How big? Smaller side of medium/medium as adult
How old? Puppy (estimated DOB 05.11.2023)
Male or female? Male
Living with kids? I can live with children (8+)
Living with dogs? I can live with other dogs
Resident dog required? Preferred
Living with cats? I’ve not been tested with cats
Where can I live? I’d like a home outside of the city with a garden
Where am I from? Cyprus, now in Oxford (Cyprus adoption fee applies)

About Cheddar

Cheddar arrived as a foster dog on the 7th April and has been adapting to life in the UK really well. He is currently being fostered in Oxford and has been stealing hearts ever since he arrived. Cheddar and his siblings were abandoned together when they were around two months old and all ended up in the shelter in Cyprus. They were so young, it was heartbreaking to see an entire litter discarded in such a way, but despite their shaky start Cheddar and his siblings have shown themselves to be very resilient and forgiving.

Cheddar is a very friendly, affectionate and cuddly puppy with an adaptable nature and a very intelligent streak. He learns new things quickly and doesn’t struggle to form trusting bonds with people. He’s a very happy little thing and loves being in the company of people and other dogs. When his fosters are working from home on the computer Cheddar loves to curl up on whoever’s lap happens to be free and he snoozes away happily. When he’s happy to see someone he has the waggiest tail and wiggliest bum known to man, as though he’s not seen you for years!

Being a puppy, Cheddar is learning new things every day. Since arriving in the UK he has learnt to sit on command, his recall is getting better all the time, and he understands the concept of ‘fetch’ with a ball and naturally drops it so you’ll throw it again for him. He is also in a good routine with his housetraining, but being a baby he needs to go out often to avoid accidents. Cheddar is very food motivated and responds really well to positive reinforcement training using treats as a reward - this will definitely help for onward training in his forever home.

Cheddar enjoys his walks and is happy to have his harness put on before going out. He’s moderately active at present although his exercise requirements may increase as he gets a bit older. There are some things that make Cheddar a bit anxious when out and about, such as loud or large groups of people and football matches. If something unnerves him, he will go behind your legs and ask to be picked up. He responds well to reassurance from his fosters and he just needs to grow in confidence a little more. He can also be a little unsure of bigger dogs too, but has never shown any reactivity.

Cheddar is currently living alongside a resident dog in his foster home and we think he’s learnt a lot from having a mature canine companion to observe and copy. He relies on the resident dog for a confidence boost when out on walks, and is learning how to respect his boundaries too. With dogs outside of the house Cheddar has played really nicely and is sociable and enjoys interacting with new friends. He is a gentle soul and we think he would both appreciate and benefit from the company of a resident dog in his new home, especially if they’re playful!

Cheddar hasn’t been tested with cats, and has limited exposure to young children. At the moment he is really teething, and wouldn’t be suitable for really young children as he’s naturally mouthy with sharp teeth and loves to chew fingers - a typical pup. He also barrels down the stairs and is still learning not to jump up, so we’d be comfortable with him being rehomed with children from the age of 8+.

Cheddar also has some separation anxiety which will require continued work and routine, and therefore may not be suitable for a family who have no previous dog ownership experience. We feel another dog may alleviate some of this, as well as a working from home routine, but Cheddar will need to become more confident being independent from humans at times so his new family must be committed to continuing his training.

Cheddar is currently based in Oxford and has a clean bill of health. He is ready to meet his new forever family so please email eve@theunderdog.org if you’d like to meet him!