Story
Little Johnny is still waiting for his happily ever after…
Little Johnny came into our care after being rescued as a stray. We don’t know what he has been through or what life was like before he found his way to us, but one thing was clear when he arrived — he was a very frightened, shut-down little boy who simply didn’t know how to enjoy the world around him.
Since coming into our care, Johnny has been on a structured rehabilitation and training plan, and watching him slowly come out of his shell has been incredibly rewarding. The frightened little boy who first arrived is still in there, but he has come such a long way. He is beginning to discover that the world can be a safe and happy place, and that he can enjoy the things he once found so overwhelming.
Johnny still has a journey ahead of him, and he is looking for a very special adopter who understands rescue dogs and, in particular, nervous and under-socialised dogs. He needs someone who will never rush him, but instead give him the time, patience and reassurance he needs to continue building his confidence.
One of Johnny’s biggest challenges is walking on a lead. This is something he has not yet mastered, and his new family will need to be prepared to work slowly and positively with him, helping him learn that going out into the world on a lead can be something to enjoy rather than fear.
Because he isn’t ready for walks, a private, fully secure garden is essential for Johnny. His garden will give him a safe space where he can enjoy being outside while he continues to work towards becoming comfortable with lead walking.
As we don’t know whether Johnny has previously lived in a home, we cannot say whether he is house trained. His new family will therefore need to be prepared to continue this training with him.
Johnny was also once very worried about being inside and found new indoor environments incredibly frightening. With patience and consistency, he has overcome so much of this fear and now enjoys spending time indoors just as much as he enjoys being outside in safe spaces. He is still a little unsure of every household things like a TV, but he is getting there slowly.
One of the biggest things that has helped Johnny throughout his journey has been other dogs. Having confident dogs around him to show him that the world isn’t so scary has made a huge difference. Johnny watches them, learns from them and gains confidence from their presence.
For this reason, we are looking for a home where Johnny can have another suitable dog for company. This isn’t simply because another dog can help guide him through the next stage of his journey — it’s because Johnny genuinely loves dogs!
Running, playing, exploring and simply being around his canine friends are some of the things he enjoys most. We would love for his future home to give him a doggy companion who can continue to show him the ropes, help him settle into home life and, most importantly, give him the friendship and companionship he so clearly loves.
Johnny has already come such a long way. From a frightened little stray who struggled to understand the world around him, he is now beginning to show us the happy, playful boy hiding underneath it all.
He just needs someone to believe in him.
Someone who will be patient when things are difficult, celebrate the little victories and give him the time he needs to become the dog we know he can be.
If you meet Johnny’s requirements and feel you could give him the understanding, patience, companionship and secure home he needs, please complete and submit the interest form below.
