Dog Details

Honolulu is a tiny, trembling little puff of poodle who is working incredibly hard at being brave in a world that still feels very big and very loud. She’s the kind of dog who watches life from a safe perch—usually the couch—like a quiet spectator trying to learn the rules of a game everyone else already knows. Under her soft curls is a tender heart that desperately wants to trust, but needs time, calm, and consistency before she can take those steps.

Right now, Honolulu is a professional observer. She spends most of her day lying in one cozy spot, taking careful notes on the household’s comings and goings. She likes other polite, gentle dogs who don’t invade her personal bubble—bonus points if they’re calm and confident, the kind who can show her that the world isn’t nearly as scary as it seems. Loud noises, sudden movement, busy environments, or any hint of commotion send her scurrying for safety, so her perfect home will be peaceful, predictable, and very patient.

Because she is lightning-fast and an escape artist of Olympic caliber, she requires a fully secure 6-foot fenced yard, double leashing, and extremely careful handling. She has slipped out of harnesses and collars before, so her adopter must truly understand the seriousness of keeping her safe. She freezes on leash and is not yet comfortable walking, so yard time is currently her best way to get fresh air.

Despite her fears, Honolulu has shown glimmers of what she may become someday. With the right dog buddy by her side, she quietly relaxes a bit. She eats only when no one is watching, so her foster family kindly gives her privacy at mealtimes. She is crate trained, quiet, gentle, and completely non-destructive. And when the home is calm and the pressure is low, she settles into her favorite activity: quietly lounging on the couch, taking comfort in being near—even if not touching—her people.

Honolulu isn’t ready to be a typical lap dog, and she may never be the outgoing, social butterfly that some poodles are. But she does want to learn. You can see it in the way she watches other dogs, the way she edges a tiny bit closer each week, the way her tail relaxes when she feels safe. She is trying, in her own delicate way.

Her adopter will need patience, gentleness, and a realistic understanding that progress may be slow—and that’s okay. Honolulu doesn’t need perfection. She needs safety. She needs calm. She needs another small, steady dog friend. And she needs someone who sees her not as a project, but as a quiet, sensitive soul who has survived a lot and deserves to bloom at her own pace.

If your home is peaceful, your heart is gentle, and you have the time and dedication to help a scared little dog discover life’s softer side, Honolulu might one day trust you enough to show you the tiniest wag of her tail. And in her world, that would be a victory worth celebrating.

Please note that some of our dogs are obtained from shelters, surrendered to our care, or released from breeders. Each animal's bio is based on our experience of the animal within our care, an educated guess based on physical characteristics, temperament and information shared. Each dog receives basic grooming when coming into rescue, but for some dogs they have not received grooming attention until recently and grooming may be required shortly after adoption. This will be at the adopter’s expense, so we encourage you to research the breed and be prepared for grooming expenses. Underdog cannot guarantee hypoallergenic or non-shedding qualities of any dogs in our rescue. Some of the animals come from situations where they are lacking experience in a home and confidence in humans. In turn, they require another companion dog and/or a fenced in yard in their forever home in order for them to feel safe. If you are interested in a particular dog whose bio states those needs and do not currently have them, please understand that your home might not be the right fit. Please use the filter on our Adoptable Dogs page to find the perfect match for your home.