26/08/2021 – Baxter has been adopted! Hooray!
This handsome dude has that certain extra something that we are calling the BaXter factor! He is a very cute 12-year-old Jack Russell x Patterdale who came into rescue due to changes in his owner’s working hours. Baxter is in an Oldies Club foster home near Northwich, Cheshire, waiting for someone to offer him a permanent home. We are hoping to rehome Baxter within a 2-hour drive of his foster home, but if you can offer his ideal home and are a little further away, it would be worth enquiring.
Took time to settle: Baxter took 8 – 10 weeks to settle in foster and he is a much happier dog now. Initially he barked at everything and had to be in the same room as his carers all the time; he would not be left alone. But in the last month he seems to have completely adapted to his new surroundings and routine. He is happy to be in another room, or spend time in the garden on his own. He is not as clingy.
Can gradually be left: His carers have gradually built up the length of time they have left Baxter, from 10 -15 minutes, to half an hour, to an hour, and so on. He now trusts them and knows they will come back and has recently been OK when left for 4 hours. As long as he can snuggle on his bed he is fine, and he has never messed in the house when left. Despite this, Baxter wouldn’t be happy living with people who go out to work as he is such an active, loving little dog. He will flourish being around people for most the time.
Needs to be an only dog: Initially Baxter didn’t seem to know how to behave around other dogs and would bark at them and try to mount them. He has calmed down a bit, and no longer barks at them, but is still very amorous but not aggressive. If he sees a dog on the other side of the road he will ignore it, but if they are on the same side or in front, he will do his very best to get to them.
Needs a home without cats: If he sees a cat in the garden, Baxter will go after it. He is a terrier and wants to chase them. He also wouldn’t suit a home with animals such as rabbits or guinea pigs.
Good with children: Baxter is very good with children, though would a bit boisterous for very small ones. He should be fine to live with kind children over the age of 8.
Excited on walks: Baxter loves his walks and will remind you that it’s walk time. He is a very strong lad and can pull on the lead, especially if he sees other dogs. He is alert to smells and will zigzag about when he catches a scent. He doesn’t walk to the side, always in front, or behind if he smells something. He will benefit from more lead training, however he is a bit calmer now when out and about. He hasn’t been let off the lead as he is easily distracted and would chase anything that moves (being a terrier), but he is quite happy on an extendable lead. He is a fit and active dog who will happily walk as far as you want to go, up to 2-3 hours on occasion. His ideal routine would be 30-minutes to an hour, twice a day.
Excited in the car: Initially Baxter barked a lot when in the car and was very lively, so to resolve this one of his carers sat in the back with him. He is much better, though does get excited and barks if he sees other dogs outside. He is very inquisitive so likes to look out of the window and doesn’t tend to go to sleep. When the car is at a standstill he gets very excited as he thinks it is time to get out. He isn’t car sick. He has had a two hour journey with a pit stop half way.
Baxter’s favourite pastimes: He loves walking. Will play fetch but on his terms. Loves snuggling up in his bed and definitely loves cuddles and snuggling up with his people. He didn’t arrive with any toys and doesn’t seem to have any interest in them.
Baxter’s ideal home: A family where someone is at home during some or most of the day and is able to give him decent walks each day, not just a few minutes down the road or round the block. An active retired couple or a family with older children would be good. He likes being around people and has been great with his foster carers’ friends and family when they have visited.
Health notes: Baxter hasn’t yet been neutered as he has just had a dental and the vet advised waiting a while, especially as this will help while he gains confidence around other dogs. Baxter will need to be neutered once he has settled at his new home and Oldies Club will cover the cost of this. He must be kept away from unneutered female dogs in the meantime. He has been vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and flea treated. Baxter seems to have allergies which have become more noticeable with the onset of summer. He scratches a lot so is having Piriton and being washed with a stop scratch shampoo. He nibbles his fur and paws at times which seems to be more a habit than a health problem. He is prone to sickness bouts and has been to the vets because he couldn’t hold down food or water. They treated this with an anti-sickness jab which was fast working. He is sick sometimes after he has eaten and it seems to be because he eats too quickly as he loves his food and will eat anything you give him. He is very good at taking tablets.
More from Baxter’s foster carers: “Baxter is affectionate, loyal, energetic and adorable. There are two sides to Baxter. Around the house he is the most loving, affectionate and calm dog. He happily potters about, goes to sleep at your feet but preferably on your lap and loves to sprawl across you. Outside he is strong willed, boisterous and sometimes defiant. He picks up on sights, smells and noises as is typical of his breed and excitedly runs about all over the place even though he is on a lead. We have to make sure we keep him on a short lead when by the road. He particularly seems to gravitate to men and is especially fond of Dominic. He happily follows him around the house and settles wherever he is. If Dominic goes out of the house, he will wait on the stairs looking at the front door even though I am in the house. He is quite protective of his bed and especially at night before going to sleep he can be a little grumpy if disturbed and will growl as a warning. The vet has found him to be very patient when being given injections and examined.”
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If you would like to offer Baxter a permanent home, please read our Adoption Procedures for information about the adoption process. You can then contact an Oldies Club rehoming co-ordinator as follows:
Email: rehome@oldies.org.uk
Telephone: 0844 586 8656
Baxter can be rehomed within about 2 hours of his foster home, subject to a satisfactory home visit. Note that you will be required to travel to the foster home to collect him.
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If you would love to offer a home to an oldie but your circumstances aren’t suitable, perhaps you would be kind enough to sponsor one of the special oldies we are caring for that, due to health problems, are unlikely to be offered a permanent home.
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