MEET HANDSOME ARNO !
Arno is a 5 year old white/orange male Italian Spinone (his sister Aida is also up for adoption).
Arno was handed over to our rescuer by a hunter as he wasn’t the most talented of hunters.
Our foster carer describes him as a “big, quiet, affectionate and intelligent boy. When he arrived with our foster carer he was cautious and calm, but he has now learned how to play and experience all the fun that can be had with other dogs. His favourite buddy is a neutered male who he just loves play tussle with. He sleeps with his sister, Aida and a 19 year old dog, Arno is respectful and a real gentleman.
Arno is neutered, so would suit living with either a male or female companion to show him the ropes and teach him how to become a “pet”.
As is normal from a breeder of hunting dogs, he lived in a kennel previously. Arno is a quick learner but will need continuing guidance in this new life as a companion dog in the UK. He will need a patient and understanding owner, who is prepared to put in the work to train him with basics like living in a house, walking on a lead, going in a car (he does travel well) - he is picking all these things up in foster, but his adopter needs to enjoy guiding him through this journey with positive training. It is vital to understand that these are not ‘ready made’ dogs and they need care and work to understand their new lives.
Even though he was a failed hunter, he has still been used to hunt and as such will likely have a high prey drive. He is from strong working lines so no cats, birds or other small furries please.
Now in Italy, UK travel arranged for early May
Chipped, vaccinated, tested for Mediterranean diseases.
Donation of £500 towards costs requested, and home check applies.
Please read full text and links below. Thank you!
The information on our site will answer many of your questions!
We have some points to consider before adopting here:
http://www.spinone-sofa.org.uk/considering-adoption/
Update: Marta is reserved! Thank you so much for sharing! <3
Marta is a beautiful white and orange Spinone girl, nearly two years old.
Her foster says: “She is very sweet, lively and has some fears that she is overcoming. She is a loving girl and like her brother knows little about her life but in a short time she has changed and is relaxing. She is an active, happy girl. She loves to play and be with other dogs. “
She is a very happy and sociable dog who loves all dogs and loves to play with them. She also needs a role model in her new life - she has never lived alone and she has some fears about new situations - she is overcoming these but needs a friend to give her confidence. So we are looking for a home with a sociable and confident dog, ideally a Spinone or similar, to be this friend. Marta gets on with male and female dogs, but as she is not yet sterilised due to her age, a friendly female dog would be the ideal, or a sterilised male if there is a solution to separate them during their seasons if needed.
As is normal from a breeder of hunting dogs, she lived in a kennel previously. She is doing very well in foster but will need continuing guidance in this new life as a companion dog in the UK. She will need practice and training with basics like living in a house, walking on a lead, going in a car - she is doing well with all these things but her adopter needs to enjoy guiding this journey with positive training. It is vital to understand that these are not ‘ready made’ dogs and they need care and work to understand their new lives.
She needs all the training and structure of a typical young Spinone. She is likely to grow up to be more prey driven than UK Spinoni, so the adopter needs to be confident in managing and directing it in a positive way.
She is from strong working lines so no cats, birds or other small furries please.
Not yet neutered due to age. Her adopter must fully understand the implications and responsibilities of keepi
Update - Oscar is reserved! Thank you all so much!! |
Oscar is a gorgeous 18 month old white orange Spinone boy - as you see in the video, he loves to chase shadows, but he didn’t enjoy life as a working hunter and wasn’t good at it, so he is seeking a new life as a companion dog.
His foster says: “ He is a very sweet boy even though he knows very little about life. In a short time, however, he changed a lot and opened up towards me - he has become more confident and relaxed.”
As is normal from a puppy from a breeder of hunting dogs, he lived in a kennel previously so everything is new to him, he has very little experience of life. He is doing very well in foster but will need continuing guidance in his new life as a companion dog in the UK. He will need practice and training with basics like living in a house, walking on a lead, going in a car - he is doing well with all these things but his adopter needs to enjoy guiding this journey with positive training. It is vital to understand that these are not ‘ready made’ dogs and they need care and work to understand their new lives.
He needs an active home, and all the training and structure of a typical young Spinone. He is likely to grow up to be more prey driven than UK Spinoni, so the adopter needs to be confident in managing and directing it in a positive way.
