Buddy
GREAT NEWS FOR BUDDY (24.3.2018)
On Saturday, 24th March, Buddy was adopted by Diane and Alan and went to live with their very gorgeous Tom in Birmingham.
Diane says “These are our first photographs of Buddy, sitting on the blue mat, with Tom. They are friends already and it’s only our first day with him”.
FULL HISTORY
Buddy was approximately 3-4 years old when he came into IRR care on 7.2.2018. He is a golden coloured Golden Retriever with the gentlest of personalities and he is extremely affectionate. This sweet boy was groomed but had already been neutered. He was very anxious so we waited a week before having him vet checked and rabies vaxed.
Originally, he was owned by a family that didn’t look after him. He was kicked and treated like a football. He has been through a lot of psychological turmoil. His current owner only really took him just to get him out but she had to relinquish him when she found that she didn’t have enough time for him due to work constraints. She worried that his life wasn’t as wonderful as it should be and felt he needed to have someone around most of the time and better still to have another dog for company.
His original name was Thunder!!!!!!!!!!! His owner described him as gentle, affectionate, sweet, loving and an absolute dream with children. She said her husband called him Buddy which was so much more appropriate. They had had him some time but had never been able to get him over his initial problems of being scared.
Bryan, our South East Co-ordinator, reassured the owner that IRR were well versed in Goldens with previous problems of mistrust and Kathryn knew it was time for an experienced Irish fosterer to spread her magical dust with her fantastic Red Setter ‘Bo’ to come in and do what they and her family do best.
IN FOSTER IN IRELAND
Tracey and Bo and their family are long associated with IRR and have opened their home to so many IRR dogs needing help. Within hours of arriving, Buddy was sitting on the sofa, sleeping by the fire and cuddling with wonderful Bo. Kathryn calls him Saint Bo as he is so fantastic and gentle with new dogs. After many calls with the owner, she realised that Buddy was safe and that magical dust was as a result of many hours and a lot of care, patience and understanding. ‘We have never managed to get him up on the sofa and yet there he is. I can’t believe it. ‘Well, that is why Tracey and Bo are in such demand.’ It was, as always, the whole family’s commitment to helping a dog get on the right track.
It was three walks a day, sleeping on the boy’s bed, snuggling up during a story or watching tv. It was as the result of so many things and the care and commitment of so many, but no one as much as Tracey, whose foster care was far and beyond what was expected. She simply wanted to help a shattered spirit move on and because fosterers give so much spiritually and emotionally, it is often the case that parting is all the more difficult.
It was at that stage when Kim, our stunning, effervescent then 10 month old Labrador, made her entrance into his life. Buddy became brilliant on lead and off. He was wonderful with every living thing, though a tad scared of rabbits. He loved Bo. He needed a pal to help him, male or female mattered little, as long as he or she would be a life-long friend. Children were fine with Buddy, lots of walks in the snow were part of his daily life. He had finally started to heal.
BUDDY from his FOSTERER in EIRE
Tracey wrote to his new UK fosterer to say “Buddy literally is the best boy.
When he arrived with us he had no confidence and was slow to trust. He wasn’t used to going for walkshe used the house as a bathroom and was terrified of any sound.
He was quite reactive to sudden hand movements and sound. I took Buddy on three walks a day with my Setter, Bo. Exposing him to traffic, at first, left him practically crawling on his belly but we persisted. I found saying “good boy” as buses went past to distract him helped.
He started copying Bo and going to the toilet outside, delighting in weeing on pillars or trees. If he starts to twirl before he poops, he learned that from Bo too.
He’s fantastic on lease and off. He is still a tad jumpy but it is worth persisting with walking him in all environments as it pays off quickly. He loves other dogs and is basically like a giant pup.
He loves music and loves to dance with you. He is big into hugging and kisses. He loves offering his ‘belly of trust’ for a tickle.
Because he quite scared he doesn’t need a massive amount of correction. He will follow you around as he likes to keep an eye on you. He is the same off leash, loves to chase you if you run in circles whooping (I enjoyed it as much as he did).
He has started to find his voice but his bark sounds like a new puppy. I played him videos of dogs howling.
He’s very bright, keen to learn from you and other dogs. He understands basic commands, now. Most of all he is the smiliest, most docile, bundle of pure joy.
Enjoy every single second with him. It can be hard fitting other chores in. I spent three weeks not getting much done, other than encouraging him to come out of himself.
The best of luck with him. Give him a big kiss from me”.
Buddy came over from Eire on 10th March and went into foster with Alison.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT She says of him “Buddy is the most sweetest natured dog you could hope for. He’s so gentle and loves attention. In the house we’ve had no messing, no stealing and no chewing. He follows me everywhere. He enjoys his food and wags his tail as he eats and sleeps undisturbed through the night”.
CHARACTER & TEMPERAMENT Timid, quite withdrawn and shut down, fearful and anxious
Buddy is extremely timid and doesn’t appear to have played with toys. Occasionally he picks up the toy that he came with. He’s so eager to please and wants lots of fuss. He takes food very gently and doesn’t wolf it down.
HEALTH Bright eyed and very good teeth. I think he needs to build up muscle in his back legs, possibly down to lack of exercise.
SOCIAL LEARNING He’s extremely timid and scared of any and every noise. Today, after 4 days, is the first time I’ve managed to get him to the back door by himself and that was only because I was in the garden and he was desperate to get to me. We have to put him on his lead to get him in the garden.
TRAVEL . He has only been in the car once and that’s when we picked him up on Saturday. Although he was very quiet during the journey, we had trouble getting him out. He hid his face in the corner and it took two of us to lift him out, he was petrified.
HOUSETRAINING: He is housetrained
BASIC TRAINING: He has had some basic training
LEAD WALKING: We’ve taken him on short walks only as he gets terribly stressed out by stationary cars, moving cars, people, basically everything and either pulls on his lead to get away or crouches down on his tummy and shakes. It’s going to take time for him to enjoy the outdoors.He is not really very good at walking on body harness. RESOURCE GUARDING: No evidence of resource guarding
SEPARATION ANXIETY: No major issues as long as he has company ADULTS: Fairly friendly with adults. Buddy is wary of strangers and doesn’t approach people either in the house or outside. He’s been wary of people visiting and doesn’t approach them but, once he realises he’s going to get fuss and a tummy tickle, he calms down.
CHILDREN: Previous assessments with children were good DOGS: Quite friendly with other dogs although he avoided dogs on walks.
CATS: Unknown with cats
BUDDY’S DREAM HOME
Buddy would be best be suited to a family with another Golden who can continue helping him to heal. It is important that his forever owners treat him with kindness and patience as all he wants is to be loved and to love – unconditionally. Buddy deserves a wonderful home, one where he will be cared for and loved for the rest of his life which is exactly what IRR promised his previous owner. This boy is the lottery ticket winner for the lucky family who gets him.