Charlie
Charlie (was Finnegan) is a white, two year old, pure bred, neutered male Golden Retriever.
REPORT FROM HIS FOSTER HOME (31.5.2015)
Unfortunately, through no fault of his, after 2 weeks, Charlie had to return to his fosterer.
Trudy says ” Charlie seems happy to be back. It’s as if he’s never left!
He’s been for a walk this morning and then a gentle bike ride with Dan over to the shops where he met some of the locals (he was very polite) and he was fantastic trotting alongside the bike. Dan used the slip lead and Charlie was great just trotting beside him with no tension at all.
He chilled with us while we had breakfast ….. hoping, of course, for a windfall.
Later, Charlie, one of our Labs, Dan and I were busy doing skip runs in the van. He’s great travelling sitting in his seat with his harness and seatbelt but he was also very excited to be back at the house!
Charlie is very biddable and responds well to that name. He is extremely friendly with both people and other dogs.
We had friends over yesterday for a BBQ and their Staffy came along too (a good friend of our two Labs) so Charlie was well into the dog party but quite tired after it.
We are very happy to have him back as we all love him to bits”.
FURTHER UPDATE 04/06/15
Charlie is a friendly, bouncy, lovable and very malleable boy who loves the company of people and dogs.
SOCIAL LEARNING
Travel: Charlie is really good and will happily lie on the back seat with his harness on, quietly, even snoozing on occasions.
Housetraining: Charlie is housetrained. We do hear him whining at around 5am to go out for a wee. We have had no accidents. He is walked early morning before breakfast with our two dogs and this settles him down.
Separation anxiety: Charlie does pine a little if he hears us around the house and he is not able to get to us. Occasionally he has barked. This may be due to being unsettled with all the recent moving around and we are confident he will move away from this, the more he realises we do come back.
At night we tell him to go to his bed, and he does understands it’s time to sleep. He rests in the day with our two dogs while we are out very well. We think they all just sleep.
Lead walking: Charlie walks very well on the lead, occasional correction to get him to fall back to heal and he does so. We do let him enjoy a good sniff and scenting, which he loves, once we get to where we let our dogs run free on a field. He stays on the lead and is quite happy to explore grass etc., thoroughly!
He does enjoy trotting next to the push bike and does this very well.
Recall:Charlie is recalling quite well to his name now. We are using treats occasionally but will love a good fuss too! In general he is getting better and with constant training, we feel he will be brilliant at recall.
Basic commands: He knows ‘paw’ for which he will lift his, sit, wait (use on walks for crossing roads and before feeding). He is quite good at picking up what you want him to do, maybe due to following our dogs who know and understand typical words we use such as “this way” to follow us and “up” etc., He is polite meeting people when out for his walks. He will sit and wait to be stroked. When excited he will prance (left foot and right foot up and down) on the spot in front of you hoping for a fuss, He tries to contain his excitement on the spot, quite cute! This is usually when he greets us in the morning or after we have been out of the house. He rarely jumps up and we correct him when he does, he will stop this eventually we feel. We feel Charlie is easily trainable as he picks things up very quickly. With the right attention, dedication and training, he will grow into a fantastic dog.
Food or toy aggressive: Charlie is neither food nor toy aggressive. We haven’t had any issues whilst he has been with us. As with all puppies and younger dogs, he loves his chew toys. He loves the balls for which he will carry around with him and play with, try to chew. He tends to knows what is his to play with but, won’t take from our dogs if they have toys. We have had the occasional sock and cardboard box, chewed, end up in his bed that is all.
Children and dogs: We have not seen him with children as we haven’t had any visit. He can be bouncy at times and he does like to play, so to be aware of this regarding young children. Otherwise, once he is relaxed after his walk, he just wants to lie down. Socially, he mixes very well with other dogs and just wants to play, if they do. He will give them space if they want it. He has met a few since being here and has been really good with them. He hasn’t been dominant to any of the dogs he has met.
Cats and small furries: We haven’t met any and we only have dogs so, we are unsure how will be with these.
Other livestock: On one of the walking routes, we pass horses in a field for which he was interested in looking at, but nothing other than curiosity.
CHARLIE’S PERFECT HOME
We really think he would be best suited to an active, older family where he will get lots of interaction and be with people. Ideally with a dog(s) for company. He needs regular exercise (a minimum of 2 walks a day) otherwise, he is boisterous.
HISTORY
Kathryn, our Co-ordinator in Ireland assured the owner that he would be well looked after and that he would get a safe, loving home in which he would be treasured and loved so he was relinquished by his owner. His only sin, although he had no intent to harm, was playing the self rewarding game of chasing sheep.
Charlie (was Finnegan) is a white, two year old, pure bred, neutered male Golden Retriever.
REPORT FROM HIS FOSTER HOME (31.5.2015)
Unfortunately, through no fault of his, after 2 weeks, Charlie had to return to his fosterer.
Trudy says ” Charlie seems happy to be back. It’s as if he’s never left!
He’s been for a walk this morning and then a gentle bike ride with Dan over to the shops where he met some of the locals (he was very polite) and he was fantastic trotting alongside the bike. Dan used the slip lead and Charlie was great just trotting beside him with no tension at all.
He chilled with us while we had breakfast ….. hoping, of course, for a windfall.
Later, Charlie, one of our Labs, Dan and I were busy doing skip runs in the van. He’s great travelling sitting in his seat with his harness and seatbelt but he was also very excited to be back at the house!
Charlie is very biddable and responds well to that name. He is extremely friendly with both people and other dogs.
We had friends over yesterday for a BBQ and their Staffy came along too (a good friend of our two Labs) so Charlie was well into the dog party but quite tired after it.
We are very happy to have him back as we all love him to bits”.
FINNEGAN’S DREAM HOME
He would be best suited to a coastal or urban environment rather than in a country one.
Finnegan would be happy living in a family with teenagers who will take an interest and walk him and play with him or maybe with a newly retired couple with energy to spare and time to do some basic training with this lovely boy. He would love the company of another dogs (or dogs).
He is simply desperate for someone to care for him and look after him forever.
June 2015
Charlie has fallen on his feet – his fosterer has decided she can’t part with him and he will be staying with her in his Forever Home.
