Milo Hilton

RUN FREE BEAUTIFUL MILO (15.4.2015)

A heartbroken Maggie tells us ” Three years ago I adopted Smudge who quickly became Milo!

Sadly I had to say goodbye to him yesterday following a short battle with Cancer which turned out to be more aggressive than we thought.

Thank you IRR for introducing us and giving me, Tilly and Lucy a wonderful addition to our family.

He was like a teddy bear, a big softy, full of quiet mischief and a much loved boy.

Run free beautiful Milo xxxxx”

MILO’S (was SMUDGE) HISTORY

Milo was around 8 years of age when rescued in 2012. He was surrendered by his owners because they were emigrating. Milo had been a Stud dog up until a year before and he had won many shows.

He was neutered and fully vaccinated in Ireland.

INITIAL REPORT – IRELAND: APRIL 2012

Milo has been with us a month now at The Dog Ranch in our day-care programme.

Milo is what we call the perfect dog. He is a real gentleman and is very respectful of people. He has no behavioural issues and is very sociable. He gets on fantastic with all dogs and is great out on walks.

He has been part of a pack here and blended in from the start. He is well trained and is an indoor dog. He loves company and is very gentle. Milo has been brought up around people and other dogs. He thrives on attention and is very affectionate.

FOSTERER’S INITIAL REPORT – UK: APRIL 2012

Milo went into foster in Pembrokeshire. His fosterer said “We have found Milo to be a very affectionate dog who loves human company and also enjoys being with our dog, especially when they are able to run together.

Milo responds well to commands, having received training in the past, though at the moment he does seem to pull a bit on the lead. Given Milo is so responsive to attention his lead walking should improve over time with regular positive reinforcement while out on walks.

FOSTERER’S 2ND REPORT – UK: APRIL 2012

Milo is a very friendly and gentle dog who loves his cuddles and loves carrying things such as a tea towel, j-cloth or a piece of blanket in his mouth.

So far we have only met up with children while we’ve been out walking, so it’s hard to comment on how Milo would be around children in the home. However, Milo is brilliant with other dogs and is very good with our family dog.

Milo walks quite well on his lead but he can pull if he sees another dog. We feel Milo would make someone a loving and faithful companion and would also do really well in the company of another dog.

MILO HAS GONE TO HIS FOREVER HOME – APRIL 2012

Magg came just after 10am to see MILO and fell in love with him straight away.

Milo loved the attention and he could smell the scent of other dogs: Magg and partner have two other Retrievers and one Labrador between them.

Milo went happily to his forever home and we’re looking forward to Magg’s updates and photos.

REPORT FROM MILO’S FOREVER HOME: SEPTEMBER 2012

Maggie tells us “Well, Milo has now been with me for nearly five months and is an absolutely delight. Well worth the weekend away in Wales to collect him.

He spends most of his home time in the garden, coming in occasionally to give me a nudge of the elbow, has a fuss and then tears off again. He has bonded really well with my girls, Tilly and Lucy, and any dog that comes here (and there are many) with our friends.

Milo’s character is beginning to show through now and, yes, there is a stubborn streak! I am, currently, teaching him to give and take as he loves to go through open drawers or into cupboards and, then, deliberately comes to show off what he has found!

His tail never stops wagging and there is no malice in Milo at all – he is a gentle giant but thinks he is still a puppy which is not always easy when he decides to sit on your lap!

Sadly, when out, we need to have Milo on a 24-ft flexi lead as he just “walks” and I mean walks, away and turns his hearing aid off.

At home he is very obedient, sits on command and comes to the call to his new name immediately. When out it’s as if he can’t believe the vastness of the New Forest – I don’t feel he is being disobedient, he doesn’t run, just walks and goes into his own world. I think he may always have been on a lead when out because he gets more excited when he sees the flexi than an ordinary lead. Hopefully this will change, although it doesn’t seem to bother him that the girls go further afield on their own.

He is a character, sometimes thinking he is a cat and brings me trophies which I can tell you are very hard to take off him. One night, a pigeon (yes, it was already dead, thank goodness) and a couple of nights later, at midnight, a hedgehog in his mouth – he did come off worse with this one. He was so proud of both of these and we had a game of wits for about half an hour! I did win!

I am so pleased you let me have Milo – he is so loving and has made our extended family complete.

You are all doing a wonderful, wonderful thing rescuing these lovely dogs and long may it continue. Love Maggie, Milo, Tilly and Lucy xxx