Buddy - young staffy male

First topic message reminder :



Buddy is in the care of Animal Helpline, near Peterborough (07849 637862 or 01780 783331. Afternoons is best.)

This young chap (looks to be about one and a half years old) has been a favourite with the volunteer walkers because he's pretty gentle on the lead, and appears to be self-propelled by a magic wagging tail.

He came to the rescue around March time, but has just been taken into foster, where he's already settled.

Buddy is neutered and house-trained.

Will do.  

I was play-fighting with Bobble on the floor earlier - got him into a double front paw submission hold, which he countered with a staffy head to the jaw.  

Then we both got told off by Wingo, who was concerned it was getting out of hand.

He has, honestly, been one of the best fosters I've had so far.

But he has his own rules - the main one being even if there is room on the sofa, he will still lie on the human.  

Bobble is really coming along.

He's learning to stay and to lie down, and doing very well.

He's also playing quite a lot with Wingo - absolutely no issues between the pair so far - and has been absolutely amazing with every dog we met.

In fact, tonight, on the trails in the woods, we were a few hundred metres in front of a small border terrier, which decided to run ahead and catch Bob and Wingo up.

I could tell from the pitch of the voices of the terrier's family that they were panicking at their tiny chap legging it off in search of the big, bold staffy and English bull cross.

So, I put Wingo and Bob into a sit stay and when the family caught up, voices pitching ever higher and panicky faces, Bob was busy washing the little terrier and sniffing his/her ear.

I think his family were astounded at how well behaved Bob and Wingo were - the only one doing any growling was the little chap when I went to slip a spare lead I always carry onto him - he didn't like my hand invading his space.

From there, we went to the park, and Bob and Wingo played a massive game of chase with a male husky with the bluest eyes I've ever seen, and an American bulldog female, which was just gigantic (and presumably a cross as she was so big).

Wingo then rounded the evening off by pretending to be a sheepdog and herding everyone back to the humans (she herds the fosters into their beds too  ).

Hello Just called the centre and was told to deal directly with you and just to call back when I want to come and meet? Will I need to fill in any forms or have an interview or anything before taking him or will I just have to come up with Biscuit and if all goes well take him home? Little bit confused  The rescue centre that I work at is so bloody strict I was expecting the similar grilling!

One question I was going to ask was how is he healthwise? I saw on the website that he was very underweight when coming in, does he stomach still work as it should and no problems with worms or anything? Seen so many strays with long term stomach problems and sensitivites from the junk they've eaten and parasites picked up along the way! He'll be fed on raw here with us..

Rachel33 wrote:Hello :)Just called the centre and was told to deal directly with you and just to call back when I want to come and meet? Will I need to fill in any forms or have an interview or anything before taking him or will I just have to come up with Biscuit and if all goes well take him home? Little bit confused  The rescue centre that I work at is so bloody strict I was expecting the similar grilling!

Hi, yes, forms need to be completed, IDs and proof of address need to be presented, as do vet references, etc.
Never known a vet to charge for this yet.

There is also an interview.

It's about trying to be realistic without providing a grilling. (I've been to rehoming places before where I've left feeling like a criminal, or a bloke who is number 532 in a processing queue, and it's not pleasant).

Best thing to do is contact me via email if the rescue has passed my email address on to you, or join the AH forum here: http://z6.invisionfree.com/Animal_Helpline/index.php?act=idx (free, takes two minutes), then let me know what screen name you joined under and I'll PM you with my contact number and details of how the rehoming procedure works.

Rachel33 wrote:One question I was going to ask was how is he healthwise? I saw on the website that he was very underweight when coming in, does he stomach still work as it should and no problems with worms or anything? Seen so many strays with long term stomach problems and sensitivites from the junk they've eaten and parasites picked up along the way! He'll be fed on raw here with us..

Hi, I believe Bob was thin coming in.
He looks at, or close to, ideal weight now.
I feed Bob twice daily at the moment - a small meal in the morning, larger one in the late afternoon. He is walked approximately three to four hours after the afternoon meal.
I am unaware of stomach problems. He has a good appetite and is treat-oriented, which should help training.
Bob hasn't messed in the house, or marked in the house, and has been excellent at toileting outside. He will also toilet on the lead.

Chomp, chomp, chomp.

"Bob."

Chomp, chomp, chomp.

"Bob."

Chomp, chomp, chomp.

"Bobby."

Chomp, chomp, chomp.

"Bobbbeeeeeee."

Chomp, chomp, chomp.

"ROBERT."

Uh?

"Want to go walkies?"

Um, no ta. Have stagbar. Gonna chew. Chomp, chomp, chomp.

 

   

Nearly two weeks with Bob and what a loving little chap he has been.

His favourite pass-time if I'm working at the table is to sit beside me and rest his head on my lap.

