Charlie Acott

In 2008, Charlie was a three-year-old old male Golden Retriever Cross who was neutered, vaccinated and house trained. He gets on well with other dogs, people and children alike. He is a lovely dog but he is very active. His original owner was unable to keep him when she moved house.

He was taken in temporarily by another family in Ireland and, there, he had been living outside in one of the stables with one of their dogs. The top door was kept shut as he could jump very high. The only problem they had with him was that he chased the cats, who soon got wise to him. Because they lived in the middle of nowhere, Charlie was able to run free in the fields but he always came back when called. When road walking on a lead, he was well mannered and didn’t pull.

BEING FOSTERED IN NORFOLK

Jackie, his fosterer, says: Charlie arrived yesterday and was kindly transported by Jon (many thanks!!!!!!! ) who said, “Charlie seems to be very placid generally but, when I went to lift him out of the car, he cowered in the corner. He was happy to jump out of his own accord, seemed to travel well in the car but is very very tired” Jon is one of the most recent people who has come aboard to help us out with the transport of our lovely rescued dogs. It was Jon’s first ever run on Saturday, at silly o’ clock, and he did a great job.

Charlie arrived from Ireland in the early hours and was quite bewildered and disorientated when he arrived at my house, which is not unusual after all the travelling etc.

So far, I have found Charlie nothing but affectionate toward us. He loves his fuss!!!!!!!! He already knew how to sit on command and he gives paw too, if you say other one, he will give you the other paw. He is a very clever man!!!!! Charlie is a quick learner, who just needs a bit of polishing up on his basic commands but it is early days yet.

He slept in our en suite bathroom last night in his new bed, and, after a few initial whines, he did settle down, and I didn’t hear a peep out of him until morning. He was so happy to see me, tail wagging.

He`s eaten well today, and is a lot happier. Charlie has played with Bridie for a few mins, but Bridie isn’t too sure about him as he is very quick, especially after Brucie, so she came and hid behind me, the big wuss.

He is a lovely affectionate dog, who will make a great companion. I have still to test him with cats and children yet. I haven’t heard him bark, as yet, so he is a nice quiet dog.

Charlie is obsessed with Leroy, the rabbit, but I’m not sure in what way yet. Anyway, I`m not taking Leroy out to find out, just in case.

UPDATE FROM JACKIE (NORFOLK)

I have had Charlie for 10days now, and he has certainly settled down a lot. He is a lovely boy, very affectionate and follows me about everywhere bless him!!!!!

I wouldn’t say he was a very confident dog, but he is, quite obedient. He is still fixated with my rabbit, which means that I even have to put him on a lead to do his business. So I suggest he goes to a home without a rabbit!!!!!!

My neighbour has 4 cats but in the 10days Charlie has been here, the cats haven`t ventured into my garden…….. hmmm, I wonder why?????

I have noticed that Charlie is a very fast dog when he is playing with Bridie. I think he might be very good as an agility do (or similar) to bring out his full potential as a dog. He sooo wants to please, those eyes tell you.

Charlie is not a barky dog at all, but he does like to let you know when someone is around, which I find quite comforting actually. He barks when anyone knocks the door ie postman or my heavyfooted son upstairs, but he soon stops when you tell him to. So that isn’t a problem.

I haven’t tested Charlie off the lead, as he is so fast, and I didn’t want to take the chance of him running off.

As fosterers we are told to keep our charges on a lead near roads, of course, or on a long line if in an open spaces or woods to keep them safe so they can’t go speeding off.

In Ireland a lot of our foster dogs are left to take themsleves for walkies, which is how more than half of them end up in pounds, so we definately don’t want that happening to us.

The only place I have which is secure is my garden, and, unfortunately, Charlie is stuck to the rabbit hutch when he goes out there so I take him to the woods where he more than enjoys himself on the longline. I know its not the same as him running free, but Im sure that once he gets to his forever home, his new family will be happy to train him in the art of recall.

I would say, all in all, that Charlie does need an active family who will help him find his potential in life. I would love to see him go to a new home that will give him a go at agility / flyball etc.

He doesn’t like to be left on his own for too long, and my hubby has said that he sits by the door waiting for me to come back. Charlie does seem to attach himself to one person but I do feed him take him out and groom him etc so I can see why.

Charlie is a star in the car and will stay there until you tell him to.

If you feel you can give Charlie the love, affection and attention that he needs, please feel free to contact me and ask about him. I can only give him a glowing report.

UPDATES FROM MARY & PHIL (NEW MUMMY & DADDY)

We arrived home ok… he’s a good traveller, no problems at all. We introduced him to Taz in the back garden, Taz was so excited, leaping all over the place, and all over Charlie so Charlie put Taz in his place a couple of times but apart from that all’s fine.Then he met one of the cats, he did look very interested but didn’t chase her, and she just walked off.

