Beautiful Blue is a reposeful 11-year-old Lurcher who came into rescue due to her main carer no longer being able to look after her. Blue is in an Oldies Club foster home to the north of York, North Yorkshire, waiting for someone to offer her a relaxing forever home.
Overview of Blue: Snoozy Blue is a lazy lady who loves nothing more than a snuggle on the sofa with her humans. She will go out for short walks, or a quick sprint in a secure dog field, but her absolute priority is relaxation and she will happily sleep the day away. So wise! She could live with quiet, sturdy children who won’t disturb her slumbers or be knocked over by her paws/tail. She’d make a sweet companion for a homeworker as she’ll sleep quietly while you work and then enjoy a nice short walk. She loves to say hello to all dogs. Her foster carer feels that Blue would be happiest living with a calm dog for company, especially if she will be left on her own for anything more than an occasional hour or two. Blue weighs 23kg and is 60cm tall.
Settled straight away: Blue settled at her foster home almost immediately! On the first day she was cuddling with her foster carers on the sofa.
Can be left for short periods: Blue has been fine when left her for a few hours, and has been asleep when her carers return home. However, she has had a couple of accidents, which have only happened when she’s been left, so this may be a sign that she is a bit anxious when left. It has only happened the odd time, and she doesn’t show any signs of anxiety when her carers leave or get back. To be fair to Blue though, we think she would be happiest in a home with someone around for most of each day. She may be OK with someone who goes out to work part-time, especially if she had a canine companion at home with her, but a homeworker or retired person would suit her well.
Loves dogs: Blue lived with other dogs in her previous home. In foster care she has been great with all dogs she has met and she’s keen to to say hello to every dog she walks past. She doesn’t get over-excited and she doesn’t want to play. If another dog starts to get excited, or tries to encourage her to play, she isn’t interested, but she really does seem to like being around other dogs.
Her foster carer says: “My opinion is that she should be rehomed with another calm dog as it would be a shame to not give her the company she seems to crave. Breed does not seem to matter, as long as it is calm.”
No cats please: Blue does want to chase cats when she sees them on walks. She needs a cat-free home.
Could live with calm, sturdy children: Blue used to live with children and we were told that she loves them. During her time in foster she has met children out on walks and she seems as calm and laid back with them as with all people she meets.
Her foster carer says: “There are just two things to bear in mind: 1) She does very occasionally put her front feet up on people to say hello, and she is quite big, so with a small child this could be a bit overwhelming. However, with supervision and training this could potentially be overcome. 2) She is very waggy, and her tail is quite long and hard, and does hurt a bit when she wags it against you! So again, a small child may not enjoy this. She also likes to sleep a lot at home, so I don’t think would suit an environment with very noisy children or children that won’t leave her to sleep. As such, it’s more about their calmness and the adult supervision, rather than a specific age.”
A home with calm, quiet children who are old and sturdy enough to not be worried by Blue potentially putting her front paws up on them or bashing them with her tail, should be fine!
Only needs short walks: Blue doesn’t want a lot of walking; she really just likes to be snuggled up sleeping at home! She is currently having three short walks a day (about 15 mins each). If her foster carers take her out for a slightly longer walk, a wander round a town, or a trip to the beach, then she will walk further, but she will want a very good sleep afterwards! She’s an excellent sprinter so they have taken her to a secure dog field where a 15-minute run will fulfil her exercise needs for the day. She was a bit pully on the lead when she first came into rescue, but her foster carers have been working on that and she’s improved massively. Her recall wasn’t good at first, but they’ve been working on that too and she’s now recognising ‘Here, Blue!’ and responding to it in a variety of environments. Even on a long lead she doesn’t stray far, and is often looking back. She also doesn’t seem massively prey driven, so doesn’t pull to get to many things (except cats), but she hasn’t been let off to fully test that!
Good in the car: Yes she is! She’s able to jump into the boot and settles quickly. She does sometimes cry on journeys, but it’s only occasional and just seems to be a sign of excitement/impatience as she only does it on the way to places, not on the way home. She also doesn’t seem to cry if she’s on the back seat instead of in the boot.
Blue’s favourite pastimes: Sleeping – especially snuggled up with her humans on the sofa! Saying hello to people and dogs when she’s out – she’s very waggy and friendly and she greets people and dogs calmly. Sunbathing – any opportunity to sneak outside and lie in the sun on the patio and she’ll take it!
Blue’s ideal home: Snoozy Blue needs a home where her people will not ask too much of her in terms of exercise, and will allow her to have long periods of sleep and rest. As such, she needs a household where the people and animals are not hyper. She will love a home with people who will cuddle her on the sofa. Ideally a home with another calm dog. She needs people who will keep food out of reach as she can be a bit of a food thief!
Sleeping arrangements: Blue sleeps in her bed in the kitchen. Given a choice she would probably sleep on the sofa or in her foster carers’ bed, but she does settle down on her own very easily with no issues.
Health notes: Blue has just been neutered and had her day-10 post-op checkup. She is vaccinated and microchipped and has been wormed and flea treated. The overall consensus is that Blue is in excellent health for her age. She does not require any ongoing medication. She has a mild heart murmur (graded 2 out of 6). This is not causing her any issues and she may have had it since birth. She has one nipple that is slightly enlarged, but the vet is not concerned about it and just said to keep an eye on it. She has some plaque on her teeth which her foster carers are using toothpaste on. She likes this!
More from Blue’s foster carers: “Blue is calm, cuddly, waggy and friendly and we just think she’s wonderful. She’s a joy to have around, and so easy to have as well. She’s won the hearts of so many people we’ve met, which is no surprise given she’s so friendly and affectionate. She also rarely barks, which is another bonus. We’ve only heard her twice. She’s just very laid back and we have not found anything that she reacts to. Anybody would be lucky to have her.”
If you would like to offer Blue a permanent home, please read our Adoption Procedures for information about the adoption process. You can then contact the Oldies Club rehoming team as follows:
Email: rehome@oldies.org.uk for an application form.
Or phone 0844 586 8656, leaving a message including your email address, and we’ll email an application form.
Blue can be rehomed anywhere on the UK mainland – the closer to her foster home the better – subject to a satisfactory home visit. Note that you will be required to travel to the foster home to collect her.
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.