He's always up for a game and loves playing wrestling where he's on his back and I have to tickle him into submission.  

Bob has been very good with cats - there's one cat who seems to be several biscuits short of a packet who literally sits in the middle of a narrow walkway we use - and Bob just doesn't bother with it.

The only way past the cat is to squash up against the wall and step by carefully - the cat sits there purring like all dogs are its best friend and shows no fear whatsoever. Bob gets within a foot of it each time and just walks on by.

Today's Bob activities included stag bar, frozen kong, walkies in the woods, walkies in the park, meeting a young staffy female and a border collie who needs three to four hours walkies a day to keep him happy , and a good long drive in the back of the car, sitting next to my own dog, Wingo.

Bob got very excited when we went through the McD drive-thru - he tried placing his own order  and tried to say hello to the attendant in the window.

He's currently upside down on the sofa, licking his lips in his sleep, absolutely worn out.

Hiya keith, haven't got your email but have joined the AH forum under Rachel33 - need to have a chat about a few things could you possibly private message me on there?

.

Hi Rachel, PM sent.  

Awww  

Aww he's gorgeous

Bob and Wingo at 5:30am today.
Neither were fussed about going walkies.  

No wonder they didn't want to go for walkies they are quite happily snuggled up in the duvet   

Awww wow looks like Buddy is really enjoying his stag bar   

Oh he's just beautiful    

Kathy wrote:Awww wow looks like Buddy is really enjoying his stag bar   

It's been three days of chomp, chomp, chomp, so far.  

Just back in from walkies now and the first thing Bobble did.... stag bar cupboard, nose, stag bar.  

Rachel33 wrote:Oh he's just beautiful    

He is that.
He's also in love with a red setter he's met tonight.
Good grief, talk about fawning over a mate.
I reckon if he'd had his beloved stag bar with him tonight, he'd have given it to her.
Expecting him to give her a ring later.   

  What a tart! Biscuit thinks stag bars are sooooo boring, sure she'd give him hers.. no chance at a pig trotter though he wouldn't get near.

Noticed something a few times over the last few days, which has been further affirmed today.

If Wingo alarm barks at the door when leaflets are delivered, Bob goes and sits right beside her, as if to reassure.

Both are currently snuggling on the sofa, paws over noses, fast asleep. Lol.

Apart from that, Bob has been sunbathing and wandering around with his big pink tongue hanging out and relaxed happy face on.

Going to try to coax him out for two hours tonight on walkies - he's usually raring to go home after about 90 minutes. Funny lad.

Bob has put the regulars in the park into a pecking order.

The man with GSD gets first visit as he always has gravy bones and Bob runs over to him no matter who else is there, then goes into a sit and mad waggy tail.

The lady with the husky is next as she always has general dog biscuits. Again, the sit and waggy tail, no prompting.

Then the chap with the border collie gets third visit as he has plain biscuits. Again, sit, waggy tail, no prompting.

Bob comes home about half a pound heavier than when he leaves the house.

Aww bob you know how to play them hoomans

Darcy-may wrote:Aww bob you know how to play them hoomans

Bob's world is food, which makes him easy(ish) to train.

New bed, ball, stick, stagbar versus one gravy bone.

Gravy bone would win.  

Keith wrote:

Darcy-may wrote:Aww bob you know how to play them hoomans

Bob's world is food, which makes him easy(ish) to train.

New bed, ball, stick, stagbar versus one gravy bone.

Gravy bone would win.  

   

He does look very healthy there Keith, such a smooth looking, shiny coat   

He looks so happy & healthy Keith

I think he'd been brushed earlier that morning.
Well, when I say brushed, I mean I'd tried to brush him, and he'd tried to steal the brush from my hands numerous times.  

This morning, at about 11am.
Neither Bob nor Wingo do early mornings.  

Looking most comfy having a wee lay in there

Biscuit doesn't do early mornings either, they look very snuggly. Still working on it Keith.. doing everything I can to get things sorted!!

Rachel33 wrote:Biscuit doesn't do early mornings either, they look very snuggly. Still working on it Keith.. doing everything I can to get things sorted!!

I hope it works out rach

Good luck Rachel - Buddy Bob will be worth the effort  

Thanks been in and out of hospital and massively underpaid this month so Plan A went horribly wrong. However, me and the OH are trying to come up with master plan B!! Got everything crossed! Either way we just hope he goes to a lovely permanent home, even if it isn't ours!!

Rachel, either you never breathed a word or I have been blind, but I didn't know you'd been in and out of hospital. I do hope you feel very much better now.

Big  s

Can Buddy Bobby be moved to rehomed please mods/admin.
Thanks.  

Awesome news    So happy for him. So sorry if you felt like we messed you around, still trying to get things sorted and it's become much more complicated than anticipated. Where did he end up going?

Well done Buddy/Bobby on finding your forever home

great news