Mabel – 8 year old female Border Collie
Mabel is an 8 year old Border Collie girl who came into our care, via the pound, after being tied to a lamppost and abandoned. She’s now in an Oldies Club foster home near Southampton, Hampshire, waiting for someone to offer her a permanent home.
Summary of Mabel: Mabel is a gorgeous girl and despite her ordeal has settled well at her foster home. She is extremely overweight but is still energetic and loves playing ball so is gradually losing weight. She’s an obedient, intelligent girl who loves cuddles and attention.
Settled quickly: Mabel settled into her new routine very quickly and soon learnt her new name. She barks when she needs to use the garden and has only had one accident in the house – this was on the second day and now she is settled into the routine she is completely clean.
Can be left: Mabel is fine to be left for up to 4 hours, possibly more. Initially she was unsettled when left alone and did some whining and pacing at night-time. Her fosterer’s 17 year old daughter slept in the lounge with her for the first couple of nights. Mabel will happily stay in one room while her fosterer does chores, but she likes to check what’s going on now and then and insists on a cuddle!
Could live with a part-time worker: Mabel likes having someone around but could cope with living with a part-time worker, but probably not full-time.
Can live with dogs: Mabel is living with three younger dogs, small and large, who she matches in enthusiasm and energy. She will grumble if her food bowl is approached by one of the other dogs, but nothing more. She will share her bed with them in the evenings and enjoys playing tug with them. During the day she likes to have her own quiet place to go to when she needs to rest, so other dogs need to recognise this. She would probably be happiest living with just one male or female dog of a matching energy level and not too boisterous.
Unknown with cats: Mabel has not been tested with cats or small furries. Her fosterer has chickens which Mabel loves to sit and watch; she is fascinated and likes to slowly stalk them but has made no attempt to enter their enclosure or chase them.
Could live with children aged 8+: Mabel should be fine to live with considerate child of around 8 years plus, and she would be delighted to play ball for as many hours as possible! She would probably be OK with a younger child, provided the child was used to being around dogs and knew when to leave her to rest. Mabel can be quite insistent about getting attention so wouldn’t be suitable for a family with very young, time demanding children. Mabel loves to be cuddled, stroked, fussed and brushed by her fosterer’s 11 year old son. She likes to lie with him when he is on the floor, playing on his PlayStation.
Loves walks: Mabel gets very excited when she sees a lead. She walks happily by your side and doesn’t pull. Off lead she walks on ahead but never out of sight; she loves to explore and checks her companions haven’t wandered too far! Her recall is reliable – she stops instantly when called and comes back when given a further Come command. She sits and stays on command and waits for the next command. She loves to find a fir cone and when it’s thrown will search and bring back the same one. She likes to carry a small stick but this has been limited by her fosterer because of the danger of injury. Mabel seems unaware of her limitations and would overdo it to please her human. Until she is fitter, the vet has advised walks of 20-30 minutes, with Mabel setting the pace. She is having one walk a day but spends about 30 minutes a day playing ball.
Good in the car: Mabel is happy to travel in the car and is quiet and settles well. Being overweight, she can’t jump up into the boot of the car (large people carrier type). She puts her front paws up and waits for assistance with her back end! So, depending on the vehicle, she may need a ramp. She can get in via the passenger side door, but not onto the seat. As she loses weight her ability to get in might improve.
Mabel’s favourite pastimes: Mabel is full of energy and loves to chase balls or pounce on them to stop them. She will bring a ball back, drop it just out of reach then pick it up and throw it. Indoors she likes to carry a soft toy, and also loves to mouth a squeaky ball, but doesn’t bite it — when the squeaking becomes annoying she doesn’t mind it being taken away. She will take as much stroking and fuss as anyone is willing to give.
Mabel’s dislikes: Mabel is a little hand shy; she closes her eyes and puts her head down towards the floor. She sometimes misreads an attempt to stroke her head or fuss her, but when she realises the intention she is very appreciative. She is a little timid of raised voices.
Mabel’s perfect home: Mabel would be happy in most homes, as long as she gets time and attention. Her family will need to be strict with her diet and give her the exercise she needs. She currently needs help into the car and doesn’t climb the stairs. She can easily manage a few steps to the garden or between rooms though. She could live with sensible younger children but would be more suited to older children.
Health notes: Mabel is vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and flea treated. We do not know for sure whether she is spayed (the vet found a scar that could be a spay scar); if she comes into season in her new home, her adopters will need to have her spayed, at the Oldies Club’s expense. She is considerably overweight: when she arrived she needed to lose a minimum of 7kg of her 26kg weight. After 3 weeks she is down to 24kg but will need to continue to lose weight steadily. She is about to start hydrotherapy which will help her to exercise without any strain on her limbs. It would be an advantage for her to continue with this but not essential as long as she gets regular, sensible exercise. Her eyes are clear and her ears and teeth are unusually clean. She has a very slight heart murmur: she doesn’t need medication but it is essential that she loses weight.
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