Guus Palmer

GUUS AND FAMILY MOVE TO NORFOLK

On 17.11.2019 who was Foster Brother to Guus when he was Scooby reported “We’ve had the most brilliantest of brilliant days as we got to visit Guus who stayed with us in Norfolk when Delilah was a teeny tiny girl just like Samson is now!

Before IRR rescued him he was tied to a chain for the whole of his four years. We were both really excited to see him again but, when we got there, it was good and then it was bad.

Guus said “hello” to us and wanted to play in his garden so we played zoomies and did lots of weeing and sniffing about. Then, we all got a bit tired and wet so we went inside his new house thinking we’d all have a snooze and then do some more playing but Guus didn’t like me being in his new house and he didn’t like Delilah being in his new house either.

At first, our mums thought he was trying to play but he wasn’t. He just didn’t want us there. His new young brother, Stig, and his sisters liked us but poor Guus didn’t and he had to stay in another room.

Our Mums talked it over and we all remembered how frightened he was when he first came to stay with us. He was the most frightened foster brother we’ve ever had and it took him a long long time to learn he was safe. But he did learn in the end and our Mums say he will learn we’re safe people and safe dogs again so we’re going to go for lots of nice walks together to help him remember and we’re just going to stay away from houses till he’s happy with them again.

EARLY HISTORY

Scooby, as he was called in 2016, is a dark gold, 3 year old Golden Retriever.  He was micro-chipped and inoculated He had already been neutered.   

This boy came through another rescue on the far side of Co. Clare, which was full and in order to save him IRR was contacted. We contacted Martina from Ennis asking for her help. As always, Martina  from ‘Baby dog Rescue’ said ‘There is no might about it, of course I will help’. He has never lived inside and was tied to a pole his whole life.

He went into foster with Louise in Norfolk

FIRST ASSESSMENT

HEALTH: Scooby was very, very thin (about 20kg). He had scabs from old injuries round his neck and on the sides of his face but they have now healed well. His coat was quite sparce and dry but it is improving daily. To begin with, he was panting a lot and thus drinking lots of water and his tongue was hanging out  all the time . He had little muscle development and was very puppy-like and gangly in lots of his movements. He often fell over or off things due to his new found freedom of movement and no previous experience of edges/steps etc. He tended to run with a slight curve both on and off his lead, but, as this happened both to the left and right, we think it’s probably linked to him being tied up previously and his getting used to his new found freedom. His fosterer said “After just 10 days, Scooby seems in reasonably good health now. He’s filling out and looking much less gaunt and his coat is starting to look glossy.  He still pants much more than I’d expect which results in him breathing quickly and loudly most of the time. He doesn’t seem to get any more out of breath running or playing so I think it’s more psychological/habit than a health issues”.

PERSONALITY: Louise, his fosterer, said “Scooby is a very special boy. He has come on in leaps and bounds already. We have almost seen him progressing by the hour! He is beautiful to look at and has the most loving, grateful nature. Initially, he viewed everything with suspicion and distrust. He was absolutely terrified of coming in the house but that has gradually improved and he now comes in without encouragement or enticing.

He is still very wary of doorways and won’t enter a room (other than the conservatory) unless I am in there. He was hand shy with everyone to start with and froze and cowered when men came in the house. After a lot of encouragement he would approach and let them stroke him but he was poised for flight and ready to run. He used to bolt to the garden if an unknown man was in the house.

Even after 4 days, this had improved hugely already and he was only fearful of men (and older boys) whilst with (known) women and (all) children he was affectionate and loving, often to the point of being over boisterous in seeking attention.

After just 10 days, he had progressed much more quickly than we could have hoped for. We are seeing a new fear overcome every day! He’s super affectionate and always wants to be near people or our dogs.

His initial suspicion has gradually become inquisitiveness and he is puppy like in his joy (and often confusion) of discovering new things. He can still be a bit boisterous and excitable but, he is so affectionate with it, it’s forgivable! He now greets strangers (women and children) confidently and responds to their affection eagerly. He is still less trustful of men but responds to those he knows with affection and will now approach and be stroked by male strangers if they kneel or are sitting.