Just got back from our first walk and he’s learnt how to get through kissing gates. We met some of our doggy friends with no problems, all the owners think he’s gorgeous. We also met some children with no problem. He wasnt too keen on the river bridge, with all the fast flowing water, but he was’nt too fazed, even when he came within 5ft of a horse, he didn’t take any notice of it at all. But, best of all, we let him off his lead (in a totally secure place) for 10 mins. He was off the lead for about a mile and he loved his run around. His recall is brilliant and, when I called him, he came running back every time, he even sat on recall once what a star!!! He’s really very obedient and always does as he’s told. He’s not brilliant on the lead because he’s into all the new smells, his nose never stops, but he’ll settle down.

There is obviously loads of collie in him as he acts just like our Candy used to. He’ll probably make a good agility dog and probably obedience too. Now we’re back, Taz is still trying to wind him up, he seems to want to play but he does’nt know how but time will tell.

UPDATE 2

Things are going pretty well. On Saturday night I don’t think any of us slept a wink but last night no problem at all. He barked at the guy next door when he shut his gate at about 5.30am but he’ll get used to him coming and going.

He’s kinda met the cats, who are giving him a wide berth at the moment, but he’s not chasing them, just wants to explore them.

He’s been left with Taz by themselves all morning today, whilst I was working next door, with not a murmur. I came home twice and they both looked as if to say “yes, what do you want” They are playing very well together now. It started Sunday morning when Mary was downstairs and I was still in bed asleep and got woken by the two of them playing in the bedroom, going mad for about an hour. That was their first time and they haven’t stopped since.

He’s still pooing a lot but it’s all solid and healthy looking and we’ve been giving him his drops. He’s tried to get on the bed a couple of times but, now he’s learnt that it’s a no go area, he’s OK and sleeps on the rug at the end of the bed, about a foot away from Taz

UPDATE 3

He’s still doing very well, we’re beginning to think him and Taz are joined at the hip, they play great together and Taz is back to his old stupid self.

He’s sleeping through the night and is quiet in the house all day, just about perfect.

On last night’s walk Charlie was off the lead for almost the whole 2 miles, he runs around like a loony smelling all the different smells etc, he quarters like a collie, never goes too far away and comes back every few mins to check where we are… he’s a real star. I think he’s ideal for us because we’re used to the collie ways. Taz wandered off and when Charlie came near I said “where’s Taz… go find him” and that’s exactly what he did. He shot over to where Taz was and came back with him, we were amazed.

We’re going over to see our friend, who does training, tomorrow to get him booked in. He’s gonna be the star of the class… I cant see any dog being better than him!!!!!!

UPDATE 4

He’s still doing well, spends most of his time off the lead now. He’s getting a bit carried away with the smells and so is very excited, which is making it harder to get him back, but he’s still very good. He’s not really met the cats yet, they’re still giving him space, but they’ll settle ok.I think he’s just about met all the other dogs in the village and he’s good with all of them, no problem at all. I’ve a very strong feeling you won’t be getting him back.

These pics were taken this afternoon. Don’t they look cute all cuddled up together?

UPDATE 5 / MAY 20th 2008

Phil says, “As you can see things are definitely getting better with the cats, this is a view we see most evenings now, Maisie (ginger) is 6 yrs old and she’s had enough of being outside 24/7 so she’s reclaimed mums lap. Charlie is pretty good with her, he only chases her if she’s outside and runs but, if she’s indoors he just watches her, almost like he used to with the rabbit. Merlin, our 2 yr old cat is getting a little better but not as brave as Maisie so it’s going to take a while longer with him.

Charlie is really settled in well now, getting more laid back every day, much calmer on walks and only runs off every other walk now lol. He does a huge circuit of the field at about mach1 then turns around and does the same route backwards and ends up back with us……… he’s hilarious. He brought a ball in to us today. This is the first time we’ve seen him with one as, when we tried him with one before, he didnt want to know.

He’s everso laid back and doesn’t react badly to anything (although i’m not sure the cats would agree ) but I do wish he would get up a bit later, talk about early riser, 5am every morning he wakes us up on the dot (little b*). Then, after we’ve both told him to go lay down, he then tries to wind Taz up to have a play fight, sometimes it work and sometimes it doesn’t but, by that time, we’re all awake anyway.”

UPDATE 6 / JULY 08

Phil said. “Well we’ve finished Charlie’s beginners training course, although there was no places awarded he was by far the best in class. We’re moving on to the intermediate class next week where it’s supposed to be a lot harder but to be honest he could do the beginners class with his eyes shut. He was kinda bored most of the time, found it all too easy, his sit/stand stays are excellent, recalls brilliant and with ‘leave it’s‘ he was the only one in the class that would leave a treat on his paw when in the down.

On a funnier note, he fell in the river last night, I heard a big splash and looked over, he was about a yard from the far bank just turning to swim back, I think what he did was saw the green weed on the water and took it as grass, dozy so and so, didn’t seem to bother him though he just swam back. Nothing fazes this dog apart from running face to face into a horse and even that didn’t really throw him much, he just turned and run in the opposite direction and didn’t even break his stride.”