03/05/2025
Right, for all of you who have ever said to me "Can I have Pablo?"... here's your chance!!
UPDATE SUN 4TH - WE HAVE BEEN BLOWN AWAY BY ALL THE INTEREST IN FLO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE NOW RESERVED HER FOR A MEET AND GREET WITH A FAB SOUNDING LOCAL HOME. PLEASE BEAR WITH US AND WE WILL REPLY TO ALL APPLICANTS INDIVIDUALLY TOO.
Flo is a black German Shepherd, she is now around 9 months old, is fully vaccinated, microchipped, flea and worm treated. Flo is too young to be spayed yet and needs to fully mature and finish growing first so she will be rehomed with a neutering contract for once she is old enough where a new owner MUST get her spayed. For this reason and for others I will explain below we really need Flo to remain within easy travelling distance of our vets in Swadlincote or Tamworth. She will be rehomed with 5 weeks free pet insurance.
Flo came to us a welfare case from the stray pound where she had been taken to after being dumped in a park. We thought initially she was a very young pup around 14 weeks old, she was mal nourished, only weighing 9kg, full of worms and most worrying was walking on hocks which were swollen and her pasterns, really affecting her mobility. She was petrified and so shut down in the kennels its was heartbreaking.
Once she arrived in our care she was SOOOO happy to be around other dogs and immediately relaxed and started to play, when we checked her teeth expecting to see puppy teeth we were shocked to find her adult teeth with some staining to them already, it really threw us as she looked like a 3-4 month old but was clearly older. After having a bit of an upset tummy from the worms and regular small meals she was now getting that soon settled and we got her straight to our vets for some xrays so we could try and see what was going on with her legs but also to help determine her age by her bone growth. It confirmed what we suspected that she was still young as the growth plates were still open but the adult teeth meant she was at least 6 months, its helped us to roughly estimate her true age.
The xrays didn't show any massive issues in the joints themselves but there is a question around some possibly dysplasia in one of her hips, it was difficult getting the xrays because due to the hyper extension caused by the way she had been walking the legs wouldn't lay out flat. The plan was agreed that we would continue with the great quality food, joint supplements and have a 6 weeks course of laser treatment which has been great in helping the swelling to reduce in her hocks. Flo has done amazingly well, she is like a different dog and so much of this issue was obviously down to shockingly poor nutrition in her early weeks, so very very sad.
Her front legs are now lovely and straight, she just has a small amount of bend on her back legs and does need to still build more muscle tone there but gentle exercise is really helping so much. With the correct diet she is now around the 18.5kg mark so has doubled in size in just a matter of weeks and whilst she will never be the biggest girl in the world she still has plenty of growing to do. She's like a dinky mini GSD :)
The plan would be that she can return to our vets to be spayed and we would re xray her legs and hips then to check how things are progressing at our expense.
So Flo is definitely just like any other pup in every other way, she is super friendly, loving and very very happy, she adores everyone she meets and just wants to say hello after she gets over her pretend shyness. She needs to be reminded not to puppy mouth sometimes but she just loves to play.
She is a very typical vocal shepherd and will let you know that she is here just in case you forget about her, she LOVES her toys but will be destructive with them so tough KONG type toys are great for her. She is one smart cookie so puzzle toys, find it games etc are great for her and she would make a fantastic scent work dog for fun and to keep that brain engaged.
Flo is brilliant with other dogs, in fact she LOVES them and she 100% needs another playful young neutered dog in her new home for company and to continue to learn from, she is in foster with two other GSD at the moment and cats and is good with all. She has been around children from aged 5yrs upwards so we are happy to consider homes with dog savvy children.
Flo is crate trained and sleeps in her crate overnight in foster, she will bark in the morning when she is ready to get up to be let out, her house training has come on really well as has her lead walking, she doesn't pull but can weave on the lead which is easily worked on. She travels well in the car, has brilliant recall and is great with the vets. She will make someone an amazing girl with continued input.
Flo can be left for around 4hrs being so young so she will need a home where someone is around for part of the day, she will need a nice safe enclosed garden to play in.
Being fostered in Tamworth but can be rehomed further afield subject to homecheck and adoption donation of £300
If you can offer this gorgeous girl her forever home please email us telling us all about your home offer in details together with your FULL ADDRESS and contact number to [email protected]
Flo is ready to go to a new home NOW so please don't apply if you aren't ready to proceed with an adoption we cant hold onto animals whilst you go on holiday etc
Tamworth, Staffordshire
