UPDATE AFTER 10 DAYS

Quinn is settling in really well and is a joy to live with. He has given Dawn a new lease of life. He is gradually meeting all the many local dogs and is becoming very chilled around them.

UPDATE 25.10.09

Kate says. "Quinn walks well on his lead and doesn't pull.  He responds to most commands and will walk past most people without jumping up on them.  He still needs some training when he sees other dogs but we are able to walk past them now with only a small fuss.

He is getting on very well with his new 'sister' Dawn, who lets him play with her toys.  They sleep together in the kitchen at night and will happily curl up together on the sofa in the evenings.

We've just booked up for our first holiday with Quinn and will be able to introduce him to some new friends and family.

He enjoys playing ball in the garden and came close to bagging a brace of pheasants this morning!

He's very fond of watching television but at the moment he is asleep on top of one of the toys that he brought with him from his foster parents."

 

UPDATE 28.11.09

Kate said "Quinn is a delightful boy, full of energy and a typical young dog.  He's still learning and is very intelligent.  He will bring you much joy as he has us and we wish you all the very best. He likes barking at people going past the house (we live alongside a bridleway and he can be very protective) but if he goes out in the lane - he wants to greet them.  He's not too keen on small male dogs but with girls he's fine and friendly. He loves being groomed.  He likes to play with toys but he doesn't chew anything that he isn't given.  He loves children and they can pet him and he just sits there.  We are fairly rural and he has seen sheep, horses, cows and cats and doesn't seem too concerned.  He may chase pheasants - but a sharp, 'leave it' normally works for me."

"We'll bring his blanket and the bed he's been using, so that something smells familiar.  Whilst Quinn has stayed with us, he has not ever had an accident in the house and sleeps all night (we choose to keep the dogs in our kitchen at night behind a gate).  We travel about a lot and take the dogs when we can - rightly or wrongly, they travel on the back seat (covered with something). Recently, he likes to get in the front seat if we leave to go shopping but can be coaxed back to the back seat. We've recently been away on holiday and it was a 3 1/2 hour trip and all was well."

"He will sit on command.  He also understands whistle commands - pip 3 times to get his attention and once to get him to sit.  It does work.  He will also lie down from a sit position if you put a treat under your hand flat on the floor.  He like to chase tennis balls but doesn't always bring them back.  We've found that if he's distracted he won't come back when called.  Check the garden for gaps because he will. He is used to both collar lead and harness and I would recommend that the harness is used as he is a strong boy and it gives extra control.  With no distractions, he can be walked to heel on his lead (with the harness on but not actually holding on to it) and he is quite gentle.  If he gets excited, he will pull, though.  He does like to jump up on people.  We've not taken him off the lead outside our garden."

"He's fine with the hoover, washing machine, open fire and lawn mower.  In the mornings, he likes to rub his face on the carpet (with his bottom in the air - which normally gets a pat from me!), rolls over for a tummy tickle and he likes to lick faces.  He is particularly fond of men!  He can be extremely excited when we get visitors but he's not unfriendly - far from it although sometimes he likes to lay by himself away from everyone. He will climb stairs if there is no barrier. He will take from the kitchen counter top and may beg at the table (He's never had anything from us, so that must be from previous experience). He can 'play bite' when excited - he doesn't hurt but we just stop fussing him and then he gets the message"

Although Kate, Andrew and Dawn all loved Quinn very much, he, unfortunately, proved to be too strong for Kate to manage him on the lead so he has now gone to live in Lancashire with David and Elaine whilst Kate adopted a very needy ex breeding bitch, not dissimilar to Dawn, instead.

Elaine reported "Just got in with Quinn. He has been exploring and doesn't want to keep still at the moment. He is playing with one of Laddies old balls. He travelled back and walked no problem"

UPDATE 7.12.09

Elaine says "Just to let you know of our experiences with Quinn in his first week with us. He is a lovely boy and a lot of the time you wouldn’t know you had him in the house. He has a habit of just putting himself to bed. When he does decide he wants attention he can be overly demanding. We are being persistent with him and teaching him to first sit or lie down and not to jump or constantly paw you for attention. He is responding to this quite well."

"He walks extremely well on the lead, but as Kate said he gets too excited sometimes by other people
and other dogs. This is when he starts to pull so he is being told very firmly to walk on and if he achieves this he gets a treat."

"When he is out in the garden he explores quite happily but if you call his name to come in he
totally ignores you. It’s almost as though in some respects he has brought himself up. I do think that with a lot of patience and persistence he will make a great dog. We are enjoying having him around and will let you know of his progress."