We quickly established a couple of safe spots on the old sofa and his bed so he had somewhere to retreat to if things got a bit daunting, but as his confidence grew I quickly developed a 4 legged shadow who was keen to follow me round. A long walk around Ferry Meadows saw him behave nicely around strangers and accept a pat on the head after a little reassurance. With space he generally ignored other dogs if they ignored him but does sometimes “stalk” and then pull after other dogs in a more confined environment such as a narrow track. I saw absolutely no sign of aggression but given his size and strength it’s a good idea to be a little cautious around other dogs for the time being.

Passing traffic was no problem and he quickly got the hang of getting in the car and being happy to lie down on the back seat without any fuss. Back home, he soon showed he has a healthy appetite and we spent some quality time together with no sign of any food or bed possessiveness whatsoever. On the second night I brought his bed into the bedroom and he was happy to curl up for the night - again, absolutely no problems although he does snore a little! Although he is still nervous around things he’s not seen before in only 2 days I saw a real difference in his confidence; however, what was really nice was his underlying temperament. Simon really is a lovable big softy who just wants cuddles and a comfy warm sofa in a quite house. He’s used to being with a female kennel mate so I also wonder if a home with an older large breed bitch might be a good option for him where he can learn and build his confidence with another dog. Simon has been with us for too long and its time that this loveable hound found his forever home.”