Duke - SRF115

Energy & Exercise:

Duke loves exercise and really enjoys long walks. He’ll need a safe, secure garden with a grassed area, as he prefers not to toilet on hard surfaces. Regular exercise is important to help him stay at his ideal weight and keep him fit and happy. Can occasionally pull a little on the lead.

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He currently uses a crate during the day to rest while his owner is at work, and he settles well with this routine. Duke will need two decent walks a day to keep him stimulated both mentally and physically.

One of his best skills is his excellent recall – he responds well whenever he is recalled by name or whistle. Duke loves to play with a ball.

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Training:

Able to sit, lay down and do centre (sitting between owner’s legs).

 

​Behaviours:

Duke does experience separation anxiety. He is very bonded to his person, often following them around, and he will bark after a while if left alone. His barking isn’t constant, and importantly, he does not soil, chew, or destroy anything when left - it is simply vocal distress.

 

His anxiety seems to be made worse when he is left somewhere where he can see out, such as at his owner’s workplace with large shop windows. Notably, he has not barked when left in the car, where he cannot see people coming and going. Because of this, he will need humans who are around most of the time, plus very gradual, positive training to help him learn that being left alone is safe.

 

Duke has a lovely temperament - he does not guard food or toys, is not reactive, and has no bite history.

 

He’s a gentle, affectionate dog.

 

Meeting new people:

Duke is friendly with people he meets, greeting them politely and with good manners. He isn’t overly fussed by strangers and doesn’t go out of his way to seek attention from everyone, but he is calm, polite and happy to interact when approached.

 

Children:

Duke has not been formally tested with children in a home environment. However, he is happy to meet children when out and about, and he enjoys being fussed by them in the street. His gentle nature and polite manners suggest he is comfortable with calm, respectful interactions.

 

Dog/Cat test:

He has previously lived for a month with a rescue dog in the home and was very tolerant of her. During that time, he was noticeably more relaxed and didn’t follow his owner as much, suggesting he can coexist peacefully with the right canine companion.

 

Duke is scared of cats, so he avoids them rather than chasing or reacting. When it comes to wildlife, he does not chase deer and only shows brief interest in squirrels, giving a short chase before returning to focus.

 

Home Alone:

Duke loves being with his people and prefers to have human company most of the time. When left alone, he will bark to express his worry, though he does not cause any damage or soil the house. He will need very gradual confidence‑building to help him learn that being left for short periods is safe. A home where someone is around for much of the day would suit him best.

 

​Medical Summary:

Duke is generally a healthy boy. He was castrated in late 2025 and has had no significant health issues apart from a previously cut paw, which healed fully.

 

He also has a birth defect on his front paws - an extra digit. This does not cause him any discomfort or mobility issues, but the claw on that digit does need regular trimming to keep it short and prevent snagging.

 

Vet visits:

Duke can be a little reluctant to go into the vet’s practice, likely due to a previous difficult visit where he lay down and hesitated. However, once he is inside, he behaves very well. He is comfortable being handled and staff have no issues examining him.

 

Travelling:

Travels well in the car with no issues. He may have been travelling without being properly secured, so may need to learn how to be safely and correctly restrained.

 

Handling/Grooming:

Not overly keen on having his feet handled but will allow it. Happy to be groomed, but does not like the hairdryer.

 

Food:

Is currently fed on Tails’ calorie‑restricted diet.

 

Sleeping:

Sleeps with his owner in her bed.