Could Buddy be your buddy? (Oldies Club, fostered Hampshire)

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29/7/20 – At long last, Buddy has gone off to his new home. And we couldn’t have wished for a better home for him!
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Cute boy Buddy is a 14-year-old Border Collie Cross who came into the Oldies Club rescue because his owner was working long hours. Buddy is in an Oldies Club foster home in Gosport, Hampshire waiting for someone to offer him a permanent home.

Settled gradually in foster: Buddy took about a week to settle at his foster home. For the first few days he was unsettled if he woke up at night, but he sleeps without any problems now. He will just need to be allowed time to settle and get used to his new home and routine.

Doesn’t like to be left for too long: Buddy has been OK when left for just over two hours with his foster carer’s dog for company. He had separation anxiety in his previous home, so he wouldn’t suit a home where he will need to be left for long periods.

Likes living with another dog: Buddy has been very happy living with the resident female dog at his foster home, and having a canine friend in his new home should help him to settle in. He is very passive with dogs he knows and frequently walks as part of a group of dogs. Living with another dog would be ideal for Buddy, and he is great with visiting dogs, but Buddy has also spent time as an only dog with another fosterer for a short period and was absolutely fine. Being the only dog should be fine for him, as long as there is someone around for most of the time.

Good with cats: He doesn’t react to the cats on visits to a friend’s house, and he lived with cats earlier in his life.

Fine with older children: Buddy has lived with children in both his previous homes, and he has been fine with children he has met recently. However, as Buddy doesn’t like to have his collar grabbed, any children in his new home would need to be old enough and sensible enough to know to not touch his collar.

Loves walks: Buddy loves walks and has been having about an hour out in the mornings, dependent on the weather, with garden time after this. Two or three shorter walks spaced through the day would also be fine, especially as he gets a little older. His previous owner walked him off lead but he is currently walked onlead with a harness. Once bonded with his new owner he should be able to be let off lead. Buddy can be reactive (barking and lunging but no aggression) to dogs that run around near him, but it seems to be because he is frustrated about not being able to play with them. This is being worked on with the input of a behaviourist, and they feel this is due to frustration at being on lead. Training is ongoing for this.

Good in the car: Buddy is fine in the car. He travels in a harness with a seatbelt attachment. He settles to sleep on long journeys.

Buddy’s favourite pastimes: Having his ears scratched and having fuss in general. Meeting doggy friends on walks. Sniffing, particularly wastepaper bins. Snoozing. Cheese treats.

Buddy’s dislikes: Fireworks. Having his collar grabbed – he will react by warning you not to do this.

Buddy’s ideal home: With people who are around most of the day. Another dog or two for company would be great, but not essential if his people will be with him most of the time. He’d like a garden to mooch around in and ideally a house on one level as he finds stairs a bit of an effort.

Health notes: Buddy is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and has been wormed and flea treated. Buddy is having Vivitonin for general signs of aging and to help resolve his anxiety, but he could potentially come off the Vivitonin as he is eager to exercise and has a good appetite now settled into a routine. He is on a low dose of Metacam for arthritis of the lower spine and hips and is also having joint supplements. He is excellent at taking medication directly from your hand and is very gentle. Buddy’s hearing in good and he just has early signs of cataracts.

More from Buddy’s foster carer:Buddy is mischievous, loving and happy. He is a real sweetheart and he behaves much younger than his years and has plenty of energy. He took time to settle at night, but once he does, will sleep through the night. Once given a routine, Buddy thrived, and he gets very excited when he knows he is off to the park, and eagerly awaits breakfast after his walk. He has settled well on long car journeys and has been an absolute star when we got stuck in heavy traffic. Sometimes, when he wants attention, he will bark and smile at you by curling up his lips (not aggressively!), and look directly at you to see if you will respond. Other than this he will push his nose under your hand /arm to get some attention. He seems to find some comfort and reassurance from other dogs around him, particularly when he has to be left. He likes to sleep in the same room as owners, but will not use a dog bed. He likes to sleep right across the doorway to the room. Buddy will be a fabulous addition to his new home.”

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If you would like to offer Buddy 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

Buddy 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.

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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.
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