What does a home check entail? **Update Post 19**

foreign_correspondent

fantastic news! What's his story? I presume he was a hand-in rather than a stray, if they have some history on him?

Hope they continue to settle in well together!

viktory

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

fantastic news! What's his story? I presume he was a hand-in rather than a stray, if they have some history on him?

Hope they continue to settle in well together!

Yes, he was apparently handed in early February, apparently because he was too boisterous and that is all the information we have. He certainly loves a game, but his grasp of basic commands are good. He is good on the lead and happy to ignore other dogs. We have just got back from a nice walk with both and they have had dinner. No problems at mealtimes, although obviously we supervised closely. Oh and we have decided to stick with the name Alfie as he responds well to it and suits him.

lisawood78

Ooo, not Scooby, that's a Dane name :-)
He's super cute, so glad he is home with you.

walwin

:T Brilliant.

I hope you all have many happy years together

beks

Just found this thread.
What a beautiful dog, he is stunning. I am glad Alfie has found a home with you and how much of coincidence that he is most likely the same litter as the dog you already have? The chances of that must be very slim but obviously fate.
Well done for saving a needy four legged friend. :T

~Chameleon~

Well done, didn't think you'd have a problem getting him, he was meant to be!!!

He looks gorgeous, never met this cross before, is it a new "designer doggie" breed?

viktory

beks wrote: »

Just found this thread.
What a beautiful dog, he is stunning. I am glad Alfie has found a home with you and how much of coincidence that he is most likely the same litter as the dog you already have? The chances of that must be very slim but obviously fate.
Well done for saving a needy four legged friend. :T

Thank you. He is a handsome boy, although he needs feeding up and some TLC. He is so well behaved though, we are beginning to realise just how badly spoilt our b1tch has been! :embarasse

I have to say, I will never, ever buy an animal from a pet shop again. This poor dog was effectively living in a draughty kennel, in a barn that was open ended - all through the coldest part of the year. Although the rescue gave him somewhere to live, saved him from being PTS and he was walked by volunteers regularly, he had no creature comforts. We bought him his own bed and last night he was not sure if he was allowed on it, so just stood next to it. My husband spoke to him and gently encouraged him on the bed. The look of gratitude on Alfie's face brought tears to my eyes.

He slept really well last night and was delighted to greet us this morning with a frantically wagging tail.

Training for both dogs starts next Sunday.

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Well done, didn't think you'd have a problem getting him, he was meant to be!!!

He looks gorgeous, never met this cross before, is it a new "designer doggie" breed?

Yes, although I have grown to hate that phrase.

He was comfy last night:



And sharing a bed has it's benefits:

foreign_correspondent

viktory wrote: »

I have to say, I will never, ever buy an animal from a pet shop again. This poor dog was effectively living in a draughty kennel, in a barn that was open ended - all through the coldest part of the year. Although the rescue gave him somewhere to live, saved him from being PTS and he was walked by volunteers regularly, he had no creature comforts.

They look like two peas in a pod!

I am delighted you have come to the conclusion you have about pet shops... they are not a good way for dogs to be bought and sold, and it is too easy to buy a dog on a whim from them (as perhaps Alfie's owners did, he does not sound particularly boisterous to me!) and of course, they are a vehicle for dodgy breeders to retail pups through.

As for the rescue, please remember they are all run on goodwill - staffed by volunteers, funded by donations and fund raising, and whilst they are struggling to cope with the relentless and increasing deluge of unwanted dogs, they are stretched to the limits. Thanks to them, and to you, Alfie now has a nice warm home, and a place has been freed up in the rescue to save another dog.

Whilst he may have had a lack of creature comforts for a short while, his basic needs have been met, and it was a temprorary stop-gap till he had a new home. Sadly, it is entirely possible that Alfie and Ruby's parents are spending their entire lives shut up in a dark and mucky shed or a barn, without walks or attention, churning pups out for profit.

This is not sensationalising the problem - even the kennel club recognise this is where most pet shop pups come from:

Do not buy a puppy or a dog from a pet shop as it is likely to have originated from a puppy farm. Good breeders would never sell their puppies via a pet shop, despite what you may be told...

Puppy farms are like factory farms where dogs are bred purely for profit. The dogs are normally bred too often, many are unhealthy, and often live in unbearably poor conditions. The puppies are generally removed from their mothers far too early and sent by rail or van to ‘dealers’ or pet shops in the big cities to satisfy the public’s demands. Many are severely traumatised by the transition, and some do not make it alive. Do not buy a puppy or a dog from these sources, as they will have had the worst possible start in life, and are far more likely to have health and temperament problems.
Many ‘puppy farm’ puppies come with complete pedigrees, however, a pedigree in itself, is not necessarily an indication of quality.

.

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/208

jackieglasgow

OMG!!!! What gorgeous dogs! He's a lot prettier that his post on dogsblog showed him, and what luck for them to be raised together as best pals. You must be right about their parentage, as FC said, they are like peas in a pod! Hope you all have a lovely life together.