Max is the fluffy one on the left and Pepsi the sweet one on the right
Summary: Pepsi and Max are sister and brother Labrador x Collies and they are now 13 years of age. They came into rescue after their owner passed away, and are in a foster home in Norfolk. They are very good with dogs, could live with older children, but need a home without cats. Max can get quite noisy on car journeys, but travels well on a bus.
Good dogs in foster: Pepsi and Max settled well at their foster home. They sleep well through the night in their own beds. They used to sleep in their foster carers’ room but are now happy to sleep downstairs. They do best where there isn’t too much traffic and noise outside to disturb them, so a quiet town or village location would be perfect.
Can be left for a while: Pepsi and Max love their humans so would like a home where there’s usually someone with them, but they have been left for an hour or so and coped fine. A webcam was once set up and it showed they quietly hunkered down in the hallway waiting for their people to return. They were glad when they did but in a calm and sensible way. Such good and loving dogs!
Good with other dogs: These sweeties are very well behaved with dogs they meet on walks. They are calm, friendly and relaxed. They are the perfect companions at the beach!
No cats at home: They haven’t lived with cats before and do seem as though they want to chase cats when they come across them out and about. They soon lose interest, but even so they do need a home without cats.
Good with children: Although Pepsi and Max haven’t lived with children before, it’s thought they’d be fine with dog-savvy older ones, or visiting, supervised younger ones. They have had visits from children aged 5+ at their foster home and were impeccably well behaved and had fun playing with them. As long as their naps are undisturbed, they are happy.
Love their walks: Pepsi is as good as gold on walks. She really enjoys her walks and is great both on and off lead. She likes to stay near Max but will regularly check in with her human. Max is usually good on and off lead but it’s best if he is walked in areas where he won’t be physically close to traffic as this makes him nervous and he might lunge at cars. This is getting better though, as is his objection to bicycles and people riding horses. He wears a harness when out, and needs to be walked by someone strong enough to hold him when cars/bikes/horses are around.
In the right setting Max is a joy to walk! Other dogs are fine, people walking on their own two feet: all good, but those weird wheeled or hoofy things are not his favourites!
They both love getting out to explore and enjoy a bit of squirrel chasing. They have two walks a day, one longish one in the morning and a short one early evening. They like playing in the garden as well. Typical siblings, if they have a tennis ball each, they want the one that the other has!
In the car: Pepsi is completely content and quiet in the car…
Max is happy to get in the car but gets a bit overstimulated by everything going on. He sometimes barks at things he sees or if he thinks he’s arrived at the destination. He can be soothed and will sometimes lick Pepsi to self-soothe, bless him! He has shown some improvement but the vet has prescribed tranquilisers for long journeys. Max does love a bus journey though and travels like a superstar on the bus!
Favourite pastimes: Pepsi and Max love tummy rubs and fuss in general as well as just being near their humans and each other. They enjoy walks and playing with toys in the garden. Pepsi is more treat-focused than Max. They both like to snooze.
Their ideal home: In a fairly quiet area with a good-sized, secure garden for playing in. They are best with walks where they won’t be near too much busy traffic. At least one of their owners needs to be strong enough to hold Max still when something scary passes, like a person on a horse. They’d like to have human company most of the time so they can enjoy their nap times. They need a sufficient quota of fuss: Pepsi likes to have treats for being such a Good Girl and Max loves his favourite toys!
Health notes: Pepsi and Max are neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and flea treated. Pepsi is on Royal Canin Anallergenic food, which is dried and she has it soaked in water. She’s been on this for a few months and it has resolved her previous tummy troubles. Both dogs have some arthritis. Oldies Club is offering to cover the cost of their arthritis medications for life. For Max that is Rheumocam daily, and for Pepsi it is a monthly injection of Librela. This treatment does wonders for them, but their foster carers are still careful to protect their joints. The dogs use a ladder to get into the car, they avoid steps where possible, and ball throws for Max have been toned down. They still get up on the sofa for cuddles! Max has also been seeing a chiropractor for the stiffness in his hind legs and back.
More from their foster carers: “Both dogs are very affectionate and follow us both around the house, settling down as close as they can. Max will happily use a pair of slippers as a cushion. Pepsi is a bit more keen on comfort but will still snuggle up close if she can, ask for a belly rub and gently lick your hands, and if she gets a chance will get in with a sneaky face lick or two. When they haven’t seen one of us for a while they both greet as if it’s been weeks – Max will whimper and wag his tail madly until he’s had a proper ‘hello’ stroke, and Pepsi will jump up most excitedly with her tail going like a helicopter blade!
“Max does love his routines, and part of that is after a meal time he goes to his toys box and picks something to bring to you to kick or throw (gently) for him, to get him going, and then he will play with it by himself for a while before he brings it back to you. He’s very inventive playing by himself and balances the toy on things so it falls down for him to pounce on it. He does have favourites, but after a couple days he will vary it and sorts through the box to bring you something different. He likes to get everyone who’s there involved. He loves tugging games, but is very careful and gentle about fingers. He is very inquisitive generally and will gently prod absolutely anything new that he with his nose to see what happens, but he’s cautious and careful as well and not at all destructive, except having an appetite for (used) socks!”
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If you would like to offer Pepsi and Max a permanent home together, 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
They can be rehomed anywhere on the UK mainland – the closer to their foster home the better – subject to a satisfactory home visit. Note that you will be required to travel to the foster home to collect them.
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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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This replaces Pepsi and Max’s previous page dated 5 November 2023.