Becky, Retriever, 6 years old

Name: Becky
Age: 6 yrs
Breed:Golden Retriever
Can I live with Children: Not tested
Can I live with cats: Yes
Can I live with other dogs: yes
Fostered In: S.Wales but will be rehomed anywhere in the UK

Other Information

Becky initially came here from kennels several months ago as she was very overweight and needed intense exercise in order to lose weight so that she could be spayed. She eventually reached her target weight a couple of months ago and has now been spayed. Despite still having approx 3 hours exercise daily, Becky remains of a ‘solid’ build and the ground still moves when she breaks into a run ! However, she is very fit and active now, and the Vet feels that she probably won’t lose any further weight and it’s likely she will always be very saggy underneath. A strict daily exercise routine will need to be maintained to ensure she doesn’t put any of the weight back on.

The Vet believes that the hair loss around Becky’s eyes and muzzle would have been caused by Puppy Strangles, an uncommon and very painful auto immune condition which only affects very young pups. Like all other pups who have suffered this condition, it leaves no ongoing problems throughout the dog’s life.
I always describe Becky as beautiful on the inside and out, as she has a very kind and loving nature. She is friendly to all dogs though does have a tendency to growl at the other dogs if they come too near when she has food or a toy. This growling is accompanied by a wagging tail and is more a case of Becky trying to be brave when in fact she’s a pushover, as she will actually let the others take the item away from her.

Becky was unsocialised when she came into FOA’s care and initially had many problems due to this. Now she is a totally different dog, but still has several issues which need working on. The main area being socialisation with people, which is not helped by her having developed a very strong bond with me. She tends to give people a wide berth and though she no longer ‘freezes’ or runs away in panic on a regular basis, she is still liable to do it when she feels frightened. Also to be walked near traffic is still very much a no go area, and she even gets frightened when out walking on the mountain and hears cars in the distance. So saying, she loves riding in the car and is a very good traveler – once she gone through the ritual of making herself a nest and getting comfy, and ripped the upholstery to shreds in the process!

Becky is now the official guard dog of the house and is the first to give a warning of imminent callers, or people outside the garden. She is fully housetrained.


If you are interested in adopting Becky please read about our re homing process
http://www.friendsoftheanimalsrct.org.uk/a...oradoption.html

and complete a Pre Adoption form (link below) and Katherine or Pauline will contact you for a chat
http://www.friendsoftheanimalsrct.org.uk/dogadopt.html

What a beautiful girl ... can't see her waiting for long.

Here is a more recent update from Becky's fosterer;
"Becky Boobies is a beautiful girl inside and out, perfectly normal, confident and happy with myself and all dogs she comes into contact with, but still very unsure about people.

Though she has progressed to making friends with one very understanding person who gives Becky treats when we meet on our walks, her usual reaction on meeting people is still to give them a wide berth or freeze.

She is fully house trained, travels well and loves her food – be it edible or inedible. Her weight is currently ideal and a reasonable level of daily exercise of at least 2 hours (or more) will need to be maintained to ensure her current weight is sustained. To date, the maximum walk we have been on together is 5 hours but I should imagine Becky would walk all day if given the opportunity.

Becky loves being outside and spends most of her day in the garden by choice, no matter what the weather is.

She does seem to have an ongoing 'bowel' problem and will be seeing the Vet about this tomorrow.

I feel she would be best suited to a quiet home as she has a particular uneasiness and aversion to ‘loud’ people’, but I can fully empathise with that having the same aversion myself!

Whoever is fortunate enough to adopt Becky will need to understand that she has developed that unique bond with me as her special person, which is very common with previously unsocialised dogs. It’ll take her a while for her to integrate into another home initially, because for Becky it's going to be a very traumatic experience, however given her own space along with love and lots of patience she will learn to trust you, and will give you the love she gives me. "

Becky has now been homed! Her fosterer has adopted her