Ben Ward

UPDATE ON BEN WHEN IN FOSTER 18.2.2009

Ben is now in Poole, Dorset. Debbie, his fosterer says,”He ideally needs to be with someone who is home most of the day as we think he comes from a home where his folks were around every day. They were retired and probably only went out a couple of times a week for a couple of hours.

As I have sadly been ill these past couple of weeks, Ben has not been walked as often as I had a cold then chest infection so could not go out and then the weather was so bad with all the snow and then we had torrential rain. Because of this, I have learned that he needs to be walked 3 time s a day or have people home with him all the time plus a walk a day or else he gets well frustrated. If not sufficiently exercised, not huge walks but regular ones, he barks whilst you are away and gets bored,
in which case he will tear up any tissues or paper you have lying on your couch, although, oddly enough, he does leave the mail alone.

Good Points :-

He does not ever get onto furniture.

He will not go upstairs but will wait at the bottom. I have no idea if invited upstairs whether he would go; I guess he would but we don’t have our dogs upstairs so this is great news.

He knows commands…….. sit, lay down, back (ideal when coming home with shopping) bed and he gets in it and stays. He gives paw but I never ask him this as it is a party trick I do not support personally and do not encourage it in case he ever did it to a child or an elderly person and scraped their very thinning skin.

  • He barks to be let out and to be let back in again.
  • He can be left for 4 hours and does not wee or poo.
  • He sleeps all night, does not need to be let out untill morning, and can wait till 10 am if needed.
  • He loves his bed.
  • He is great with kids.
  • He loves his walks
  • He walks very briskly and is very very energetic. For his age he is amazing and I see many other dogs well under half his age walking at half the speed Ben does.
  • He likes toys and will walk about with them in his mouth looking well cute and adorable.
  • He is almost perfect and is a total huggy snuggly bear.

Bad Points:-

  • Barking when left alone can be up to 30 mins to start with then after that about 5 to 10 mins.
  • He walks very briskly sometimes first thing in the morning and I cannot keep up but it is great for waking you up. He also gets well excited when he sees and meets other dogs and I think they feel a bit threatened by him as he gets very friendly)

PREVIOUS UPDATE

Ben is a 12-year-old Golden Retriever currently in foster care. He was very restless last night and did a lot of pacing about and had a few periods of barking during the night, we just ignored him and luckily he settled back down. So it was a bit of a sleepless night – although the girls didn’t hear him…!! He is eating really well and has enjoyed long walks.

He stays just so far in front and his recall is brilliant. He’s got a lovely waggy tail and appears very fit and agile. Knows his basic commands sit, stay and down. A little pulling on the lead but not too much. He loves the girls (well everyone really) and has enjoyed meeting the kids on the school run.

BEN HAS GONE TO HIS FOREVER HOME

Ben has settled in very well and is a very loving and laid back dog – until it comes to the cat! We are working on that one!

Ben has obviously been cared for in the past and has good manners but needs reminding sometimes that he is not the boss.

He is walking well on the lead, loves his food, exercise and company. What more can I say – we love him to bits and are willing to give Ben his forever home.

REPORT ON BEN IN HIS FOREVER HOME

Ben is fine and it seems like he has always been part of the family now. He is very loving to everyone except the cat! He is best of friends with Ellie and the chickens although he has a taste for their eggs, including the shell.

Ben is known as the ‘twelve-year-old puppy’ around the area. Might be something to do with the hypoallergenic dried food he is on as he no longer has stiff back legs.