Lexi

Lexi is a sweet, light golden, spayed female Golden Retriever. She is about two years old and has had at least one litter of pups. She has been vet checked and inoculated for her transport to the UK. Unfortunately, due to a fall, Kathryn had been unable to afford Lexi the normal grooming session she should have received in Ireland.

HISTORY

She came through the well known Mo Chara Rescue with whom we have a great relationship. We work well together and have done so many times in the past.

Although a puppy farm bitch, she was always treated well, slept in an indoor, warm clean kennel and it was the farmer who had her spayed to make sure she would not fall into the wrong hands. He also quizzed Nikki of Mo Chara Rescue to make sure she would be looked after and have the chance of a better life. 

David and Alison in Lancashire fostered her initially for a few days then she was moved down to Belinda and Terry in Somerset to complete her foster assessments. Mike and Janette kindly gave her bed and board for a couple of days during her journey South with them.

HEALTH

Alison found Lexi to be in good health apart from slightly dirty ears and skin. She said “She seems to have had an excessive moult, probably due to hormonal changes”.

Lexi loves being groomed and brushing quickly improved her coat so that, even in the short time she was with them, there were no longer clouds of fluff coming out. There were signs of a previous flea problem but no live fleas were detected. Alison noticed some signs of mild skin problems around the tips of Lexi’s ears, again probably due to a lack of grooming.  

At Belinda’s, her ears now seem to be ok and her skin is better though not perfect. She noticed the skin on Lexi’s tummy is very dark but it doesn’t seem to be infected or sore. 

She said “ Lexi is very small in stature – 20” to her shoulder and 21” from her neck to the top of her tail. One of our other dogs is only 20” tall but is about 25” long. When it is not wagging, her tail sticks straight out behind her. We are not sure if it has been damaged at some point or if it is naturally like that”.

PERSONALITY

On pickup, like most puppy farm girls, Lexi was quite nervous but has since come out of her shell. Hopefully, she will overcome this completely with the help of her UK fosterers who have a lot of experience with girls who have had a similar background.

Kathryn said “Lexi is affectionate and her tail wags like a helicopter when she sees you”.

David commented “A fantastic little dog, Lexi wants to enjoy life to the full and loves learning new things. She has a cute little teddy bear face with a ready smile, is bright as a button and quick to learn. We will be very sorry to see her go”. He noted she is fairly confident, alert and inquisitive, playful and happy.

Belinda’s first reaction was that she is completely unlike the usual, withdrawn ex breeding bitches she has fostered before. Smiling, she described “ Lexi is a lovely little girl but she bounces on all fours just like Zebedee. I’ve never seen a goldie do that before!”

SOCIAL LEARNING

According to David “ Lexi is well mannered for a young dog.  Bright as a button, she is always ready for a lively game of tug or chase with us or the dogs.

She had the usual fear of going through doors but overcame this very quickly. She is not keen on the hoover and is probably unused to being around the TV as she is very attentive to the noise from it.

She is always ready for the off and can play energetically but she also calms down quickly and settles easily in the house during both day and at night”.

Belinda summed Lexi up by saying “Lexi is a really lovely house guest. She is very keen to learn although her enthusiasm can get the better of her at times. She is nearly able to contain herself to a sit when her food bowl is put down. She no longer pushes ahead of the other dogs when it is treat time and she now waits for her name to be called out”.

Lexi loves cuddles and is very affectionate. She settled into our routine very quickly. She soon found the sofa! She is very bright and learns incredibly quickly. She already ‘waits’ in the car before she jumps out.

She watches the other dogs all the time to see what they are doing!

Terribly enthusiastic, she hasn’t been in the garden when the hens are free range yet but she has shown a lot of interest in them and I think she would chase them if she were off lead.

She will become a lovely family member but I think she needs to be rehomed with another dog(s) as she looks to ours all the time to see what they are doing. She shows no sign of anxiety when she is left but she is with 2 of our dogs for company. She has never made a fuss at night but, again, she always has another dog for company”.

Lexi loves our teenage grandchildren but I haven’t seen her with small children”.

TRAVEL: Both David and Mike commented on how happy and content Lexi is when travelling in a vehicle.

HOUSETRAINING: David told us, despite her background, she is fully house trained and appears to have had some basic training.  

RESOURCE GUARDING: David saw no evidence of resource guarding. Lexi is neither food nor toy possessive

SEPARATION ANXIETY: Lexi showed no signs of separation anxiety while with David and Alison. They said she is keen to be involved but is happy to be left.

LEADWALKING: and RECALL: David noted Lexi walks almost `loose lead’ with a slip lead and harness. He said “She loves going for a walk and sniffing around but she is responsive to a whistle and to encouragement. She retrieves happily, recalls to a whistle. Her sit, wait and down are all understood but are not yet perfect but she will enjoy training as she is keen to please”.

ADULTS and CHILDREN: David found her to be very friendly with adults but she didn’t meet any children there. He said “Lexi has been a super little girl with good manners about the house and she loves playing with both humans and dogs. She holds her own for such a little girl and is tough beyond her size”. DOGS: Lexi seems to get on very well with all other dogs, settling in easily and being very friendly with Daisy and Bonnie then Sammy and Siabh and then Belinda and Terry’s six dogs. She was especially friendly with young Sammy and they play fought non-stop all day much to the disgust of the more lady-like Siabh. CATS:  David says “Lexi has not yet met any cats”.

LEXI’S DREAM HOME

Lexi needs a home where she will be loved to bits and know what it is like to be truelly treasured. She is probably not suited to a busy, young family but needs one with patient, calm people who have all the time in the world to continue with her training and to spend on slowly developing her into a great family pet.

For a breeding bitch, she is extremely full of life so this wonderful girl needs to live with other dogs who will help to build her confidence through play and will guide her in the ways of a normal family life and of being part of a proper family.

 She is respectful of the older dogs but she loves to play so she really needs to be in a home with another playful dog and, preferably, with people who are around for most of the time.

MAY 2017

Lexi has gone to live in her Forever Home.