Freddie
Freddie
My name is: Freddie or Freddie-Fredster (was Teddy)
I came from: Cyprus
Now I live in: Reading
My favourite things are: Being my mum’s shadow, curling up on the sofa (especially the one on which I am not allowed!), tearing through the woods looking for squirrels, and dinner time!
Freddie’s story
Our first sighting of Freddie was on the website; he was lying stretched out on a bed, head tilted with an expression that seemed to say “how about me?”. My husband and I had sadly, after 13 happy years, had to say goodbye to our black lab, Bailey, almost 12 months before and were starting to think about opening our heart to another dog. Rescue seemed the right way to go this time; we were experienced “dog people” by then…….what could possibly go wrong?
On paper, Freddie might not be the right fit for us being anxious particularly around men but after encouragement from our adult children who said we should go meet him, we did just that. Courtney, his foster mum, made us very welcome and we were introduced. Freddie peered cautiously round the door and little by little he let us approach, until after a couple of hours, he leaned ever so tentatively onto my husband’s knee, shifting his weight so that he made his presence felt and nosing his hand for a stroke.
I think we lost our heart a tiny bit at that first meeting and the answer was always going to be “yes”. To be fair, Leanne was very realistic and advised us that the road ahead might be rocky and lots of patience would be needed.
The journey to collect him, about a 2-hour drive, was a wonderful example of what not to do! I thought he would be safe in the boot of the car but he kept jumping over from the boot to the back seats and then peering over the handbrake, chewing through the restraints to do this. After at least two false starts, we got a harness on him instead and secured him on the back seat. I drove on the M25 with one hand on the wheel and one comforting him; I sang at the top of my voice too…not sure if that was to reassure him or me!
We arrived home and took him straight out to the garden; he jumped in the pond and ran up the steep grassy bank. After that we kept him on the lead for the next few days in the garden just to keep him calm. He had been fostered in a flat so think the sight of his own patch of grass was overwhelming!
Having pre-arranged to take 12 days off between us, we settled Freddie down for this first night’s sleep, but he had other ideas! After whimpers, barks and then wolf-like howls, I joined him on the kitchen floor. I remember going to sleep with him standing over me, looking down and trying to work out what an earth had happened to him. Likewise, I too was wondering whatever had we done and would I be eaten by the next morning?! Fast forward almost 10 months and look where we are now!
Good things:
Sleeps on his own, downstairs, with the help of an app called Sleep Hero (meant for children but great for dogs!)
Is left home alone for two mornings a week and has never pooped in the house, chewed or destroyed anything and is calm and settled on our return.
Not a noisy barker but can lick for England.
Excelled at dog training classes, though lead walking still not great.
Great recall; except if furry creatures spotted.
Mostly good with other dogs but also happy to amuse himself.
Gentle and calm around our 18 month old grandson (obviously we are very careful with them both)
Not so good:
Overly attached to me in particular: unable to pee, shower, cook and generally walk 5 paces, without him being right by my side.
Unable to leave with anyone or at another house, other than with Laura, as becomes anxious and agitated.
Running at full pelt through a barbed wire fence and needing a general anaesthetic for suturing; followed by the cone of shame and me back on the floor again for several nights.
The best:
All the support from Underdog International; his foster mum, Courtney, Eve, Leanne, Tash the local dog trainer and Karen, the behavioural psychologist.
Finding a dog walker/sitter whom Freddie adores: Laura.
Realising that we can love another dog and that with all his little idiosyncrasies, he is family and we will love him and he us, until that day we dread.
We cannot imagine our lives without him and every time I see his face, he makes me smile. He has a wealth of expressions and the most wonderful eye brows I have ever seen!
Thank you to Alex’s Farm of Strays Animal Rescue and Underdog International for getting Freddie where he was meant to be!