Ben

Ben is a medium sized (overweight) male crossbreed aged around seven to eight years old. Ben is fostered in Mattishall Norfolk. Ben was on a kill list at a public shelter in Romania when a lady in the UK offered to take him. Unfortunately, Ben was unhandled and the lady was not prepared or experienced enough to cope with his rehabilitation and so we were asked to go and get him and enter upon that journey with him. It’s taken several months but Ben is now ready to move on. He still has the annoying habit of chewing through his lead if not watched carefully hence the metal lead in the pics! Other than that he’s actually emerging into a sweet old boy who has even begun to casually ask for fuss and attention. His love for food helps to win his trust and confidence but at some time soon his diet and exercise regime are going to have to be addressed. This will be secondary to becoming friends though. Ben mixes well with other dogs and would like at least one other dog in his forever home. He really can’t be bothered with the cat. He will need someone patient to win his trust but after a few weeks he has the potential to be a comical and loving companion. At this point effort will need to be made to retrieve the waistline I’m sure he once had If you like a dog with a bit of quirk and character and appreciate a little stubbornness chucked into the mix for good measure then Ben is the boy for you. He won’t love you overnight but you’ll enjoy the challenge of getting to that point with him and treasure the bond even more. He will need an adult family with someone with a reasonable level of experience. 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 it situations where unexpected triggers might happen (e.g. around bonfire night). Nervous dogs may always need to wear a slip-lead as a back-up 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. Fences and gates must be 5foot minimum in height and secure. Select CountyAvonBedfordshireBerkshireBordersBuckinghamshireCambridgeshireCentralCheshireClevelandClwydCornwallCounty AntrimCounty ArmaghCounty DownCounty FermanaghCounty LondonderryCounty TyroneCumbriaDerbyshireDevonDorsetDumfries and GallowayDurhamDyfedEast SussexEssexFifeGloucestershireGrampianGreater ManchesterGwentGwynedd CountyHampshireHerefordshireHertfordshireHighlands and IslandsHumbersideIsle of ManIsle of WightKentLancashireLeicestershireLincolnshireLondonLothianMerseysideMid GlamorganMiddlesexNorfolkNorth YorkshireNorthamptonshireNorthumberlandNottinghamshireOxfordshirePowysRutlandShropshireSomersetSouth GlamorganSouth YorkshireStaffordshireStrathclydeSuffolkSurreyTaysideTyne and WearWarwickshireWest GlamorganWest MidlandsWest SussexWest YorkshireWiltshireWorcestershire