He is less confident round men than with women but a few minutes of gentle talking and stroking soon wins him round so we don’t think men will always be a problem for him. Scooby is a gorgeous boy. He’s super affectionate and incredibly quick to learn. He’s taken everything he’s encountered in his stride and has quickly accepted new things as the norm”.

SOCIAL LEARNING

Louise says “After 10 days, he can sit and wait for his food to be put down and have treats alongside our dogs. He takes training treats gently and can wait his turn. He sleeps on a dog bed in the bedroom with us and our dogs – things we really thought wouldn’t happen for weeks! Scooby has little idea of space. He often just walks over dogs/women children /tables to get from A to B. He jumps up a lot and is quite difficult to ignore as he almost obsessively tries again and again and again! I’ve started clicker training him as a distraction and he’s picking it up really quickly and loves learning.

He’s very inquisitive but, at the moment, he is held back by his fear… he even gets spooked at catching  a glimpse of  his own tail wagging! Scooby is still learning about personal space! He continues to jump up, specially at anyone carrying something. Turning your back and ignoring him works most of the time though, occasionally, he still gets very over excited and continues jumping up and trying to grab whatever is being carried.

He can be calmed by commanding ‘sit’ although, if he manages to get hold of a carried item, we still need to treat to exchange. Clicker training is going well and we are doing basic commands. He really focuses and enjoys learning, especially brain games involving finding food! He’s still hyper alert about most house noises / sights / smells. Hearing anyone upstairs or coming up or down them has him in a barking frenzy. As do doors / drawers opening and closing. His fear and anxiety really surface at the slightest hint of excitement (door bell, children/dogs playing/ food time) and he becomes overwhelmed and runs round in small circles jumping up at and on every/anything and mouthing till he finds something  to hold in his mouth and chew obsessively.

On occasions our dogs have assumed this behaviour as play but if they attempt to ‘join in’ he starts growling and lunging at them and looks terrified. Human intervention has him jumping (all 4 feet off the ground) and spinning in smaller circles and almost throwing himself at the person in what looks like an attempt to get close. If all is calm, now he knows ‘sit’, he can be gently talked / stroked out of his excitement. 

I think that calmness and consistency and above all patience and knowing his story and needs are going to be the key to his understanding his new world. He plays with things like carrier bags, wrappers, plates, cups and bottles if he can find them. He takes his ‘treasures’ outside and stores them by a concrete water trough. Progress this morning, as I found a blanket, a purple ball and a teddy in his ‘rubbish’ pile.

After 10 days, Scooby is much more settled in the house, he comes and goes through (known) open doors without fear although he still approaches unknown doorways with apprehension and won’t cross the threshold without lots of encouragement. He is still unnerved by noise from upstairs or catching glimpses of people on the stairs.

He doesn’t react to loud household noises like the vacuum cleaner and washing machines but quieter sounds like opening drawers doing up zips, closing the dishwasher terrify him. He is still shy and cowers or runs outside in response to sudden quick movements. He does sometimes bark at noise outside when he is indoors”.

Travel: He travels really well in the car and is super quiet.

Housetraining:  He wasn’t house trained. If he had access to outside he preferred to hide in bushes so accidents have been few and far between as the door is open from dawn till dark for him. He is now almost reliably house trained and happily cocks his leg when he is out walking with his fosterer. Separation anxiety: Scooby doesn’t show separation anxiety but he hasn’t been left alone without at least one of his fosterer’s dogs for company.

Leadwalking and recall: Louise says “He walks reasonably well on a harness alongside (usually touching) Barnaby or Maggie. He is fearful of most thIngs he meets on walks but soon becomes confident with them. It’s difficult to say how he will walk when his nervousness has gone. His resilience is amazing! He walks well on both back and front leading harnesses. He gets excited meeting new dogs when on lead and pulls towards them in a friendly way. I have walked him in different combinations with our dogs and alone and he copes well with all. He has fabulous recall in the house and garden but none at all in the outside world. He won’t take a treat when we are out as he is still very alert and watchful of new things he meets. He has been spooked a few times (anything from an awning blowing to beer barrels being rolled) and reverts to terror and attempting to bolt immediately so he needs calm confident handling (and a secure welll fitting harness!) “.

