Megan – 10 year old female Labrador Cross
Megan is a gorgeous 10 year old black Labrador Cross who came into our care from a pound. Megan is in an Oldies Club foster home in Bracknell, Berkshire, waiting for someone to offer her a permanent home.
Settled quickly: Megan settled at her foster home immediately; she was so relieved to be out of the pound!
Can be left up to 4 hours: Megan is OK to be left for a couple of hours, and she can be left for up to 4 hours if she’s had a good walk beforehand. However, Megan probably wouldn’t be happy to live with full-time workers.
Happiest as the only dog: There is a resident dog in Megan’s foster home but, as Megan is very loving and affectionate and can be quite possessive when the resident dog approaches, Megan would be best suited to being the only dog. She’s never aggressive but will have a growl to herself.
Unknown with cats: We don’t have any history on Megan so don’t know whether she is used to living with cats, however, she doesn’t show much interest in them when out.
Unknown with children: Again, we don’t know if Megan is used to living with children, but when she’s seen them when out she just seems to be indifferent to them. She should be fine to live with sensible older children who are used to dogs.
Loves walks: Megan is fantastic on walks; she’s completely safe off the lead. She doesn’t like to go too far from you and constantly turns to make sure you’re still there. Her recall is excellent — she responds first time when called back, and she also responds to “Megan Wait” if you want her to stop where she is. She pulls a little on the lead at first but a gentle pull back towards you and she’s fine. Megan’s not keen on meeting other dogs when out on a walk. She’s quite happy just wandering about with her foster carer’s dog and she doesn’t approach other dogs. If other dogs approach her she becomes fearful; she will growl at them but has never been aggressive. It seems to be more to do with lack of socialisation.
Has two 30-minute walks a day: Megan is happy with two 30-minute walks a day. She enjoys being off the lead and will run around, she’s not fast but she does enjoy a run. If you throw a toy she’ll chase after it but then will happily play with it herself, she actually bounces up and down and throws it in the air! And she loves to sniff around, picking up and sending her own ‘pmails’!
Fine in the car: Megan is good in the car, but on a long journey she gets a little restless. She’s happiest looking out of the window (her foster carer uses a seatbelt clip for her).
Megan’s favourite pastimes: Being loved and cuddled; Playing; Eating!
Megan’s dislikes: Megan is afraid if you raise your voice to her. You only need to say “Megan no”, but if you’re sharp with her she will hide in a corner and shake.
Megan’s perfect home: Preferably where Megan is the only dog. Where she’s not left for very long periods. Where children are older as her history with young children isn’t known.
Health notes: Megan is vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and flea-treated. We don’t know for sure that she is spayed, although the vet found a slight mark that could be a spay scar. If Megan comes into season when she is in her new home she will need to be spayed at the Oldies Club’s expense. Megan’s general health is very good. Her heart and lungs sound good and her teeth are fine. She came out of the pound with a couple of bald patches on her flanks and very flaky skin. The vet examined these and was happy to leave them, and they have cleared. Megan’s foster has bathed her with tea tree shampoo, and given her cod liver oil to help with this. Megan has an old neck injury that means that she can’t wear a collar with a lead attached. She wears a harness for walks.
Foster carer’s summary of Megan: Loving; Funny; Entertaining; Rewarding.
I truly can’t say enough about this gorgeous girl, she has been a delight from day one. She’s so affectionate, she actually cuddles you, she’ll nestle her head into your shoulder and put her paw across you! She’s very funny; she takes herself off to the garden and happily plays on her own with a ball or toy, throwing it in the air and chasing after it. She’s not a fussy eater at all, she has the lab appetite. She was a little overweight when she arrived but that has soon dropped off due to a good healthy diet and exercise. She settles throughout the night without a peep from her. She’s not afraid of loud bangs such as fireworks. She’s not destructive. Is excellent at the vets. She is completely undemanding – she likes to play but won’t pester you, she likes affection, but again she won’t pester you. Say “off to bed Megan” and off she goes immediately, she is very obedient. Although she likes her food, she’s not food aggressive. She’s calm and quiet indoors and only really barks properly when my boy sets her off! She snores like drain!
Certain behaviours that give some indication to her previous life: If you go to stroke her from above, initially she will cower. When I caught her pinching Blue’s breakfast I said “Megan leave” quite sharply; her response was heart breaking, she ran from the room, went under the stairs, made herself as small as possible and trembled, it was as if she was bracing herself for what she thought would come next. It made me want to cry. Initially Megan would only do pee’s and poo’s in the garden, to the point that she was busting when we got back from a walk and would have to dash out there very quickly. There are people who believe that if you have a garden, you don’t need to walk your dog, I think Megan’s previous owners were this type of people. We are well on the way to solving this one now but it will still have to be reinforced occasionally. To change this habit I did this: as with all dogs, Megan behaves in a certain way before she goes, I would watch for that and then before she went I’d put her lead on and take her outside of the house, when she did it she got lots of praise, she’s pretty much there now, but is not keen to go whilst on the lead. I still give her lots of praise on her walks when she does her ablutions!
Megan has so much love to give despite the fact that it seems clear that she has not always been treated well. This little girl really does deserve to live out the rest of her days in a kind and loving home. Whoever gives Megan her forever home will be rewarded over and over again!
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