29th August 2024
We are so very pleased to say that Alfie has found his perfect forever home!
Sometimes it takes a while to find the perfect home, and he finally has done!
After so many applications, a couple of meet and greets, Alfie won the heart of his now forever family. Alfie does have his quips, mainly seperation anxiety which has been worked on by his foster mum; his new family have the perfect set up for him and will continue to work with this.
Sometimes waiting for the right home takes time, but he's done it!
Congratulations Alfie, we look forward to hearing all about your new life.
Huge thank you to his supporters, transporters, his emergency foster when he first came to us and his foster family who we know miss him so much.
Think it's safe to say he's a happy boy!
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Lovely lad Alfie's Applications are re-opened. Sadly the applications received for Alfie were not a match to his needs.
Please do read his blog in full and share far and wide, Alfie's family must be out there. If you believe you are a match we look forward to hearing from you.
Here's what his foster family have to say about the handsome Alfie.
Alfie is the happiest, friendliest of hounds with absolutely no personal space boundaries, he will be your absolute shadow.
He greets young children well but can be a bit boisterous, he loves a game of tug with the older children. He loves cuddles with the resident basset cross and has to be as physically close as possible to either me or him at all times whether we like it or not! I'm not exaggerating when I say you can't even go to the loo or have a shower without Alfie being with you for most of the time you are in there! Training is being implemented but this will need to be continued with Alfie's forever home.
Alfie comes with me to work in my grooming salon everyday and so is used to lots of different dogs, he wants to be everyone's friend and plays nicely with those that want to, those that don't he doesn't always get the message to back off, he's not nasty, just very playful. This will improve with continued training and age.
He's had 2 baths at the grooming salon, he's experienced the hair drier and had his nails clipped with very little issue, although he has tickly feet so you have to be confident to do his nails.
He also comes to my livery yard to do the horse everyday; he isn't phased by horses at all and especially loves to help poo pick!
Alfie walks beautifully on a lead and collar or slip lead, he sometimes needs a bit of reassurance from me or my dog in new places or if strangers are behind us but he soon gets over it and waddles on. However, he is very strong to begin with in all the excitement or if there is another dog/rabbit/cat up ahead.
Alfie has never shown any aggression in my care other than a low growl when faced with an extremely large dog. He will share toys and bones happily however he lacks manners with food, he has no qualms with trying to take other dog's food, or human foods off of plates, the side, the bin or out of your hands. He can get on top of counters and tables, if there's a will there's a way!
You absolutely cannot leave food or the kitchen bin unattended as he will keep going back to it and will eat ANYTHING. I do have to feed him separately to my dog has he tries to steal his food and will chase him down to get it.
I do not believe this is aggressive he's just so obsessed with food and thinks all food is for him and this needs to be watched, so he doesn't eat something he shouldn't, and also doesn't get too fat!
We have been teaching him the "off command" with mixed results with continued training and maturity I'm sure he'd learn.
Alfie is very agile and can work out ways to get to where he wants to be so a very secure garden without any obstacles which can used to get over fences and someone who understands countersurfing is a must.
He will sit nicely for his breakfast and dinner and recall isn't bad at all though I've only practiced this in the garden and at the secure field.
He also loves to destuff all his toys and will pick up bits of cardboard, shoes or kids toys if left lying around and chew them but he's never chewed the furniture.
He was neutered at the vets with no problems and happy to go back in for check ups and his boosters.
I have never tried to leave Alfie completely alone just because of my routine and job. We are leaving him with the resident hound now when we leave the room, go and shower, and we pop out to the garden leaving them inside.
Whilst at the stables, he's been left in the car with my dog for short periods of time, he can still see me, but has in the past chewed things he can get hold of such as leads.
He has at times, if you leave the room he has whined and tried to get to me; he has sometimes resorted to howling. But he has progressed, to being shut in the kitchen with the other resident dogs at times when things needed to be done around the house and he was happy to play with them without a human.
