Update May 2021
One day nearly 2 years ago a scared little boy arrived absolutely terrified, frozen with fear he found a safe little spot next to the settee and that’s where he stayed for the next few days too traumatized to move anywhere then gradually he chose a new safe space behind the settee and this became his safe zone. Over the following months Rycroft slowly got used to the comings and going of a normal home environment something that he hadn’t experienced before but when something he deemed scary happened he would bolt for his safe zone. Rycroft wasn’t used to human contact or walking on a lead everything was so new and terrifying to him and he was very untrusting of all humans and avoided all contact. Over many months Rycroft slowly got braver and braver and made it onto the settee and enjoyed spending time in the company of the other dogs running and playing in the garden with them. It took even longer to get him used to being walked on the lead but we started with lead walking in the garden to give him confidence, Rycroft also started to have fuss and attention off his foster parents small little bits to start with licking fingers and chin rubs but slowly slowly more and more. After nearly 18 months we made the decision to move him to another foster home to help him progress with his training and confidence. After a settling in period we began walking Rycroft in different locations, he found traffic and people extremely stressful but we discovered that he really enjoyed country walking and the quieter places that we could find to take him to, in these places we built up his confidence and he will now walk for hours in these more rural locations. With people Rycroft is still very very shy he has got used to his new foster family and will come over for lots of fuss and attention and gets jealous of the other dogs and will push to the front to get the best bum rubs. He gets excited when they come home from work or even just coming down in the morning, he will even share the settee with them if he is feeling really brave. Rycroft loves other dogs and loves to snuggle with them he doesn’t always get personal space and will lie, onto, next to behind and in between his doggy foster brother even if there isn’t always space for him. Rycroft has made massive strides over the past two years but he will still need a patient and understanding new home. He isn’t going to be an instant dog he will need to learn to trust new owners and this will take time. He cannot live with children as he finds them even more scary than adult humans and he must have at least one other dog in the home that is going to enjoying running and playing with him but also enjoy sharing the bed/settee with him and enjoy the very close contact that’s Rycroft requires and enjoys. Rycroft is the height of a whippet but has the head of a staffi and is more muscular than a whippet. Rycroft is fully house trained and can be left for about 4 hours but on the odd occasion he is partial to having a little chew on the cushions or ripping up a random piece of paper that has been left lying around. He sleeps downstairs with the other dogs and I don’t hear a peep out of him till he hears me coming down the stairs then he has a bark of excitement to see me. Rycroft loves to play with his toys playing tug of war with the other dogs and throwing them around for fun. Now Rycroft has figured out that the lead and harness generally means going on a nice walk he gets very excited and will bark and sometimes even makes a silly whiny sound, he walks wearing a three point harness this ensures he can’t escape if he gets a bit scared. Once Rycroft has let you into his world he is loving and trusting, he looks at you in a way that tells you he feels safe and loved, he has the most adorable face a little bit cheeky with a slightly naughty glint in his eyes that also gets him out of trouble. Although when you first meet Rycroft you will probably only get to see the scared terrified little boy that we once knew but I promise that if you can dedicate plenty of time patience and understanding you will one day get to meet the loving silly playful and completely adorable dog that we have seen grow and fall in love with who is loyal like no other. We feel that Rycroft would benefit from a new family to come and meet him several times to give him time to get to know him a bit and him to get to know you. Rycroft must has a safe secure garden to play in that has a minimum of 6ft fencing
UPDATE May 2020
Rycroft is a sweet and gentle boy but the world outside is still very scary and the humans are even scary, he has formed a bond with his foster mom and will allow her to stroke him and spend time on the sofa with her but he is still very wary and will run for his safe spot till he feels brave again. He loves to play in the garden with all of his doggy friends and will run and play for hours, for this reason Rycroft will need a fully fenced garden large enough to give him the free running he so enjoys and also at least one other young playful dog in his forever home.
Poor little Rycroft is scared of his own shadow, around 10 months old he was found with his sister Tamzin living rough in a forest. Rycroft is so worried and frightened what must have happened to this dear little boy. Watch this space let’s hope in the next couple of weeks Rycroft can learn to trust us humans and find his forever home.
