Rufus

Description

I have had my boy since a 9 weeks old, he will be 3 years old in March. He is a gorgeous boy with lovely house manners, he is well behaved at home and loyal. He is good company, he enjoys being in the same room as you and will happily chill out and relax. He is very intelligent and enjoys mental stimulation.
Sadly he is nervous, he is struggling to live in the busy area I live in where there are lots of people and dogs. He has nervous aggression towards other dogs and people if they invade his space. I have worked with a behaviourist and trainer and both advise he is a country dog who would benefit from living with another dog(s) to give him confidence and show him the way. He likes the security of being in a pack. He walks regularly with other labs (both male and female) and gets on well with them.
He currently lives with children 9 & 11yrs. He would not be suited to living with younger children or a busy household. He is currently the only dog. He needs a rural home.
He loves his quiet country walks and swimming. He is on a raw diet. He has no allergies or health conditions. He is not neutered (vets advice due to his nervousness).

PetRehomer says: Rufus is a lovely 2-year old Labrador Retriever looking for his new home. Rufus' owner has had him since he was a puppy - his mother is a family friends' dog, and his father is a police dog! Unfortunately, Rufus does suffer with nervousness, that his owner has tried so hard to help him with however his current housing situation is not a great fit for him, so his owner has reluctantly decided that rehoming him is the best chance he has of being his best self. Rufus can be reactive if you sneak up on him, this goes for people and dogs, and would prefer it if you let him approach you. There's no known cause for his nervousness, and he has had various health visits just to make sure of this. His owner has worked with a trainer and a behaviourist who have both said Rufus would be best suited to a home with another dog, who can help his confidence. Rufus' mother does stay with his owner every so often, when her owner goes on holiday and his owner notices a big change in him when there's another dog around that he can follow. He has not been neutered and this is under vet guidance, as he's very nervous when he goes to the vets and hides under the table and shakes, so the vets have advised that it's best he not be neutered until his nervousness is under control as it may cause him to have an association with the vets and cause it to worsen on his visits. He generally gets on with everyone he meets, once he knows they are safe, so gentle introduction is needed. He can live with children, as he currently lives with them aged 8 and 9 now, however they do need to be around these age or older, and know to give him his space if needed. He does not have experience around cats, and would be best suited in a home with another dog. He does like his walks, and tends to go out for around an hour and a half a dog. He is walked on leash in public areas and let off in enclosed spaces. He has a good recall and will come back when asked. He is used to getting on the furniture in the house, however he has one sofa that he gets on and nothing else. He sleeps in a crate during the night and is happy to get up at whatever time whether it be 6am or 10am (so if you like lie-ins, Rufus may be for you!). He travels well in the car and can be in there for a few hours at a time if needed. He is currently fed a raw diet, as normal kibble seemed to upset his stomach, and changing to raw did help this. He has no known allergies, although he may have a food intolerance if he had an upset stomach due to his kibble, and no known health conditions his owner is aware of. He is fully vaccination and flea treated and wormed regularly. Rufus would be a great fit for someone that's able to give him the love, attention and training he needs to be his best self.