Bailey

Bailey is now about a year old and is a very happy, handsome, light coloured Golden Retriever. He is in good health and is neutered.

HISTORY

He was surrendered in Northern Ireland at 10 months old for being too full on!!  As a part of the UK, Bailey did not require a Pet Passport. He is currently in foster in Scotland.

PERSONALITY    
Tracey, his fosterer, says “He is difficult to put in a category as, when he is with Cooper he gets very brave and feels secure. At first, if Cooper was outside and somebody called, he would go outside or bark to get Cooper’s attention so he has Cooper with him. However, after just a week, he has already started greeting people when they come in and no longer waits for Cooper to go first.

I think, with a bit more time, he would get full marks across the board. He is, on the whole, a lovely calm dog who is going to grow up into an absolute stunner with a fantastic temperament. 

He is an absolutely brilliant dog but he didn’t have a lot of confidence with humans so, when he was getting stroked, he kept his head down to the ground and didn’t look. We have been working on getting him to lift his head by drying him off with a big fleece and massaging his face. It is working but it is taking a bit of time.

He has been sociable with everyone he has met, male or female, but small children and small dogs make him nervous.

As Bailey is so young, he is very adaptable and he acts like he has always lived in the house. He very much looks to Cooper for guidance and boyo, in general, is showing him the ropes. All in all, Bailey is actually a dream of a foster so it will be really hard to let him go”. 

SOCIAL LEARNING

TRAVEL: He is happy and content travelling in a vehicle

HOUSETRAINING: He seemed to be totally housetrained but did not ask to go out so the door was open for him to wander in and out when he liked.

After a week, Bailey now asks to go out so the door does not need to be constantly open. He has not had one accident at all so he is definitely fully house trained.

Bailey will stay outside for hours provided he can look through the window to check you are still there which is roughly at 15 minute intervals and then every now and then just to make doubly sure he comes in for a cuddle.

GROOMING: He did not like being brushed so much he would run when he saw the brush but he watched when Cooper was getting brushed and now he already thinks he is “all that” and throws himself on the floor ready for a good brushing.

COMMANDS: He can sit, lie down and give paw (but he has selective hearing and does it when he wants to or there is a treat about). He did not know his name and had absolutely no recall on arrival.

Bailey had an issue with humping everything in sight but, 2 days in and by using firm but gentle commands, it seems to have done the trick and Cooper, the cushions and my leg are now safe!  

RECALL: Initially, he didn’t know his name and had to learn to come when called when off lead (in a totally enclosed, safe area).

Bailey was quite nervous when I first let him off the lead and was unsure of what to do and he stayed very close to me until the lure of Cooper having so much fun pulled him away.

One week on, Bailey has come on really well. He now knows his name and his recall is brilliant as long as there are plenty of treats available. Not unexpectedly for his age, he is still easily distracted.

He needs to build his stamina up as, after a run around the field, he is tired. A build up from 15 minutes up to 30 minutes adding 5 minutes a day seems to be working.

LEAD WALKING: He walks quite well on a body harness.

SEPARATION ANXIETY: He sleeps well in his bed with no issues at all but Bailey definitely needs the company of another dog as he would be anxious if alone.

RESOURCE GUARDING: There are no guarding issues with anything. He will share everything …. toys, food, bed.

Has no aggression regarding food in fact Cooper and Bailey eat together and swap bowls halfway through the meal. Bailey is happy to share toys and generally plays til he gets exhausted and flakes out.

He was an opportunist so, if it was not out of view, he would take it ……. remote controls, lighters, socks, shoes, blankets, pillows and food. He would also surf the kitchen counters. If you told him down, he did get down but then was straight back up again so a lot of repetition was needed.

When he took things, he would drop them when you said drop provided he was in the house otherwise there was no chance of getting it back. After just a week, he still steals things but he will drop them in the house if you say drop. Outside, you have to blackmail him with food.

He no longer tries to get up on the dining table and will lie quietly while you are eating although he will occasionally still try to countersurf.

ADULTS: He has been fine with both male and female visitors. After a few minutes, he goes over and sits down near them but he does not attempt to get on the sofa next to them or initiate cuddling with them.

CHILDREN: He was slightly nervous when my 9 year old granddaughter came to stay.  She left him alone for him to go over to her and, after a few minutes, he wanted a cuddle. He was very gentle was super happy to see her next morning. :

DOGS: He has met small dogs out and wasn’t too keen. There was no aggression but it made him nervous. He has been fine with the Labs, male and female, who live next door and is very playful.

He loves living with another dog. As the age gab between Bailey and Cooper is so small, it is constant play. Cooper is really still a baby himself so they seem to be learning from each other which is comical at times to watch.

CATS: He likes cats but he will chase them when he gets over excited and he can be a little rough because I don’t think he knows his own strength. He does like my cat Lucian and, when he is calm, Lucian will go to him for a cuddle. Bailey licks and sniffs him until the excitement takes over.

He likes cats a bit too much on occasions but, if there is a dog savvy cat, all will be fine. Occasionally, he can get excited and want to chase but there is no malice in it as he just wants the cuddles.

BAILEY’S DREAM HOME

Bailey is friendly and sociable with no issues. He loves people and would be a welcome addition to any family but, at his age, is still a work in progress. He would be fine in an adult only home but, as he is boisterous, children would have to be dog savvy and, at least, eight and upwards.

He would be best in a house with another dog but preferably a bit older so he can benefit from the guidance of a more mature dog. A cat would have to be calm and dog savvy too.

February 2017

Bailey has gone to his Forever Home