Noel is a 9 year old male Cross-Breed. He is fostered in Norwich Norfolk. He arrived in his UK foster home a few months ago from the Botosani public shelter in Romania.
Noel had been incarcerated there for at least seven years. When he arrived here he would only walk along the side of the garden supported by the fence as it had been so long since he’d been in an open space.
We would take him to the middle of the garden a couple of times a day initially, at first he would scuttle on his belly right back to the fence line but eventually, he hung around a little longer and showed an interest and now his fear of open spaces has been relegated to his past! Noel is now going for walks in the local woods and enjoying short strolls.
Noel will need to build on these confidences before venturing to places where there are pedestrians and traffic but every journey begins with a first step right?? Noel is a sweet old boy who is contented with his lot in life.
Noel asks for little and he enjoys sleep and food in equal measures. He’s not an affectionate dog currently and will allow human contact but isn’t thrilled by it, but who knows what the future will bring.
Noel would like to live with another calm dog and can be cat tested for a home-checked adopter. He would like a quiet and peaceful home environment to relax in his senior years. A short walk a day to make sure he experiences some of the worlds that he missed out on for seven years would suit his needs perfectly.
When you adopt a Safe Rescue dog, you MUST use a slip lead. This will keep your dog safe: your new dog will be nervous and will not trust you, and you will not know which situations might upset your dog.
If your dog panics, then a slip lead is the only way to prevent your dog from escaping (many dogs can escape from a collar and/or harness). It will take AT LEAST 3-6 months for your dog to settle in and for you to know your dog fully (longer for nervous dogs).
The slip lead must ALWAYS be used during this settling-in period. Even after your dog is settled, it is safest to use the slip lead in situations where your dog may become scared (e.g. visiting new places, around unfamiliar people, at the vet), and in situations where unexpected triggers might happen (e.g. around bonfire night).
Nervous dogs may always need to wear a slip-lead as a backup safety measure. The slip lead is a safety device and must NEVER be used as a training tool. Using the lead to apply pressure to the dog’s neck is damaging.
If your dog pulls on the lead, then we can advise you on training methods that avoid harm. Once your dog is settled, you may want to consider using a harness (together with the slip lead) if your dog is comfortable with being handled when it is fitted.
Most harnesses are not escape-proof, but harnesses with a strap behind the ribcage (e.g. Ruffwear Webmaster or Perfect Fit Harnesses) are safer. Retractable/extendable leads must never be used on our dogs. Adopted dogs must be collected from the rescue and transported straight home in a crate.
