HARRY (now HECTOR)

HARRY is a charming, one year old retriever/collie cross male dog. He has a bouncy, fun-loving character and makes friends easily with people and most other dogs, especially his own age. His collie traits are evident in his high energy levels and fondness for long walks over the fields. However, he also likes to curl up on your lap in the evenings. He has a glossy black coat and is white underneath. He is 50cm high at the shoulders.

This dog would suit a family with older children who perhaps do not already have a dog. He has no problems with horses, but it is not known how he gets on with other pets.

UPDATE on HARRY

Well, when we got Harry, I wondered what we had taken on. He had a go at Duke and was just generally hyper, not doing anything we wanted. I was also told he was food possessive.

Soon after, my daughter came round and gave him a talking to, as she does to horses in horse whispering style, and we gave him his first training lesson.

He is now a different dog, calm most of the time, apart from across the field with like minded friends.

I now think all he needed was a lot of love, regular food and being told what was allowed. Unfortunately, he still tells Duke he is boss which Duke reluctantly accepts for a quiet life. Harry wants to play and gets quite frustrated because Duke prefers not to which, then, ends up with Harry telling Duke what he thinks of him.

Harry is not food possessive, he was just hungry. A few days ago, he did not want the last little bit of his breakfast and did not mind Duke checking it out (in case Harry had something Duke had not got).

A lot of people have said what a lovely dog he is and would adopt him if they did not already have their full quota of dogs but, nevertheless, poor Harry is still looking for the right family for him. Harry is a very lively dog and would do really well in an active home or one where he could do obedience, agility or flyball.

UPDATE from GEMMA (fosterer and trainer)

Harry is actually Hector according to his paperwork.

Hector was his name since puppyhood. He came with a vaccination record which shows he was with his owners at 7 weeks old. This tells us that he was probably taken away from his litter mates too early which explains just why he has no limits. In other words, basically, mistakes made by the breeder and owner left them with a boistrous teenager who seemed out of control and this is, no doubt, why he was abandoned at the pound. He is really a fab little man who just needed employment.

He enjoys heel work to music more than agility although he gives agility a good stab. He was doing great at the tunnel and learnt the tunnel faster than any others have ever done. I turned my back on him for a second and heard rustling and smiled to myself thinking awww he has gone through on his own but NO not quite. He only took it off for a walk across the lawn. There he was with the front end in his mouth dragging it behind him.

Today I have had him doing some heelwork to music moves and he can run bum first through your legs and will pause for his next direction and, at the moment, that is either back through or standard heelwork position. He is a smart cookie. Also today, I taught him the emergency stop which is part of the gold good citizens and he picked it up very quickly and can stop in the stand or the sit.

I taught him to give a paw but I called it tick and tock so when he has it nailed the left is tick and the right is tock and it will make a lovely party piece for him

He plays a lot nicer with the girls now and is beginning to recognise when enough is enough and he will either tone it down or leave (but not for long).

Off lead he is Mr Wonderful. He dives in bushes and weeds like there is no tomorrow and when you call him he comes bounding along with his tongue hanging out the side of his head.

When meeting dogs, he stops to look at them from afar and if they (the dog) says its safe to say hello he will approach but at an arc and only plays when invited and will come away every time. He, so far, has only had one dog give him the look that says dont even think about it and he walked on by.

The only thing he cant work out is where do the bunnies hide? He spends ages looking at the bushes as if to say come on then I am waiting.

We have had no messes and no puddles and he sleeps happily through the night in his crate.

His lead work is good and he is learning the difference between walk nice and go sniff. All in all, he is ready to go and he will make someone a smashing little dog

©2006 Irish Retriever Rescue UK