Louie - 5 year old male Labrador Cross

April 22nd, 2008

Louie (ref 68d) is a rather handsome 5 year old golden-coated Labrador cross. He arrived at Derby RSPCA Centre when his last owner, who owned a very large number of dogs, found herself no longer able to cope with so many animals. He is a good-natured dog at heart, but is very frightened at the moment because so people, so he is very wary of humans on first acquaintance, no matter how friendly they are.

He is rather baffled by many things which other dogs would take for granted and doesn’t at present even know what playing is. He will let people stroke him but remains rather nervous because he doesn’t really know what it means and doesn’t understand what the person stroking him is up to. He is just beginning to investigate the idea of going for a walk and is slowly starting to make sense of the outside world, but needs to do it very slowly and quietly so that he doesn’t get alarmed by all the new sights, sounds and smells.

Louie would be suitable for a calm, gentle and loving household where he would be allowed plenty of time to adjust to life and where his new owners have experience and understanding of dogs.

He will need plenty of exercise, so an active but non-rowdy home would be the right place for Louie. Any children living in the household would need to be aged 15+ and very kind to a shy dog like Louie who needs lots of understanding and nothing which might make him panic.

He is used to living with dogs but is very scared of cats and rabbits. He has had precious little training, but is a pleasant and intelligent dog who should be reasonably swift to learn.

Could you offer poor frightened Louie the patient, loving, caring, dog-friendly home he needs to turn him into a normal, happy animal? He is a truly lovely dog who just needs bringing out of his shell. He should make a very handsome and loyal friend.