Alfie & Josh

UPDATE FROM THEIR FOREVER HOME 29.5.2015  

Susan says ”  I thought I would update you on Alfie and Josh and how they are settling in after over 4 months with us. They have adapted very well to our household and routine and are doing well overall. They will obey simple commands, most of the time, and have learned a few new tricks. We have changed their food and have used new bowls to try to get them to eat more slowly. We feed them separately and get them to wait for their food…before it was like a feeding frenzy…both are food mad!  We have split their food so they get a breakfast rather than one meal a day. We have only left them alone on a couple of occasions and for just a couple of hours but they have been OK on return. Of the two, Alfie is more clever and willing to please but he strikes me as quite a nervous/sensitive dog. Josh is more laid back and does things more on his own terms. Josh is more vocal and barks if he thinks we are forgetting to give him his tea. They have the run of the garden and walk about 3 miles a day on the lead.They have been great with the grandchildren, especially Josh. They are not good when approached by other dogs……Alfie starts and Josh tends to join in…we have had a few incidents…they seem OK if the other dogs are on the opposite side of the road but if on the same walk or behind a gate they will make to attack them. They haven’t hurt another dog as it’s sort of fearful aggression from Alfie. We are planning to take them to dog training classes to help with socialisation with other dogs. Wilf and I are both committed to helping them get better with this (because we love them to bits) but want to improve these behavioural problems so they can have a better life with us… In a few weeks they are 8 and the family we adopted them from are coming to us for the day for a bit of a birthday party……we keep in touch with them by e-mail and send them photos of the dogs so they can be assured they are being well looked after. I have attached some pictures, getting a picture of these two when on a walk is nigh on impossible as they are all over the place, so these are home based ones.                      

Thank you for entrusting Alfie and Josh to us”.   

HISTORY

Alfie and Josh are two neutered males who have lived together since they were 6 weeks old and, in June 2015,  they will be 8yrs. During that time the family has grown and, sadly, there is no longer enough time to devote to them so, with great sadness, their owners have asked for us to help rehome them. They are KC registered and microchipped.   

Personality Both are described by their owner as lovely boys.  They don’t fight with each other just snuggle in!

Alfie is like a teenager. He is really giddy and spins round when the leads come out. He’s a lot slimmer than Josh even though they eat the same. The vet says Alfie is a perfect weight.

Josh is more like an old man. He sits waiting for his lead to be put on and has one speed – slow!  He’s solid and a few kilos more than Alfie.  Josh likes to suck a toy whereas Alfie isn’t interested.

Social learning Lead walking:   
They walk well on leads until they see another dog when they do pull to try to get to it. Alfie is the instigator and Josh backs him up. Their owner, who is also wheeling a pram, just crosses the road and all is fine.

Recall:  
Alfie is good off the lead and recalls really easily.  Josh has selective hearing but can hear a biscuit wrapper from a mile away! Grooming:  Neither of them particularly likes being groomed so they hide but neither of them has ever snapped or bitten anyone.

Kennels: 
They have been fine in kennels although their owners  have not been on holiday for some time. 

Travelling: 
They both love the car.

Children: 
Since they have been in the home, children have come along so they are very used to them. The little girl is now 5yrs and the baby boy has just turned 1yr old. Their owner says “Both are amazing with children. My 5 year old walks one on the lead and I have the other until we see a dog anyway. My daughter dresses them up and they just sit there. They both obey commands.”  

Dogs: 
They play well with each other and with the neighbour’s dogs that they know but they are not keen on strange dogs.

Cats:    
Neither of them like cats.

The dream home for Alfie and Josh
The boys are very close to each other so we need to find them a perfect home where they can stay together for the rest of their lives. They need a home with lots of cuddles.

January 2015

Alfie and Josh have gone to their Forever Home.