Food etc: He isn’t food or toy possessive.

Obsessive behaviour: Louise says “Scooby likes to chew. He isn’t destructive in the house but has chewed through 3 dog leads – while attached to them! and the cable to a table lamp (thankfully unplugged). He also chews holes in anything fabric that’s stuffed with polyester and takes the filling out. He is learning “leave it” and doesn’t take things he’s been instructed not to but he is discovering new things daily so I’m constantly vigilant! He continues to have ‘episodes’ (getting rarer and more often than not in the early evening) where he seems to be totally over stimulated / over frustrated and jumps / runs totally out of control. They tend to be after he has ‘found’ something to chew / rip (he loves cushions, pillows and duvets) and had it exchanged. He will let go of his ‘prize’ but jumps back up to take it. No amount of back turning ignoring works as he is so focused on getting his ‘prize back’. Any attempt to push him away results in more forceful jumping and him attempting to mouth (all be it very gently) A raised, firm voice does nothing to stop his onslaught. As our dogs tend to come and investigate what he’s doing his energy levels rise (as do theirs) the only tactic we’ve found works is to put our dogs in a stay and lead Scooby outside and shut the door and ignore him till he’s calmed down (which happens almost immediately)”.

Children: He loves children and isn’t phased by loud or boisterous play. He is learning ‘leave’ as he loves to join in but he hasn’t learnt the difference between dog and children toys yet. He does jump up and this is being worked on but small children are best avoided.

Dogs:  On the whole he is really good with other dogs and it’s certainly  obvious that he follows their lead and draws confidence and comfort from them. At first, he couldn’t really play with them but stood on the sidelines watching with the occasional dash around the edges. He’s been happy for friends (well socialised) dogs to come into the house and garden but he does try to push other dogs out of the way to get attention and is tenacious in trying”.

His fosterer continues “He usually waits till one of my dogs is sleeping then attempts to lie with them. Surprisingly (for me and her!) he has taken to Millie (my grumpy no nonsense bitch) and hides behind her when he’s worried and tries to lie touching her at any opportunity. She will be glad to see him find his forever family as she wakes up and stalks away from him with total distain!

He’s still learning doggie manners and often is over enthusiastic greeting new friends but he continues to be good with other dogs and follows their lead without hesitation. He’s spent time with dogs and bitches from 12 weeks to very elderly and has behaved impeccably with them all. He is starting to play gently but rarely instigates it except with younger females. When off lead, he is accepted and accepts all ages and both male and female dogs. He tolerates being on a long line with dogs off lead close by and doesn’t pull to get beyond the length of it.

Cats & other animals:  Scooby has not reacted to chickens, our rabbit or livestock we have met. He does seem to be cat reactive. However our cat is a dog tormenter and his reactivity may be around the cat food teasing as he has only met the cat in the kitchen”.

SCOOBY’S DREAM HOME

Scooby needs a peaceful home where he can ‘reassess’ his life and realise that he will never again be abused. We have little knowledge of his background but hope that a family is out there ready to give this wonderful boy a second chance at life.

Calmness and consistency and, above all, patience and loads of love are going to be the key to Scooby coping with change in the future. It’s going to take time to undo his life experience so far but he’s definitely up for it!

He truly is a super boy! This is our promise. He has a long road to travel but, with love and commitment, we know he will find his forever home with a family who will love him and care for him for the rest of his days.

AN EXCELLENT HOME (August 2016)

Scooby has gone to live in his Forever Home with Judi and her dogs. He has a new name …. Guus (Dutch and pronounced “goose”).

We knew Guus would have the best of care as his adopter had cared for Mai so carefully for 5yrs until he illness finally caught up with her.