PLEASE READ THE POST VERY CAREFULLY AND ONLY APPLY IF YOU FULLY MEET WHAT IS REQUIRED AND YOU HAVE THE RELEVENT EXPERIENCE NEEDED. HE IS NOT A STRAIGHT FORWARD BOY.
Duke is an 8yr old cocker spaniel, he is castrated, microchipped, fully vaccinated, flea and worm treated and has had a big dental needing 18 teeth out, from which he is fully recovered. He will be rehomed with 5 weeks free pet insurance.
Duke came to us from the stray pound, he initially failed his assessment and was due to be euthanised but they reached out to see if we would offer him a lifeline due to our experience with dogs like him. Duke was very fearful in the pound, he was trying to bite and wouldn't accept a lead at first, he had hugely heavy matted ears, long claws and had clearly been neglected for a while. We were told initially his chip wasn't registered and he was only a baby! sadly that turned out not to be the case and we soon tracked down details from his chip implant confirming he was in fact 8, and obviously his rotten teeth also told us a story. When he arrived with us it took us a good 30 mins to get him off of transport as he was scared and trying to bite again and I have to be honest and say I thought "what have i done!"
So Duke has been here with us for a few months now, he is a complex little lad who has improved in lots of ways but he still needs a VERY EXPERIENCED, VERY DOG SAVVY owner who really understands dog behaviour, cues and body language and can read both those subtle and no so subtle directions that Duke can give. He will seek attention from you once he trusts you but does not want to be overhandled or even approached and fussed when he is settled somewhere, he will bond heavily with his person and want to sit near you or at your feet and follow you around, but if its a cuddly lap dog you are seeking that's not him.
Duke has learnt in a past life that growling and using his teeth keeps scary things away and this is now his "go to" position when he finds things over whelming or unwelcome, we have muzzle trained him and he will now accept a muzzle once you are bonded with him. He hasn't bitten in our care at all but he is managed safely to make sure that doesn't happen and handled wrongly things could be different.
Duke currently lives here within a large pack of dogs and whilst he is generally dog friendly he can get overwhelmed and there's a few of the boys he isn't so keen on. We feel he is best suited in a new home where he can be the only dog (or possibly one other calm dog) and a single person or possibly a couple. He absolutely cannot be homed with children or where there are regular visiting small children.
Duke's confidence has definitely grown and he loves his very long walks on a long line, he walks lovely on the lead once over the initial excitement and now travels well in the car, happily jumping into a crate for safe transport. He is a spaniel so of course he loves a ball and he loves a paddle in water too. He would be a perfect companion for a single person who enjoys going on nice rural walks and wants a buddy to share adventures together.
He is clean in the house and sleeps down stairs quietly at night with the other dogs. He does like the sound of his own voice when excited or over stimulated. He is fine to be left for a few hours especially after a nice walk when he will just go and snooze.
He loves his food and has been fed alongside other dogs with no issues. We don't give long lasting treats as he would potentially guard these. He wasn't bad to groom, we did pop a muzzle on when we had to shave off his matted ears but he coped well, he does need to be muzzled for a vet examination.
Being fostered in Swadlincote, Derby's but can be rehomed a bit further afield to the right home subject to home check. Finding the right person and right home is more important that the adoption donation for Duke, so that would be by donation only for this boy.
If you feel you have the experience, patience and skills to offer this boy his happy ending after being let down by whoever owned and dumped him previously then please email us with a VERY DETAILED EMAIL TELLING US ALL ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR HOME AND EXPERIENCE WITH DOGS LIKE HIM, along with your FULL ADDRESS and contact number to wonkypetsrescue@gmail.com