PLEASE READ THE HOMING WRITE UP CAREFULLY BEFORE APPLYING, YOU MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE OF RESOURCE GUARDING TO APPLY
Bettie is a 4yr old red cocker spaniel girl, she is spayed, fully
vaccinated, microchipped, flea and worm treated and has a clean bill of health, she will be rehomed with 5 weeks free pet insurance.
Bettie came to us from another rescue when they needed some help with her, they had saved her from being put to sleep by her original owners after she was guarding something and bit them, a failed homing attempt and the foster parents who started to struggle with her left her in a bit of a difficult situation and as a specialist rescue very used to these dogs we were only too happy to help. Bettie has been with us for 9 months now and we really dont have issues with her so we have decided to try and find her, her own special person. We know it won't be easy and there is no rush but she deserves to have a home of her own if we can find it.
In the months Bettie has been with us here we have found her to be an absolute joy, we have seen absolutely very little resource guarding or any aggression aimed at any people. THIS DOESN'T MEAN TO SAY IT WON'T REAR ITSELF AGAIN IF SHE IS PLACED IN A SITUATION WHERE SHE FEELS VULNERABLE, THREATENED OR CHALLENGED INAPPROPRIATELY, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE FIRST COMES INTO A NEW HOME WHICH WILL BE AN ANXIOUS TIME FOR HER, WE HAVEN'T WAVED A MAGIC WAND, JUST MANAGED HER APPROPRIATELY. If she were to become possessive over an item or space she needs to be handled in the correct way, she needs someone confident, assertive but who will not
directly challenge her and encourage her away with the reward of something of higher value. Challenging a resource guarder only ends up with one thing.....a bite!
Bettie is a loving girl who enjoys fuss and if she can, she loves to climb on your lap for a cuddle, she is well behaved inside the home in that she is housetrained, non destructive, sleeps downstairs quietly at night and is ok being left for a few hours, especially after a nice long walk.
She is of course an active spaniel who loves playing with her toys and enjoying lots of lovely interesting walks but she is quite a calm girl in the home and not on the go all the time like some of the spaniels here.
Bettie is in foster within a large pack of dogs here and she is
generally very dog friendly HOWEVER she really has no clue as to doggy play etiquette and is VERY full on with other dogs when first meeting or when she gets over excited, this can appear as being aggressive with other dogs as she will be very vocal and grabby but it really is just lack of social manners. It can however trigger a reactive dog or a dog who doesn't know her into thinking she is starting trouble so if she were to be homed with another dog they really would need to be
very tolerant and non reactive and also larger than her so she didn't try and bully them. That being said we think that she doesn need that other right dog in the home as she does love to play and aside from one dog here who she is intent on winding up all the time, she does get along with everyone with no big issues. Bettie only weighs 11kg so is a pettit little thing with a big personality.
Bettie is fed alongside other dogs here and shows no resource guarding of food with other dogs or people, she eats really well and has a mix of good quality kibble and wet food, she isnt allowed long lasting treats as these could trigger guarding behaviour but she does enjoy a bedtime biscuit before retiring for the night. She hasnt shown any guarding issues around toys with us either, we are struggling to find what the
issues were in her previous environments really.
She travels really well in the car and loves going out and about, she was brilliant with the vet on her recent check up and is good with the groomer too, in fact she really enjoys being groomed, especially having her lovely long ears brushed, she nearly falls asleep :). She cannot be homed with resident children unfortunately but she is fine with older visiting children, she has never lived with a cat so probably best in a feline free home but she has been ok around our livestock and equines, she can bark through the fence but it's more excitement. She will need a home with a nice secure garden to play in of course and with people who can provide nice long, interesting walks.
Bettie would suit a home who are very experienced with resource guarding spaniels (i.e. actually lived with one previously) where there are just one or 2 people in the home who can get to know her really well, respect her boundaries and build up a genuine trust. The TRUST is key and takes time.
She is a gorgeous girl and just needs to find "her" people.
Being fostered in Swadlincote, Derbys but can be rehomed further afield to the right home subject to homecheck and adoption donation of £250.
If you feel you have the right experience and home for this beauty please email us telling us all about your home offer and how you meet her needs (including your full address and contact number) to wonkypetsrescue@gmail.com