Louis

Bobby is a 15 month old neutered Golden Retriever who was surrendered to Sandie because he was too much of a handful for his owners.

FIRST REPORT FROM SIMON

Bobby has a lovely temperament and is relatively calm for a dog who is still essentially a puppy but has a very waggy tail. When I collected him he settled down in the back of the car without a murmur or any signs of travel sickness. Once we arrived I allowed him 10 minutes to explore the garden before being introduced one at a time to our 3 dogs, Freddie a 4 year old GR, Bonnie a 6 year old foster GR and Candy a 4 year old Shih Tzu. He’s got on famously with all of them right from the start and there were no signs of any aggression, although Candy the smallest had to show him that she’s the boss. However, they’ve made friends now and she loves to chase him around the garden with Freddie – they enjoy having wrestling matches and Bonnie looks on with bemusement.

He seems to be fully house trained with no accidents in the house so far and he also quite happily sleeps through the night. He’s got a very healthy appetite and will finish his food before the others are half through. He’s also well behaved around the other dogs and will patiently wait for them to finish their food before he has the left overs. As with all GR’s he’s a mobile dustbin and has yet to refuse any food item which is a good thing around a 3 year old boy who is prone to dropping and throwing his food.

Bobby is a handsome chap but would benefit from a trip to the groomers as he’s moulting quite badly. He’s got a lovely expressive face and I’m sure we’ve seen him grinning. He is the first GR we’ve had who does not counter surf or climb on the furniture or stairs.

Taking Bobby for walks is bit of a challenge however, this is not Bobby’s fault but more to do with the logistics of me walking three large dogs on my own. He does pull when he’s on the lead and half the problem is that he wants to be the lead dog. He seems to be very interested in the local wildlife and I think he would have a wonderful time chasing the local ducks if I was to allow him off the lead. Also, I don’t know whether he would be interested in water but I suspect he would as it’s in the breeds nature.

He gets on very well with my three children, Chris 12, Emily 11 and Thomas 3. We have no reason to have any concerns with him around even our youngest child as when in the house he is very calm and does not go racing about like some dogs we’ve fostered. He loves to play football with Emily and takes great pleasure in chasing the ball when thrown by her. Bobby also takes great pleasure in sneaking off with Bonnie’s toys and we’ll often find him outside with his prize and looking very proud of himself.

In summary, Bobby is a lovely dog and has a great personality.

UPDATE 21.05.2010

Bobby left us today to start his new life with Caroline and William the English Setter in Solihull. This happy occasion is always tinged with some sadness but our big boy is going a fabulous new home.

I know that Bobby and William are going to be best mates and from their first meeting today I know they are going to be getting into all sorts of mischief, poor Caroline !!! Even when Caroline went to put William in the car Bobby was at the side gate waiting to go which caused complete mayhem.

Myself, Julie and the pack wish them every success and we feel confident that Bobby has gone to super home and is going to be another IRR spoilt pooch.

BOBBY (NOW LOUIS) IN HIS NEW HOME

Caroline says. “Firstly I have changed his name to Louis….. think that’s a nicer name! We got home around 3 pm on the Friday I picked him up and by 3.01 I had changed his name and he instantly came back to it!!!! One of the reasons for changing it was William and Bobby means I would have had a Bill ‘n Bob (billybob!)….it made me chuckle!

He has settled in without any hesitation or uncertainty: it’s as though he has been here all his life. He gets weetabix for breakfast, bonios for 11’s, 1’s, 2’s, 3’s……! and then James Wellbeloved with fresh chicken for tea…..yum!!!!

We fitted him out with a brand new collar, tag and lead and he knows as soon as he hears his collar coming out of the cupboard that it’s time for ‘walkies’. We have been training him and he walks to a heal brilliantly and comes straight back to a whistle and sits right in front of us with a waggy tail (mind you the chicken in my pocket has helped!!!)

He went to my vets for the ‘once over’ last week and got the all clear. He wasn’t microchipped so i got him chipped whilst i was there. We have to go back June 9th for final set of inocculations.

He and Wills play non-stop and as i am writing this email Louis is crashed at my feet and dreaming: his front paws are moving and i think he’s dreaming of the pheasant he scared out of the bush this morning!…

He and wills have been playing solidly for the past 2 hrs – Louis best game ever is playing hide & seek – he loves it cos he hides behind the pond and then scares the pooh out of Wills!!!!… they also play tug of war but Louis is very clever and can outwit Wills at anytime!

Oh, their ultimate game is playing water polo in my pond with either a lily pad or iris…. which ever happens to be floating at the time…..not that there’s much left now!

We have big cuddles in the morning (I sit on the kitchen floor with the two of them – whilst drinking my tea – and we discuss what we’re going to do with the day etc.) I think he honestly knows what I’m saying!…… both my husband and Ii absolutely adore him and love the fact that he feels safe and secure with us.

We went to the Lake District at the weekend and he climbed his first mountain!….. below is a photo of us all at the top – just before our descent. He loves being out in the air and more importantly he loves being off his lead and allowed to ‘run wild’…..

Anyway that’s it for now. Rest assured he’s loved dearly and having the time of his life. Big thanks for letting me have him.”

UPDATE NEARLY ONE YEAR ON

Caroline said. “Louis is an absolute dream boy and I call him my “golden boy” because he is just that – a Golden Boy!

He loves us all dearly and is never far from my side or my hubbies or my mums (his nannie!!!). He is never left on his own, and if i have to go out then he goes to his Nannies for the day where he gets big cuddles and fed lots of nice goodies.

The photos were taken during a lovely long weekend in South Wales. “