How big? Medium-Large
How old? Senior (around nine years)
Male or female? Male
Living with kids? I’m looking for an adult only home (or 12+)
Living with dogs? I can live with female dogs
Resident dog required? No
Living with cats? I can’t live with cats
Where can I live? I’d like an active home with a garden and a patient adopter
Where am I from? Cyprus

About Fred

Poor Fred was surrendered to the shelter days before his ninth birthday, after spending his entire life being owned. Unfortunately, his family wouldn’t let him live indoors and refused to make the necessary arrangements to accommodate him living outdoors (which is legal in Cyprus), and veterinary services ended up getting involved.

Fred was extremely stressed when he was brought into the shelter and we’ve spent the last few weeks getting to know him and realising how much he’s actually missed out on over the years. He may have had a family, but he has had minimal socialisation, very little training, no one to rely on and a lot of instability. In fact, three years ago we actually found Fred miles away from home. He’d been living on a picnic site for weeks before he was reunited with his family via his microchip.

So now, in his senior years, Fred needs an entirely new beginning. He is looking for a patient, understanding and confident family who recognise that he needs time to adapt. Although he’s nine years old, he’s very active, strong and bouncy, especially when he gets overexcited. He is therefore not suitable for a home with young children as he has no concept of his size and strength.

Being part retriever, Fred is absolutely obsessed with food. He knows how to sit, and he also offers a very gentle and polite paw, but he inhales his food and any kind of treat is welcome! He also loves water and loves splashing around in the paddling pool on a hot day. And despite his older age, he’s really still a puppy at heart. He loves his toys, especially a teddy that he can rip apart as he loves taking the stuffing out of things. He also enjoys playing tug with a rope toy, and chasing after a ball (although he’s not sure on the concept of fetch).

Fred hasn’t been very well socialised with other dogs and this is an area that needs some continued work. He is generally good with females, but the first time we introduced him to other dogs we could see in his body language that he just had no idea what to do. He’s had very limited interactions with other dogs sadly, so he’s not ready to just go into any home and mingle with lots of resident dogs.

Fred does bond quickly with people though and responds really well to kindness. He is a silly, goofy boy with a huge heart and ultimately all he wants is to be adored. He loves a belly rub, he loves playing, and he is sociable and friendly. He is looking for a family who recognise that he’s been let down over the years and needs a little more guidance, patient and understanding. There is SO much love in this dog, and in the right home he will absolutely blossom.