Jessie – the not so fit Sheffielder

Jessie is going on trial to her new home where we will see how she can cope with life.

 

 

 

Jessie is a 12 month old un-neutered female GSD. She came to Rain Rescue very underweight and with boobs drooping to the floor clearly having had puppies very recently when little more than a puppy herself.

She has been in foster for 7 weeks and in this time has become used to a busy household and going to work in an office with her fosterer. Jessie lives very happily with the fosterers dog Jenson who is a small male Ridgeback cross breed.

Within her usual routine and with familiar people (i.e. those that she sees every day) Jessie is becoming more confident. However, anything new unsettles her and she may show aggression towards new people or in fact to people that she knows well if she finds herself in a new situation or if something has unsettled her. This does not apply to her female fosterer who Jessie has never shown any aggression towards in any situation.

 
Jessie is especially frightened by men and whilst she has become reasonably trustworthy around the fosterers teenage children she is still not reliable with the man of the house and is frequently muzzled when he is around. She is also muzzled when out walking as she has lunged at people (male and female) who have got too close and made her feel threatened. She does not like visitors to the fosterers house and has to be put in a separate room or cage. 

In the office she has a cage which she loves, she will open the door herself with her nose and paw to get in. Jessie is happy around female visitors to the office but will bark and growl at male ones.

Out on walks Jessie is very lively wanting to be off lead to play with Jenson and the fact that she can rarely be let off is very frustrating for her. She has played off lead with 2 other GSDs both of whom are male.

Jessie is a handful to say the least! Her problems probably stem from a lack of socialisation and training and from being treated badly. As she is so young it is hoped that in the right home she will be able to overcome her nervousness and aggression to become a happy settled dog. During her 7 weeks in a foster home Jessie has made progress but only a little and very slowly, the foster family are still always on guard in case something might set Jessie off.

 
The perfect home for Jessie would be quiet and settled with a definite routine and very clear boundaries of acceptable behaviour. Jessie would love a one woman household  with few visitors and she would bond very strongly with this person as she has with her female fosterer. Jessie could live with a friendly male dog but she would probably be easier to manage as an only dog.

Jessie must be neutered as part of the adoption agreement once she’s up to weight and healthy enough to do so.

It is hard to be honest about Jessie without sounding overly negative but this dog has had such a bad start in life that she definitely deserves another chance. Even with all her problems her foster family adore her and have their fingers crossed that the right forever family, one with lots of patience and determination, can be found for her.

If you are interested in adopting me or any other of the dogs in Rain Rescue's care please view our adoption guide or complete the pre-adoption questionnaire - many thanks!

If you have completed the pre-adoption questionnaire, and wish to talk to one of the volunteers please phone 07725 888207 - please note, we are always busy but will try to answer your calls as quickly as we can.