08/03/2023 – Freddie has been adopted! Hooray!
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Freddie is a 10-year-old Shih Tzu x Yorkshire Terrier who came into the Oldies Club rescue because his owner had young children and a baby on the way and could no longer manage Freddie too. Freddie is in a foster home in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, while he waits for a permanent home.
Settled well in foster: Freddie tends to just go with the flow and he settled in foster care within a couple of days.
Not used to being left: We were told that Freddie was used to being left alone in his original home, but in his last home he wasn’t left at all, and he hasn’t been left alone while in foster care. His foster carer thinks that once he has settled in his new home he should be fine to be left for short periods. There might be some whining, and maybe barking, but it’s thought that he wouldn’t destroy things or do anything drastic.
Not suitable for people who go out to work: Freddie is very people oriented and he loves his humans. As soon as someone gets up, he gets up too and wants to know what is going on. He also loves cuddles and sleeping next to someone, so he wouldn’t cope well with being alone all day. We are therefore looking for a home with people around most of the time for Freddie.
Good with calm dogs: Freddie is very submissive with the resident dog, and she can take treats and toys from him and he just lets her, but he is starting to get a bit more confident. He is not particularly interested interacting with her, so he would be fine to live with or without another dog. On walks he wants to say hello to every dog he meets, but lately has been a bit growly with overly boisterous dogs, so they do seem to annoy him. Otherwise, he is happy to say hello and wags his tail when meeting other dogs out and about. He has shown no signs of wanting to play with any dog yet.
Good with dog-confident cats: Freddie is fine with the resident cat, although a tad too interested. When the cat makes a sound or moves, Freddie gets up and needs to check it out, and walks after the cat. He is very excited and would love to interact more with the cat, but the cat is having none of it. If there is a cat in his new home, it needs to be a dog-savvy cat, as Freddie will want to get in the cat’s face.
Great with children: Freddie has no issues at all with children. He sometimes jumps up (he weighs around 8kg) so would not suit a toddler, and of course Freddie is now getting older himself, so he’d be best with children aged over 6.
Loves walks: Freddie absolutely loves walks and would spend hours just sniffing at everything and saying hello to everyone that passes by. He walks very well on the lead, and when he feels a little tension on the lead he stops instantly. He has not been let off lead in foster care, but once he has had time to get to know his new family (around 2 months), he should be fine to be allowed off the lead in safe areas. His foster carer is sure he would come back, especially if he knows there are treats involved. In general, he listens very well to his name in the house. He is having 3 walks a day, for 30 to 60 minutes each walk, but he isn’t uptight about a set walking routine. If one big walk per day plus garden breaks worked best for his new owner, that would be fine for Freddie. He can easily walk for longer than an hour without getting tired, but he is equally happy not to go out sometimes, like when he declines a midday walk and jumps back on the sofa instead!
OK in the car: Freddie is fine for a short journey, but after about 10 minutes he will start to whine, which seems to be because he is sitting in the back and cannot be close to people. He’s had a couple of 30-minute drives and been fine with those. He jumps into the car on his own with no problems.
Freddie’s favourite pastimes: Belly rubs – when he is lying next to you and you start stroking him, he instantly rolls around for a good belly rub. He loves a fuss, and if you stop too early he will beg for more. Food – he seems constantly hungry (don’t they all?). He loves a good chew but also knows when he’s had enough (mostly), so does not feel the need to finish it if it’s a big chew. He now uses a slow-feeder bowl as he used to eat his food within 5 seconds, but now it takes him some time to finish. Toys – especially toys with a squeaker, which he can squeak on forever. His favourites are a big rubber ball (that is actually too big for him, but he loves it), and any soft/stuffed toys. He starts growling when you grab his toy and play tug, and his growl is the funniest thing, a mix of a stuttering motor and a pigeon! It is part of his play style. Laps – he loves sitting on your lap. He is just like a big cat and loves jumping on your lap to get fuss. Begging for food by “sitting pretty”. He does this without command and also does it when you come back from being out; it is his form of begging for attention and is very cute.
Freddie’s dislikes: He does not like it when his dinner is late (in his opinion). He will let you know by first whining, then growling, and in the end barking if you do not acknowledge him. He is afraid in new situations, like going to the vet and going to the groomer, and will sit and shake, but eventually he gets used to it. At New Year he had no issues with the fireworks.
Freddie’s ideal home: He would love a home with people who will give him a lot of attention and fuss, and of course food, plus a nice secure garden to enjoy. He adapts easily to changes of circumstances and just goes along with things. He is always on the go: if you get up, he instantly gets up as well, even if he was sleeping. If there’s a noise outside, he lifts his head to check if it is worth investigating. He would therefore fit into a home with children (aged 6+) where there are lots of things going on. But he would also enjoy living in a quiet household, where there is less stimulation and movement, as this might help him settle down. He does settle nicely during the day if his carers are sitting on the sofa, and at night.
Health notes: Freddie is neutered, vaccinated and microchipped and has been wormed and flea treated. He has a fatty lump near his groin/stomach area which the vet said to keep an eye on, and if it grows or starts to bother him it should be looked at again and possibly removed. He has a small lump/wart on an upper eye lid, which again is fine unless it grows or starts to irritate him. His teeth and gums are fine, just mild dental calculus.
More from Freddie’s foster carer: “Freddie is a bundle of energy and a cuddle bug. He’s a good boy who is funny to be around. He is one of the most easy-going dogs I ever had the pleasure of meeting, and if he would actually be interested in our dog and play with her, I would now be a failed foster. He listens well to the main commands, gets off things if you tell him to, comes when called (in the house – not tested outside), lets you know when he needs to go outside, loves to cuddle and get fuss, and is the funniest little character. There is not a bad bone in him. He does have his quirks of course, but nothing bad at all. As mentioned before, he will get angry sometimes when he does not get what he wants (attention, food) and can get a bit annoying with his whining, but it is also almost cute how hard he tries. He will also start barking like mad as soon as someone knocks at the door – just what dogs do. Other than that, he is not a very barky dog at all. When giving treats he needs to be watched as he often just swallows instead of chewing. The vet and groomer had only positive things to say about him, as he is just such a good boy in every way.”
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If you would like to offer Freddie a permanent home, please read our Adoption Procedures for information about the adoption process. You can then contact an Oldies Club Rehoming Coordinator as follows:
Email: rehome@oldies.org.uk
Telephone: 0844 586 8656
Freddie can be rehomed anywhere on the UK mainland – the closer to his foster home the better – subject to a satisfactory home visit. Note that you will be required to travel to the foster home to collect 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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