Matilda is a huge Romanian Shepherd aged around seven years old. Matilda fostered Norwich Norfolk.
We met Matilda on our trip to the Botosani public shelter in Romania back in March. Generally we don’t willingly take Rommie shepherds as they are a specialist breed that require experienced adopters.
Because she was a middle aged dog we just couldn’t leave her there to live out her retirement years.
Matilda is now in the UK and looking for that experienced adopter. She is the most beautiful, calm, quiet of dogs who requires only gentle exercise and a garden to potter in.
However her genetic program to “protect her flock” is still lingering and she will bark protectively when strangers approach her family.
Of course barking is not going to physically hurt anyone, but she is a big dog with a big booming bark and that can of course be intimidating.
She needs a home where visitors are not a common occurrence and she needs to be put in her own safe space when they do come to prevent any situations where people feel threatened.
Matilda is the most loving and sweet girl with her family. Despite her size her movement is slow and seldom so it’s kind of like having a large rug that gets up and moves itself to another room sometimes.
She is fine with cats and dogs and is very steady around goats and horses….. again her descendency from protecting sheep in the mountains serves her well. Shes just an all round great dog who takes her family duties quite seriously. She will need an adult home environment.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
When you adopt a Safe Rescue dog, you MUST use a slip lead. This will keep your dog safe: your new dog will be nervous and will not trust you, and you will not know which situations might upset your dog.
If your dog panics, then a slip lead is the only way to prevent your dog from escaping (many dogs can escape from a collar and/or harness).
It will take AT LEAST 3-6 months for your dog to settle-in and for you to know your dog fully (longer for nervous dogs). The slip lead must ALWAYS be used during this settling-in period.
Even after your dog is settled, it is safest to use the slip lead in situations where your dog may become scared (e.g. visiting new places, around unfamiliar people, at the vet), and it situations where unexpected triggers might happen (e.g. around bonfire night).
Nervous dogs may always need to wear a slip-lead as a back-up safety measure. The slip lead is a safety device and must NEVER be used as a training tool. Using the lead to apply pressure to the dog’s neck is damaging. If your dog pulls on the lead, then we can advise you on training methods that avoid harm.
Once your dog is settled, you may want to consider using a harness (together with the slip lead) if your dog is comfortable with being handled when it is fitted. Most harnesses are not escape-proof, but harnesses with a strap behind the ribcage (e.g. Ruffwear Webmaster or Perfect Fit Harnesses) are safer.
Retractable / extendable leads must never be used on our dogs.
Adopted dogs must be collected from the rescue and transported straight home in a crate.
Fences and gates must be 5foot minimum in height and secure.
If you are interested please message.