Oscar loves to play, and also needs a role model in his new life - he has never lived alone. So we are looking for a home with a sociable and confident dog, ideally a Spinone or similar, to be his friend. Oscar gets on with male and female dogs, but as he is entire at present, a sterilised female dog would be the ideal companion.
Although he is young, he is from strong working lines so no cats, birds or other small furries please.
He is not yet neutered due to his age. His adopter must fully understand the implications of owning an intact male dog until he is at a suitable level of maturity to be sterilised.
Now in Italy, UK travel a
Update: MIA IS RESERVED and will be travelling on the May Freedom Bus !
Mia is an adorable white and orange Spinone girl who will soon be two. She was given for adoption as she was not a good hunter. She is an absolutely beautiful dog with a lovely head. She was very thin on arrival and is now putting on some much needed weight.
Initially, she is a little shy, but once she knows you, her sweet character emerges. She loves her food and it will be a great way to gain her trust, bond with her and train her. Her foster says: “It takes a little patience with her, she gets a little nervous when she does new things. But she just has to understand and know gently. She will become beautiful and very sweet with time. Her childhood wasn't good, in my opinion.”
She likes to come to be cuddled and stroked, and sleeps close to her foster. She is sometimes wary of female dogs, so although there have been no actual problems, we are looking for a home with a confident male dog, ideally a Spinone, to be her friend and role model, giving her confidence in her new life.
She lived in a kennel previously, and did not have a great start in life. She is adapting well in foster, but will need continuing guidance on her new life as a companion dog in the UK. Everything will be new, she will need practice and training with basics like living in a house, walking on a lead, going in a car. She will need time, patience and encouragement.
Her adopter needs to enjoy guiding this journey with positive training, whether individually or in classes. It is vital to understand that these are not ‘ready made’ dogs and they need care and work to understand their new lives.
Although she was not a good hunter, this does not necessarily mean she has no prey drive, and this can often change with increasing confidence. So the adopter needs to be confident in managing prey drive and directing it in a positive way.
As she has been a working hunter, no cats, birds or other small furries
Update: Era is reserved! Thank you all so much for sharing!
Era is a beautiful Spinone girl of five and a half, who was a good hunter but did not work out as a breeding dog. She is a sweet and gentle soul who needs a quiet home where she can learn about life at her own pace, with time and patience. She needs another friendly and confident dog to help her in her new life - a male Spinone would be ideal.
Her foster says “Era is an exceptional girl. She is intelligent, sweet, always grateful, not intrusive. She looks at you waiting for a caress. She has the calmness of an adult Spinone but also the cheerfulness of a puppy”
She lived in a kennel previously, where she saw very little of life. She is adapting well in foster, but will need continuing guidance on her new life as a companion dog in the UK. Everything will be new, she will need practice and training with basics like living in a house, walking on a lead, going in a car. She will need time, patience and encouragement.
Her adopter needs to enjoy guiding this journey with positive training, whether individually or in classes. It is vital to understand that these are not ‘ready made’ dogs and they need care and work to understand their new lives.
She was an excellent working hunter so her adopter needs to be confident in managing her hunting instincts and experience, and directing her prey drive in a positive way.
No cats, birds or other small furries please.
Now in Italy, UK travel arranged.
Chipped, vaccinated, tested for Mediterranean diseases. Will be sterilised before travel.
Donation of £500 towards costs requested, and home check applies.
Please read full text and links below. Thank you!
The information on our site will answer many of your questions!
We have some points to consider before adopting here:
http://www.spinone-sofa.org.uk/considering-adoption/
General information about the process here:
http://www.spinone-sofa.org.uk/adoption/
How adopters are matched with dogs:
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Update: Demo has a home! Thank you all so much for sharing!
Demo is an absolutely adorable brown roan Spinone puppy of seven months old. He was given for adoption by his breeder as his gait was a little irregular. He has seen an orthopedist for x-rays and the diagnosis is that he has mild dysplasia in one hip, but this should not have any serious effect on his life. His complete medical report will be provided for discussion with potential adopters.
He is a very cheerful sociable boy who loves all dogs and loves to play with them. He will need a home with another friendly and playful dog , ideally a Spinone. At seven months he is already 25 kg so will be a big boy, especially for an Italian bred dog.