He also sleeps on my bed with me.
He's fully house trained but have had incidents where he's become stressed and weed. On a couple of occasions he's weed on beds seemingly for no reason.
Alfie will be your absolute best friend for life but he does need another doggy friend for company or for you to be with him pretty much all of the time. A playful, similar aged dogs would be Alfie's dream, if you work from home you must be prepared that Alfie will need to be in the office room with you with a bone or something to occupy him whilst he settles in. Alfie has chased cats and rabbits, and has had a face off with parrot, so we would say no small furries.
Alfie has lived with children from 6 years old up to teenagers so we are happy he's happy around children, although younger ones will need to understand if they leave a toy Alfie will claim it as his.
He also has no personal space boundaries and does jump up in excitement or for cuddles so will decide that you need him on your lap, by your side and just generally wherever you want or need to be.
Please do not be put off by the on going training, Alfie is very young and his background is fairly unknown, he's not had the opportunity before now to have training and boundaries put in place.
He is showing all the signs of being an amazing boy who will grow and flourish in the right home. Continued training to be left alone will be required and of course we are happy to assist with this and recommend positive reinforcement training, with a trainer if required.
Alfie's needs -
- A playful young dog who will welcome his antics and fun loving outlook on life
- Someone who will be home most of the time and will help with seperation training
- Someone who will be home most of the time in the early days to help him settle in
- No small furries of any type
- Can live with children over the age of 6 but they need to understand, they leave a toy laying around it will be claimed
- Someone who will welcome a shadow into their lives, a shadown who wants cuddles and snuggles at every chance
- Someone who understands positive reinforcement and will continue training with Alfie so he grows up to be the wonderful boy we know he is
- A very secure garden with no hurdles which can be used as springboards should Alfie decide he wants to go exploring, or the neighbours BBQ smells good!
Alfie's Applications close at 8pm on Tuesday 6th August 2024
Taking on a rescue dog is not the easy option. You need to be prepared to help a confused and troubled hound find their place in your family. They have been through a massive upheaval and will need time to settle into a new way of life, so please consider this BEFORE you fill in an application.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
Alfie is subject to an adoption fees and a successful home check. If your home check is successful, your family including dogs will need to be able to travel to his foster home to meet him and his foster family.
You will also have a telephone call with a member of the team, plus Alfie's foster family, so that all of his history can be shared with you in person, and that we can be assured that you can fill all of his needs, demands and requirements.
Alfie comes with 5 weeks free insurance via our rehoming partner, Agria.
Alfie, as with all of our hounds will have full rescue back up for life.
Thank you for reading Alfie's blog. Please share where you are able
28th April 2024
So Alfie is doing really well, he's been moved away from Tilly as they were both entire and we couldn't risk any puppies again especially as Tilly appeared to be coming into season.
He's loving life in foster with a Bagel sibling; he goes to work with his foster mum and mans the desk when she's busy. He's not too good at making appointments, but he tries his best!
He's stopped being anxious in the car and travels really well now.
He's put on a little weigh and is now just over 21kg. He's been the vets and has had his neutering, which in all honesty has not phased him one little bit, he's still wanting to charge around and play. He did not like the cone of shame, so he requested a donut.......so a donut he did get!!!
He's such a loving lad, wants to be with humans and be snuggled in, he is showing signs of seperation anxiety which are being worked on with his foster family.
31st March 2024
Alfie who is 18 months old, arrived with his sister Tilly on the 30th March.
We don't know alot about Alfie, apart from he has no issues with pooping and spewing in the car when being transported!
He's child friendly, likes to beg when the humans are eating and is happy to go for walks, and snuggle on the sofa.
Alfie and Tilly do seem to be quite bonded and like to snuggle up together. Alfie has more brown (see photos in the Gallery)
Alfie will be at the vets for his health check ASAP and we will update as his assessment continues.