienced person who will give her the time, understanding, and guidance she needs to blossom.

Coco is currently being fostered in Central North Carolina, where she is getting the time and patience she needs to continuelearning and building confidence. Coco is incredibly smart and observant. In a calm, low-key environment, she can be wonderfully quiet and settled. She seems to be taking in everything around her and isslowly learning how to simply be a dog.

And that's where Coco's story gets especially sweet.She is still learning many of the things other dogs may already take for granted. Cocois learning to walk on a leash and will need continued leash training. She is mostly house trained, but will need continued guidance, consistency, and patience in her new home.

Coco will use a crate, although she isn't particularly fond of it. Her adopter will need to continue helping her develop positive feelings about crate time and understand that this may take patience and consistency. Coco has also shown an interest in toys, but she seems almost unsure whether she's actually allowed to play. Watching her discover that toys are fun, that playing is okay,and that she can relax and enjoy herself will be a wonderful journey for the person who
is lucky enough to earn her trust.

Coco is also what you might call a chow hound! She certainly enjoys her food, so her new family will want to keep an eye on portions and make sure her love of eating doesn't turn into extra pounds on her tiny frame. One of Coco's sweetest traits is that she really wants to be with her person. She prefers having her human nearby and would happily spend her time close to the person
she trusts, including sleeping with them. She is very much a little companion dog who wants to be part of her human's world. Coco is also a great traveler and does well riding in the car, making her a wonderful little companion for road trips and adventures.

Coco does have some challenges that her adopter needs to understand. When left alone, she will bark and howl, so her new family will need to be prepared to work patiently with her on being alone and help her build confidence. This is not likely to be an overnight fix—it will require consistency, patience, and understanding. Because Coco is such a sensitive and intelligent little dog, we feel she would do best with an experienced Schnauzer handler who understands the breed and is willing to let her progress at her own pace. She needs someone who will celebrate the small victories rather than become frustrated by the things she is still learning.
Coco's Ideal Home

We believe Coco would thrive in a quiet, low-key home with someone who:-
 Has experience with Schnauzers or similar sensitive, intelligent dogs
 Has plenty of patience, time, and consistency
 Is willing to continue her leash and house training
 Can patiently work with her barking/howling when left alone
 Will give her time to build trust and confidence
 Understands that Coco prefers to be close to her person
 Is willing to continue working with her on positive crate experiences
 Can provide appropriate structure around meals and treats
 Lives a relatively calm lifestyle without a lot of chaos or constant activity

A home with children or high traffic may not be the ideal starting environment for Coco. That said, we don't want to rule anything out completely. With the right family, careful management, and slow, positive introductions, she may be able to adjust to a busier environment.
Coco isn't a finished product—which makes her so special. She is a diamond in the rough.  There is a smart, calm, curious little dog underneath everything she is still learning. She just needs someone who can see the potential in her and is willing to help her discover it.Coco may not be the dog who walks into your home and immediately knows exactly what to do. She may need more patience than some. She may need you to teach her that a leash is nothing to fear, that toys are meant to be played with, that the house is a safe place, and that when you leave, you really will come back.

But imagine the reward of watching this tiny girl slowly gain confidence, learn to play, master her leash, become comfortable with her crate, and finally realize that she is safe, loved, and home. We're looking for the person who will look at Coco and say, "I can give her the time she needs."Coco is waiting for someone willing to see the diamond underneath