As is normal from a puppy from a breeder of hunting dogs, he lived in a kennel previously. He is doing very well in foster but will need continuing guidance in his new life as a companion dog in the UK. He will need practice and training with basics like living in a house, walking on a lead, going in a car - he is doing well with all these things but his adopter needs to enjoy guiding this journey with positive training. It is vital to understand that these are not ‘ready made’ dogs and they need care and work to understand their new lives.
He needs all the training and structure of a typical puppy. He is likely to grow up to be more prey driven than UK Spinoni, so the adopter needs to be confident in managing and directing it in a positive way.
Although Demo is only a puppy, he is from strong working lines so no cats, birds or other small furries please.
He is not yet neutered due to his age. His adopter must fully understand the implications of owning an intact male dog until he is at a suitable level of maturity to be sterilised.
Now in Italy, UK travel arranged for early April
Chipped, vaccinated, tested for Mediterranean diseases.
Donation of £500 towards costs requested, and home check applies.
Please read full text and links below. Thank y
Update - Alan is reserved! Thank you all so much for sharing!!!
Alan is a lovely two year old boy who is not good at hunting so he’s looking for a loving forever home in the UK.
He is not neutered due to his age, his adopter undertakes to sterilise him once he is matured and settled in his new home. He currently lives with entire males as well as females, and gets on fine with all of them. However he would ideally be placed with a sterilised female, or a home with a friendly male, accustomed to entire males, could be considered. He has no resource guarding issues - rather he needs to be watched while eating as he tends to allow others to steal his food.
Alan arrived very thin and worried, but with care from his foster he is putting on some weight and turning into a lovely happy boy!
He lived in a kennel previously, where he saw very little of life. He is adapting well in foster, but will need continuing guidance on his new life as a companion dog in the UK. Everything will be new, he will need practice and training, and he is someone who looks to his owner for this - he’s an obedient boy in general and likes to please. He is good in the car. Lead walking is new to him and he was unsure about it at first, but he is learning well.
His adopter needs to enjoy guiding this journey with positive training, whether individually or in classes. It is vital to understad that these are not ‘ready made’ dogs and they need care and work to understand their new lives.
It’s important to note that just because he has not been a good hunter, he is from working lines and will be likely to be more prey driven than UK Spinoni - he enjoys chasing mice! so the adopter needs to be confident in managing and directing it in a positive way.
No cats, birds or other small furries please.
Please do share far and wide to find this gorgeous boy his forever home!
Now in Italy, UK travel arranged.
Chipped, vaccinated, tested for Mediterranean diseases.
He is not neut
Update: Pino is reserved ! Such wonderful news. Thank you all so much for sharing
Our special New Year boy is Pino ❤ He is a stunning eighteen month old Spinone, who was intended to be a hunter but was not suitable.
He lived in a kennel and did not have a good start physically or socially. His foster has helped him tirelessly to learn about the world and and he is now a beautiful, loving affectionate boy ready for a forever home to continue his progress and grow his confidence.
Pino has tested positive for a disease called Leishmaniasis. This is a disease spread by sandflies in Mediterranean countries, including Italy. His results show that he has been bitten by a sandfly carrying the disease, and his body is producing antibodies, but it is not currently active in his body. Whilst in foster, he is being treated for the disease to ensure it doesn’t become active.
Leishmania is treatable, but not curable. However, correctly monitored and treated, Leish positive dogs have as a good quality of life as any other dog. Equally, the disease is not spread between dogs, except very occasionally during mating, and more often from mother to pup - so there is no risk of resident dogs contracting the illness from him.
If you are interested in adopting this wonderful boy, please do read up on Leish, so that you know how to manage it, and what symptoms to look out for. It is also important to find a vet experienced in treatment protocols (we can help with this) so that should he present with symptoms your vet will spot them.
As the disease is not well known in the UK, there is a very good resource here at leishvet.org and there is an excellent Facebook support group - Living with Leish.
We will discuss this in more detail with potential adopters.
Pino has done so well in foster, and as you can see, he is a loving and affectionate boy with the classic Spinone temperament, sweet, sensitive and loving. However he is still timid in new situations, and he needs a patien
Update: Teo's Home Check is passed! He has a lovely home!
