Tilly

Meet Tilly

Requirements

We are looking for a quiet home for Tilly. She would suit an active, energetic retired couple or a family with older (12+) dog savvy children. She needs people at home with her for most of the time, as she loves to be around humans. Dog free home only. Absolutely no cats, as she will bark at them. Persons willing to put in some training and socialising skills.

We believe in a different environment with new people Tilly will gain more confidence, if her new owners succeed the expectations she requires.

Background

Little Tilly is looking for her forever home due to her lovely owner not being able to manage the attention she so requires due to poor health. Tilly’s owner believes Tilly needs a home where she gets more exercise, stimulation and more attention.

Her owner loves Tilly dearly but with Tilly’s owners own personal health issues arising, Tilly deserves more than what she is getting at present.

Tilly can be a little shy and nervous to start with but once she gains your trust you will have a wonderful companion. Once she gets to know you, your lap will become her best friend where she can enjoy lots of strokes and love.

Whilst out and about Tilly can get anxious around larger dogs and she likes to share her voice to them by barking; but, this is improving day by day and her owner wanted us to state this fact. Small dogs bark at larger dogs primarily out of fear, using barking as a way to create distance from what they perceive as a threatening presence. Other factors include lack of socialisation, leading to anxiety maybe negative past experience with a larger dog and an owner's own anxiety being transmitted to the dog. Some small breeds may also exhibit inherent traits of bravery and tenacity, or their owners might inadvertently reinforce the behaviour by giving them a sense of false confidence or by picking them up, creating a sense of protection but hindering true social skills. This behaviour can be corrected with consistency, patience, kindness and time.

Temperament

Tilly is loving, cuddly, placid. She can be nervous of other dogs, and occasionally unfamiliar objects, but this is improving. However, she can tolerate walking along a busy road with lots of traffic.

Tilly has never ever shown any aggressive traits and has never bitten.

Tilly is very obedient most of the time. She will come when called, stay still in one place when instructed etc. The only thing owner can't stop her from doing is barking at cats and other dogs (either through the window or when they appear a threat), birds/squirrels in the garden.

Tilly likes her food and has a good appetite, though she has a habit of begging for human food (which can be corrected).

Exercise

One main walk a day, plus a shorter one (just round the block). Tilly really enjoys her walks, especially if there are no other dogs around. Although she can be reactive around some dogs, this is improving, her owner states. However, her owner is finding it increasingly difficult to give her the exercise she enjoys.

She has lots of energy and could walk much further. Her owner is finding it increasingly difficult to manage walking Tilly further. She needs more exercise and more stimulation in her life, along with some quiet rest time (which she also greatly enjoys).

Interaction with dogs when out

She is nervous of any unfamiliar dogs and will tend to bark at them and cower. She is happy with dogs she knows well. We are not sure if she is overprotective of her owner (hence the barking when she sees unfamiliar dogs) or nervous herself. She certainly doesn't like big dogs, especially black ones as she was chased by two big black labradors when she was very young.

From her owner

Tilly is a very loving dog who likes nothing better than to snuggle up on your knee. She needs a new start, with loving, caring people who can give her the attention, love, support, reassurance and consistency she needs. Tilly was given a close cut when she was groomed at the beginning of September, so she doesn't look her best at the moment. Owner has included a photo (taken in mid-September.) She looks absolutely adorable when the fur has grown - very much like a teddy bear. It will soon grow back, it’s only hair.

Likes & Dislikes

Likes: Soft toy animals, three very small rubber balls. She will throw them around, but best of all likes it when I hold the soft animals and move them around quickly; she tries to pounce on them or chase them

Dislikes: Anything unfamiliar, other dogs (especially large ones - particularly if they're black), sudden noises, cats, birds and squirrels