Nellie
FOSTER HOME NEEDED!
About me
- Can I live with other dogs? No - I need to be the only pet in the household, as I’m highly reactive to other dogs
- Can I live with teenagers? Potentially - Subject to a meet and greet on site
- Can I live with young children? No - There is very little detailed information about my previous life, so it would not be advisable that I be adopted into a home with young children.
- Do I have any medical issues? No - I need to lose some weight! At my vet check, I weighed just over 28kg, although my ideal weight is likely around 20kg! Other than that, I appear to be in good health. I enjoyed my time in the consultation room and was happy to let the vet examine me thoroughly. I have a scar from previous abdominal surgery. Due to its length and position, along with my excess weight, the vet believes I have been spayed. Confirmation is currently being sought from another organisation. I have received my first vaccination and am due to receive my second around the 21st October 2026. My records are being requested from Dogs Trust, where I was apparently spayed when I was younger. When I arrived at the surgery, I was highly reactive towards a Labrador in the waiting room. As I am very reactive to other dogs, my adopters should let the vets know that I may need the last appointment of the day to reduce the chance of encountering other dogs. Alternatively, I should remain supervised in the car until it is time for my appointment.
- Can I live with cats? No - I really don’t like cats and definitely wouldn’t want to live with one!
- Am I good on the lead? Potentially - I can walk nicely on the lead, but I become difficult to control if I see another dog or cat. Due to my size, I can be very strong on the lead when I want to be.
- What was the reason for my surrender? I was living rough with my previous owner, and we were both trying to survive in a tiny tent. We were completely devoted to each other, but our situation became untenable when the police became involved, and we could no longer stay together.
- What am I like when I travel in a vehicle? My experience of travelling in a car is probably very limited. I travelled from the site to the vets and back in a crate in the back of a van without any incidents, although I was clearly not very happy during the journey.
- Do I have any fears? I have shown no fears or concerns around my handlers
- What are my exercise requirements? Up to 1.5 hours per day - lead walking. Subject to training regarding reactivity issues with other animals.
Meet Nellie!
Nellie, originally called “Luna”, is a loving seven year old girl with a bubbly personality. She forms strong bonds with people quickly and thrives on human company!
Nellie is sadly highly reactive towards other dogs, and we do not know what has caused this behaviour. She will need patient, consistent support and behavioural work to help her feel more comfortable around dogs. Our trainer, Gary Mathlin, can provide guidance and support to the right foster or adoptive home.
Nellie adores toys and often prefers them to food, although her size suggests she certainly enjoys her meals too! Unfortunately, kennel life is proving very stressful for her, and she would benefit enormously from the stability and security of a home environment.
We are looking for a dog-free foster home with a secure garden where Nellie can exercise without needing to leave the property for the first few weeks. This quiet period will allow her to decompress after the constant presence of other dogs. Once she is settled, we can begin a structured behaviour programme to help change her perception of other dogs and teach her to feel calmer around them.
Nellie’s ideal home would be with someone who can offer her plenty of love, time and attention, preferably with previous experience of living with a dog-reactive dog. Supporting a dog like Nellie is not always easy, but helping her grow in confidence and expand her world can be incredibly rewarding!
If you are able to consider fostering or adopting Nellie, please email us with “Nellie – FAO Gary” as the subject line and include your contact number.
Apply for Nellie
Is Nellie the right pet for you? Request an application form by contacting us. Click the 'Apply for me' button for details.
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