Update: lovely news, Teo is reserved subject to home check! Thanks so much! 🙏🏻
Teo is an absolutely beautiful Spinone mix boy, around two years old.
He is currently in a shelter with our friends at ENPA Treviso.
Teo has not been well treated, and was very shy at first. But now he is learning that people can be kind, and he loves contact with people who he knows. He gets on well with all other dogs, and is learning to walk on a lead.
He is a sweet boy who has a lot of love to give, and needs a calm and patient home to guide him in his rehabilitation and overcome his fears. He would love to get out of the kennel and start a new life. He is only young, and an experienced adopter could help put the smile back in his beautiful eyes.
We should have video of him soon to add to this post.
Not tested with cats, we have asked if this can be arranged. Teo needs a very calm home so we think he is best homed without resident children.
Please do share far and wide to find this gorgeous boy his forever home!
Now in Italy, UK travel arranged.
Chipped, vaccinated, tested for Mediterranean diseases (results pending and will be added shortly)
Donation of £500 towards costs requested, and home check applies.
For an application form, please direct message us on Facebook - we can easily miss comments.
Please read full text and links below. Thank you!
The information on our site will answer many of your questions!
We have some points to consider before adopting here:
http://www.spinone-sofa.org.uk/considering-adoption/
General information about the process here:
http://www.spinone-sofa.org.uk/adoption/
How adopters are matched with dogs:
http://www.spinone-sofa.org.uk/considering-adoption/adopters-guidelines/
Resident kids should be over ten. Advice for visiting kids here:
http://www.spinone-sofa.org.uk/rescue-spinoni-and-children/
We ask all our adopters to keep in touch - this is why:
http://www.spino
Update - Bacco has a wonderful home!
Update - fabulous news we have a wonderful foster for Bacco! Thank you all so much! He will be travelling !
Time is running out to get Bacco on our end of September transport! Maximum shares please to help this wonderful boy go home!!!! 🙏🏻❤️
. Bacco is a magnificent brown and white four year old boy, who has been a working hunter, and came into rescue because his owner died.
He has settled very quickly in foster and is a cheerful and happy character, gets on with male and female dogs . We would prefer to place him with a female as our experience has been that this is the best fit.
As he has been a working hunter, he will have a strong prey drive so the adopter needs to be confident in managing and directing it in a positive way. He is an active happy boy, typical of a Spinone from Italian working stock, who will benefit from an active home with plenty of stimulation, both mental and physical.
He gets on well with both male and female dogs, and needs a home with at least one other friendly dog. See comments for video of this happy boy in foster
He has not met children but seems unlikely to have any problems with them if introduced with appropriate boundaries. However as he has always been a kennel dog, we feel he should not live in a home with resident children.
As with all ex-hunting dogs from Italy, he has lived in a kennel previously, where he saw very little of life. He is adapting well in foster, but will need continuing guidance on his new life as a companion dog in the UK. Everything will be new, he will need practice and training with basics like living in a house, walking on a lead, going in a car.
His adopter needs to enjoy guiding this journey with positive training, whether individually or in classes. It is vital to understand that these are not ‘ready made’ dogs and they need care and work to understand their new lives.
No cats, birds or other small furries please.
Chipp
Diana
WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT DIANA IS RESERVED AND WILL GO TO LIVE WITH A LOVELY FAMILY AND HER NEW SISTER VERY SOON. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SHARED OR APPLIED
Diana is beautiful Spinone girl of nearly 4 years old. She is a good girl, sweet and loving. She arrived in foster a very scared and shy girl, but with gentle guidance and love, over time she has started to come out of her shell. She is very sweet and loves attention and cuddles, but is still a bit unsure, especially in the garden. She will need a patient, gentle, loving home where she can feel secure and loved as she learns about her new life.
She needs a confident dog in the home as a companion to help her with this - she gets on well with both male and female dogs.
She walks well on the lead and has seen a little of the world now she has done a little socialising at the bar which went well, and also visited the vets where she had no problems. However her adopter needs to understand that she has been through huge changes in her life. Although she has spent some time in foster, and has done very well, she spent a long time as a kennelled hunter. So her adopter needs to be ready to help guide her in learning about her new life as a companion dog in the UK.
