Buddy

BUDDY’S HISTORY

Buddy is a 3 year neutured Golden Retriever belonging to an elderly man who tied him up on a short rope most of his life with a dilapidated old metal hut for a kennel. The elderly man fed him well, but was unable to walk or handle him. Buddy is in good condition and is a very affectionate kindly dog. He pulls on the lead, and jumps up when excited, but is good with kids, ignores cats, and gets on well with other dogs. He ‘humps’ continually!!!! He is house-trained being very clean in the house. He’s a big, strong, handsome dog and will be a great pet for someone once he’s been trained properly.

FOSTERER’S INITIAL REPORT

Firstly, what a lovely dog and an absolute darling! When Buddy is trained properly he will be a fantastic pet for a family. He is so gentle letting us touch him anywhere, even his tail, which my last Golden was a little bit touchy about. He enjoys being groomed though would rather lay down to have it done. He does counter surf but not as much as we expected though maybe thats because we don’t leave food out. He doesn’t always respond to his name but he’ll get there soon. He eats well and up to now always finishes whatever we put down for him, thinking all food in the kitchen is his. He scrounges at mealtimes but isn’t isnt interested in playing yet and won’t fetch a ball, toy or play chew/tug pull. He isn’t interested in noisy toys and is a dream with his Elizabethan collar which we take off when we walk him. When he sees any of us pick it up to put it back on he comes and sits and waits patiently, bless! He doesn’t seem to whimper when we leave him at night.

His humping and lead training are his biggest issues – he should have been called Humphrey! He will need lead training with someone very strong as he’s almost like a puppy in an adult dog’s body….adorable but oh so strong! He rears up when he sees small dogs and does his utmost to reach them. He isn’t fazed by people or children out on his walks, just double decker buses and bright lights on main roads. When he jumps up it isnt always to make contact, he just stays there on his hind legs for a while smiling at us. We are hoping his training and humping will improve, but we’ve only had him a short time but he is so very loveable and I’m sure we can go some way to improving these bad habits of his.

Just to say he’s an extremely handsome, lovable, adorable, smiley, bouncy individual who desperately needs training: I love him to bits already!

FOSTERER’S 2nd REPORT

What can I say about this adorable boy? He’s an extremely handsome very dark coloured golden retriever with huge malteser brown eyes who gets second looks wherever and whenever he’s walked. He isn’t too bothered with adults and children when he’s out and about on his lead, just putting up with all the strokes and admiration as though it’s his due, although we have to be in control of his jumping.

He’s soft and gentle in manner except when over excited, allows us to touch him anywhere. He now obeys his recall command half of the time (though we wouldn’t trust him yet off the lead when out) and has started to recognise his name. He always wants to please but still can’t help trying to be ‘top dog’ although he is improving with this. He’s more settled now and must be feeling at home because he’s started to run off with slippers etc. for attention and has been barking at the refuse collectors, He’s absolutely delightful, soft mouthing people when taking treats. We’ve left him alone now for a couple of hours and the neighbours haven’t heard him barking.

He definitely thinks he’s top dog though and hasn’t learnt the pecking order yet when meeting other dogs. Sometimes he growls and if they are friendly he tries to mount them. Obviously he isn’t off lead and they are, so it must be difficult for him …watch this space. We held him when my grandchildren visited (they are 10 and 6) because he gets far too excited and boisterous. It will take time to be able to trust him in close proximity with them, though we would never leave them alone with him. He’s a persistant dog and will hump continually which is difficult as he has a very strong grip. He also jumps high when excited with all 4 feet off the ground repeatedly. On the lead he pulls like a tank, being so strong. It’s harder when out as his concentration is zilch so he doesn’t hear any commands. Once he’s been out for about 25 minutes he quietens down slightly and although he still pulls it’s not quite so hard. He’s got used to London traffic now and although the air brakes on buses and lorries concern him he behaves a lot more confidently nowadays. He has boundless energy but of course he can’t release it all because he hasn’t had off lead exercise. He’s been here for 12 days now and hasn’t had an accident once which is wonderful.

FOSTERER’S 3rd REPORT- DEC 2011

Buddy is doing really well lately, learning more every day although he’s still pulling on the lead. We’ve found the harness is the best way to control him. I still have trouble now and again because he doesn’t walk in a straight line and the harness doesn’t always stop him tugging, although my husband Colin and my son Chris don’t have problems anymore thankfully. He loves the retractable lead that we use for him when we are walking in the woods. It is wonderful to see him running along with that adorable smile and his tail at full stretch. He’s learning to make friends with all manner of other dogs now while we sit and have a cuppa outside the cafe in the woods – he didn’t even growl at any of them this weekend! He seems to enjoy the smaller dogs more so far but we aren’t really sure as he hasn’t been running off lead yet. Sometimes his frustration makes him bark when watching other dogs but it isn’t aggression, more like an “Oh please stay and play cos these two dozy adults haven’t learnt how to undo my lead yet”. At home he’s settled well and when visitors and friends visit now he doesn’t take quite so long to settle down.

DEC 2011 – BUDDY HAS NOW GONE TO HIS FOREVER HOME