FREDDIE (DOB 05.06.07) is a 13 months old crossbreed (mum was a labrador) who was neutered at 6 months. He is a fit and enthusiastic dog who requires a lot of exercise and he would benefit from an experienced owner who has the ability to control his stubborn streak and to give him the time and attention he needs to complete his training. An agility / active home with other dogs would be ideal for him and he would probably be better with older children as he is quite large and could knock little ones over.

His owner said, "He is house trained, crate trained, has attended puppy training and basic training classes. Knows sit, down, stay, off, no and can respond to whoever is saying it to him. He will respond instantly to any command if you are holding a treat but will not always do as commanded when there is no treat involved. If you tell him 'off' he will not eat his meal until you then say 'take it'.

He adores chasing after a ball and will bring a ball back to you but won't always drop it without being distracted with something else. He will chase cats and squirrels. He loves running around with dogs of a similar size and age and will run to and sniff other dogs but doesn't show any signs of aggression to any. He is not really interested in smaller dogs unless they like chasing him. If someone pays him attention in the park, he will run up to them but won't jump up on them. His recall is hit and miss, he knows the command but, like more adolescent dogs who are trying it on, will return only when he wants to. He adores water and will jump in the stream/river but hasn't jumped in the pond or chased any ducks.

He is very placid around the house and will happily lie at your feet while you are watching t.v. He loves sitting in the garden and staring into the sky in the evenings. He is fine to be left for a few hours, is not destructive and only on a few occasions has had a 'wet' accident and this is usually if he has drank a lot before being left. He sleeps in his bed in his crate at night. He has freedom around the whole house when we are in including going upstairs into the bedrooms but he has not been allowed to get onto the furniture. He will happily let you pat him or play with his ears or tickle his tummy.

He is not allowed rawhide chews.

He does not bark at the postman but will bark if he hears anything outside in the back garden. He will bark when excited and when he wants you to play ball with him but he will stop barking if he is told 'no' firmly.

Has been fine around our 3yr old daughter and usually wags his tail when she goes to pat him. He can be in the room where she is playing or out in the garden with her toys and will not chew or destroy any of them. He has also been around other young children and has been fine. He tends to sniff them and then leave them alone. He has on a couple of occasions knocked our daughter over in the park but that has been when he has just got there and has been excited and hasn't been able to brake properly when coming back to us.

He is a very powerful dog and he will pull on the lead on the way to the park. He will respond to a 'settle' in a training school environment but is not always responsive when in the park environment.

He has only been in the car on short journeys but has been fine.

He is a scavenger over the park and will eat anything and everything if there is any signs of remnants of food having been in it. He has eaten plastic and tinfoil and made himslf sick. He adores fruit and will eat any fruit on a tree or shrub if it is within his reach.

He is being rehomed as we have a young child and, with me having been diagnosed with a debilitating nerve disorder in my left arm, I do not have the power to restrain him due to his size."

UPDATE ON FREDDIE

Freddie is now being fostered in Somerset with Pauline and her five dogs.

She says, "He has settled in extremely quickly and he is already firm friends with Rhani who looks like his little sister. He is generally very obedient and wants to please you. His only major fault is pulling like a steam train on his lead but a harness or halti should sort that out. In our 100% secure field he has run free with all the dogs and gets on extremely well with all of them. His recall is good and he happily sits for treats with all the other dogs, patiently waiting his turn. He takes food very gently from your hand.

He is eating well and seems very content. He sleeps in Rhani's giant sized crate at night with the comfort of his vet bed from home and Rhani and Gizmo on either side of him. He made friends with our post lady and has already acquired a few fans when he has been out and about with me in my van. He actually travels extremely well and seems to like being in the van. Here he is with Rhani and friends."

UPDATE TWO WEEKS ON

Pauline says, "Freddie has now been with us for 2 weeks and is definitely a part of the gang. He still plays ad nauseum with Rhani but they both have to have "time out" now and again as they can get a bit over excited and their play will get rougher and rougher and louder and louder."

"His training is coming along well and, if he is still with me at Reunion time, he will be taking his KCGC Bronze Award. He can still get a bit too keen on the lead but, mostly, he walks quite well now and his recall is pretty good. He is beginning to sort out the difference between sit and down (originally he offered me either or both behaviours for one word) and his stay time is building up. He is almost there so, with a little bit more work, he should be ready."

"He eats well and loves gnawing on bones. He enjoys a variety of fruits and vegetables and takes food gently from your hand after patiently waiting his turn."

"He can be a wee bit stubborn on occasions but no more than any gun dog type of his age and any disobedience seems to be down to his mischieviousness. He has a wicked sense of humour!!!!!"

" He definitely needs a home with another dog or dogs and one where he will get the huge amounts of exercise he needs and enjoys. Preferably, it will be a home where he can enjoy doing something like obedience, working trials, agility or heelwork to music. He would be better with older or no children as he is a big boy and could easily knock a small child over. He is great with people of all ages."

FERDIE IS STAYING
 
Well, the curse has struck again and on our anniversary too!!!!!!!!
 
In 2005, we succumbed to Danny's charms, in 2006 it was quirky Gizmo who captured our hearts and in 2007 we couldn't resist little Rhani.
 
We have both agreed that Ferdie is here to stay. We both adore him so this year's anniversary present to ourselves is, yet again, of the canine variety. We had to change his name a little as there can only ever be our one and only, very special Freddie but, no doubt, he had a paw in this too.

©2008 Irish Retriever Rescue UK