No cats for Diana please. She needs a quiet home, so no resident children.
Please do share to help Diana find her special home!
Now in Italy, UK travel arranged for early June
Chipped, vaccinated, tested for Mediterranean diseases.
Diana is not yet sterilised as it is too soon before her transport date - her adopter undertakes to do this as soon as she is settled. Her adopter will sign our sterilisation agreement.
onation of £500 towards costs requested, and home check applies.
For an application form, please direct message us on Facebook - we can easily miss comments.
Please read full text and links below. Thank you!
The information on our site will answer many of your questions!
We have some points to consider before ado
Meet Whiskey!
GREAT NEWS!
WHISKEY HAS BEEN RESERVED AND WILL BE LIVING WITH AN AMAZING COUPLE (WHO ARE VERY CLOSE TO S.O.F.A'S HEART) AND THEIR GORGEOUS FEMALE DOG, FAITH :-) THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SHARED OR APPLIED HIS STORY
Whiskey is a lovely Spinone boy, four years old. When he first arrived in foster, he had been living in a kennel, not at all socialised, and didn’t even know how to play, but he has come a very long way since then! He is adapting very well in foster, learning to walk on the lead, go in cars, to the vets.
He was unwanted for hunting due to having mild hip dysplasia, but apart from having a slightly irregular gait it doesn’t cause him any problems. He will see an orthopedist shortly for a check up, but he has never shown a limp or any other signs of pain. The only effect it should have is that he needs to not have hard exercise.
In November he bloated and was operated on. His stomach was tacked and he recovered well. He will be sterilised before travel.
He is a funny, cheerful boy who just wants to be close to you and love you. He needs a lot of love and reassurance, a real cuddler who loves to be with you. He needs a home who will really enjoy giving him the loving closeness that he adores.
Whiskey is really all about his people, so he could be an only dog, or also could live happily with another dog. He gets on with both male and female dogs. No cats for Whiskey please.
Now in Italy, UK travel arranged for early June
Chipped, vaccinated, sterilised, tested for Mediterranean diseases.
Donation of £500 towards costs requested, and home check applies.
For an application form, please direct message us on Facebook - we can easily miss comments.
Please read full text and links below. Thank you!
The information on our site will answer many of your questions!
We have some points to consider before adopting here:
http://www.spinone-sofa.org.uk/considering-adoption/
General information about the process here:
http://www.spinone-sofa.org.
UPDATE: We are so happy to announce that Fleur has found her perfect forever home! Huge thanks to everyone who shared this lovely girl! :)
Fleur is a beautiful 5-year-old brown roan Spinone girl, already in the UK, looking for her very special forever home.
FLEUR’S HISTORY
Fleur arrived from Italy 3 years ago, as an ex-hunter, and was adopted into an experienced Spinoni home with a large pack of female dogs. On arrival, she was nervous and scared, but gradually gained confidence and settled well.
However, as the pack dynamic changed disagreements following this resulted in injury to two of the other females, and the adopter requested we remove Fleur.
We have very detailed information about Fleur from her years in the UK and it will all be discussed in depth with her adopter.
FLEUR’S STORY NOW
Since 4th December, Fleur has been in a boarding kennel in Wales, where her personality and needs have been thoroughly assessed.
Kennel owner, Angie has over 20 years’ experience with dogs at her kennels. She has tested Fleur with other dogs and has got to know Fleur really well. Angie has seen no signs of aggression or guarding, and tells us that “Fleur is an absolutely lovely dog, who loves human attention, and is obedient and loving…”
RECENT ASSESSMENT:
Our lovely SOFA fundraiser, and experienced Spinoni owner, Lynn Leach, kindly offered to visit Fleur and see how she was progressing.
Lynn reported that, upon meeting Fleur, she immediately showed Lynn a lot of attention and affection. Lynn subsequently spent several hours with Fleur, who was outside with a male dog the whole time. Fleur didn’t interact with the male dog much, but instead, preferred to cuddle into Lynn. Fleur also demonstrated perfect recall and sat for treats.
Lynn and Angie agreed it would be a good idea to introduce a young female dog to Fleur to assess her compatibility with females, and introduced a 9-month-old, VERY BOUNCY retriever. The pup was very full on, jumped all over F
