November 2024
We have been asked if we can help this sweet 2-3 year old fella find a new home after his owner adopted him from France and believed he was a young French Ariégeois/GSP cross and that he had probably been dumped by a hunter.
Unfortunately not long after he arrived she suffered an accident so he was very kindly fostered by a close friend, the information we have been given is from both his owner and foster family.
Buddy is a very adaptable 23kg neutered youngster that can be equally at home walking in town where he’s interested in all the sights and sounds while continuing to walk beautifully on his Halti head collar and then again running on the beach or in the woods.
Currently I'm his foster, I've had him now for 7 weeks and he is very loving little chap, however he is a Hound... We're not precisely sure what exact mixture he is, however he look like he could be a GSP crossed with an English American coon Hound. (He however does look fairly like a GSP).
His behaviour has improved hugely since we started fostering. He still has separation issues - if I leave the house and despite my wife being with him, he will attempt to escape.
When that doesn't succeed - he then completes a direct-line scramble to the window to see where I've gone to and leaves a trail of devastation behind him. We suspect this goes back to his time in France where he was owned by a hunter, we further suspect that the said hunter left him alone without food or drink for 24/48 hours, e.g. He 'attacks' food and water as it's being put down.
When I say 'attacks' - he hits the bowl so hard with his nose that food/water is scattered everywhere. All scattered food is obviously tracked down and devoured within 20 seconds. Water, is similar, he consumes over a litre at a time but doesn't clean that up 🙂
Exercise: I take him to a local wood, along with my GSD and we meet up with a friend who has a Munsterlander, a Labrador and Red Setter. All the dogs get on fine and spend their time chasing Deer, Hares etc - sometimes working together and other times on their own. N.B. So far they've been unsuccessful.
The wood is large with mixed foliage, very steep hills, a stream and in some places is impenetrable for humans. This means that 2 and 1/2 hours is enough to tire Bunny out completely as he's probably covered 25 miles in that time.
When he gets home, he's happy to eat and then sleep/doze on the settee all afternoon, have a light meal and then sleep/doze on the settee again until bed time.
Treats: If you use a decent quality dog food - I use Gentle cold-pressed, that can be used as a reward for recall and it often cures Bunny's recurring 'deafness'. Bunny often goes 'off piste' for 15 minutes at a time, however, without fail, his nose will always find you.
Bunny will jump onto worktops and cookers, he will also look minesweep any table-top and drink/eat from any mug, bowl, dish, plate, box, carton, bag, bin, or any other form of container which has at some time contained food. He can detect food (at molecular level) under settees, down the back of chairs, in clothes, pockets etc.
Despite all that, we love him dearly. So, I hear you ask, why are we not keeping him? The simple answer is that I'm ex Forces, age 74 and as Bunny is only 3 years my knees won't last out his time. BTW When Bunny is on a lead he morphs into Husky mode to ensure that his weakling human keeps up with him.
Bunny is really good around other dogs and children, has no issues with them and likes to play! He is not to be trusted with cats, geese, hens, chickens etc. He regards horses as rather strange, but will not attack or chase them - he just stands near them and barks at 'me' to come and help him and when I do, he's quite happy for me to collar him. As I approach the situation I do shout to the rider that if they hold their horse steady then it will make things easier.
Finally : Bunny is a Hound. 🙂 He is however such a sweet wee soul and all he needs is the right human in the right place. Walking him for 20 minutes around a park twice a day is not going to cut it... Bunny is a Hound.
Bunny has had surgery for Cherry eye and previously had a break in one of his font legs that has now healed and doesn’t bother him at all, unless he bumps it then it can be sore for a little while.
Bunny knows several commands like sit, wait, lay down and come here. In the car he whines for the first few minutes but then settles down. With his lady owner he would sit and wait nicely for his food inside his crate until he was told okay he could eat it. He could happily live with another dog and would really benefit from the company, we would also consider dog savvy children 10 years plus. He will need a secure garden because he is a bit of a Harry Houdini and could probably escape over anything less than 5’ fencing.
He would love company so someone who works from home or is retired would be lovely.
Bunny is currently in the Duns area in Scotland and will be rehomed with his 5 weeks free Agria Insurance and his Adoption Contract.
GSP Rescue UK Terms and Conditions apply. 💜🐾🐾
