Charlie

About Charlie (Shih tzu) in Arlington

Charlie is waiting for you at Worthy Dog Rescue in Arlington, VA 22204. Meet Charlie! This gorgeous boy with the striking marbled coat came from a breeder in a small town outside Charlotte, NC. Charlie is a double merle, which happens when two merle-patterned dogs are bred together and can result in vision loss. Because of his limited sight, the breeder couldn’t sell him and listed him on a Facebook rehoming page. Thankfully, our volunteer Dina saw the post and stepped in to get Charlie safely into rescue. He was fostered in North Carolina with five other small dogs before coming north. He’s now living in Reston with an active family that includes three kids (7, 9, and 12) and a playful Labradoodle named Nola. Charlie and Nola became instant best friends, even though she’s more than twice his size. They love to wrestle, play tug, and run around together, with Charlie following Nola’s lead. Charlie would do best with a playful, confident dog his size or larger to be his buddy and role model. While he is technically blind, he may see some shapes and shadows, and it certainly doesn’t slow him down. It’s the only life he’s ever known, and he navigates the world confidently using his amazing sense of smell and hearing. His foster mom, Katie, has been amazed at how quickly he adapted to her home and neighborhood walks. Within days, he learned the layout of the house and how to climb the stairs (she usually carries him down for safety). At first, a baby gate kept him in the main living area and blocked the stairs while he got comfortable with the space. After a week, he started barking whenever someone approached the gate. Now, he knows where the stairs are and either steers clear or navigates them confidently on his own. Charlie is crate-trained and doing well with potty training, though he benefits from regular breaks about every three hours. He doesn’t have accidents in his crate, which his foster family uses when they’re away for longer periods. A home with a flex