Harry Brown

Harry Brown 7-year-old golden retriever

Harry’s mum said, “Harry is my third IRR dog, following Cleo and Murphy.

Harry was surrendered to IRR by a family, because he didn’t get on with the dog next door. He has ignored the dog next door to me since day 1.

He made the long journey to live with me in Scotland in February 2024.

He had been described by his fosterer as the perfect house guest which he still is. He is no watch dog. I have not heard him bark in the year he has been with me. He has made a couple of quiet woofs when he was excited,

He was lacking in confidence to do anything without being told but with patience and loads of encouragement he has improved a lot. ‘Good Boy’ results in a tail wag. He will not go through a door that is not wide open and if someone is standing near it, he scuttles through, crouching down.

He was terrified of going in the car and lunged at traffic passing on our walks. I spent many walks in Costco car park among stationary and slow moving cars to get him used to them. He now only alerts at the noise of tyres on wet roads and loud diesel engines.

After some training and bribery with raw tripe he now jumps in the car willingly. He still does prefer getting out.

He had no idea how to interact with other dogs and still is unsure of some behaviour. Going out with his dog walker and other dogs has helped him so much.

He turned his head away from toys but is slowly learning he can take them . He likes to ‘own’ them. He willingly gives them up.

He craves attention but will go and lie down when told ‘all done’.

Everybody who meets him falls in love with him as he is so gentle and unassuming. He is a proper gentleman or as one of the other dog owners says ‘ he is royalty, he is a prince’.”