9/11/19 – Handsome Hooch has gone off to his wonderful new home!
—————
Hooch is a 9-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer who came into the Oldies Club rescue because his owner was moving to a flat where pets aren’t allowed. Hooch is in a foster home in Christchurch, Dorset, waiting for a someone to offer him a permanent home.
Settled gradually in foster care: It took Hooch about two weeks to settle at his foster home. He was hyper for the first few days, and during the first week he was quite unsettled and fretted if he was not within touching distance of one his carers. He is now more relaxed and happy to settle down for a nap, but preferably in the same room as his people.
Likes to have company: Hooch needs a home where he won’t be left for long periods on his own and he will need to be given time to gradually get used to being left. His foster carers have only left him alone in the house for around an hour so far. He does get quite stressed when left and whines and yaps for a while at least. They are gradually increasing the time left at home now he is more settled.
Likes to meet dogs: Hooch is friendly with other dogs and shows no aggression. When walking on a lead he used to pull sharply towards dogs in an effort to meet and greet them, but his foster carers are having frequent sessions in an enclosed dog-dedicated area to encourage close association with other dogs and he’s doing brilliantly. He’s had several meetings both off lead on a one-to-one basis and on lead in parks etc. with lots of free running canines. He also attended an event with lots of dogs around and Hooch either ignored them or sniffed and wagged his tail if they approached him.
Seems to ignore cats: There are no cats in or around his foster home, but when Hooch has come across cats while out walking on the lead he has virtually ignored them even at relatively close range.
Good with older children: Hooch lived with children in his previous home and should be fine to live with children again. Out and about, several children have come up to him for a stroke and Hooch’s reaction has been calm and accepting. His foster carer’s young grandson visited and Hooch was quite bouncy around him but didn’t once knock him over. After a while they settled down together, as you can see in the photo. As he is quite a large dog and can be boisterous, we think children aged 8+ would be best.
Needs good walks: Hooch needs plenty of exercise. He is strong on the lead and pulls hard if allowed, but with a Halti head collar he is learning to react to commands, e.g. ‘Wait’. After a long lead walk or off lead exercise he walks quite calmly with far less pulling. He needs a minimum of two 30-minute lead walks a day plus off lead play chasing balls or just zooming around for another 30+ minutes. He has a lot of energy and is excitable but he calms relatively quickly after exercise. He has no recall to speak of; his foster carers are trying recall training but haven’t had much success so far.
Getting used to the car gradually: Hooch’s original owners did not have a car and we’re told he had not been in a car since he was delivered to them aged 11 weeks. He whines if he is in the back of the car behind a dog guard and gets quite stressed. His foster carers are working on getting him used to short trips with fun runs at the end, and he is getting better – slowly. He now happily jumps in, but still whines. He recently sat on the back seat of their car and within 10 minutes calmed down, sat down and only whined quietly intermittently.
Hooch’s favourite pastimes: He will play almost endlessly with a tennis ball, especially if it squeaks. He punctures them quite quickly but still likes to play. His foster carers are using ball play to encourage recall and he will now, mostly though not always, sit and wait after the ball is thrown until being told to fetch and then come back. He might even drop the ball but no promises!
Hooch’s ideal home: Hooch needs people who are at home a lot of the time and he certainly isn’t suitable for full-time workers. His new owners need to be happy and willing to put in time training him. He thrives on company and tends to fret for a while if either of his fosterers leave the house. He needs direct access to a secure garden. He’s very good with other dogs and might benefit from living with a calm and gentle dog to help him settle into his new home, provided initial introductions went well.
Health notes: Hooch is due his second vaccination on 21st October and he will be neutered approximately two weeks after that. He has been wormed and flea treated. Hooch is in very good health overall. He has a small cyst on the lower lid of his left eye which appears to be growing slowly. If the vet feels this should be removed, it will be done when Hooch is neutered.
More from his foster carer: “Hooch is friendly, boisterous, bright and trainable; a big soppy boy. Hooch is a lovely lovable lad and will make an amazing family pet or companion. He is excitable and tends to jump up and bounce when welcoming family members’ return to the home or strangers visiting, but he is very bright and learns quickly. He has an unusual fixation with torchlight and light reflections generally. He will chase moving lights, whine at car headlights when in the car and stare endlessly at shadows. With input I am sure this can be controlled. I can’t believe how well he’s come on in the short time he has been with us. The improvement is a testament to his sweet nature and trainability – though I suspect his selective deafness may continue for some time, bless him. We’ve lost our hearts to this rumbustuous bundle of affectionate energy. Someone is in for a real treat when they welcome him into their lives.”
——————————
If you would like to offer Hooch a permanent home, please read our Adoption Procedures for information about the adoption process. You can then contact an Oldies Club rehoming co-ordinator as follows:
Email: rehome@oldies.org.uk
Telephone: 0844 586 8656
Hooch can be rehomed anywhere on the UK mainland, subject to a satisfactory home visit, but note that you will be required to travel to the foster home to meet him.
——————————
If you would love to offer a home to an oldie but your circumstances aren’t suitable, perhaps you would be kind enough to sponsor one of the special oldies we are caring for that, due to health problems, are unlikely to be offered a permanent home.
——————————