Joleen has been in foster for two weeks and made amazing progress.
But when Joleen first arrived, everything was very scary and she was panicky, so she will need a secure garden with at least 6ft fencing and good gates to be safe, as she will likely regress slightly on being adopted.
This beautiful girl is trying so hard, bless her.
Although meals are still eaten outside, she’s progressed to the dish being inside the doorway. She’s far more relaxed about eating and now clears her plate every time and then will come inside for treats which she takes very gently.
With the other dogs, she’s fine, and will now go with my husband and his Retriever down the fields doing jobs and last thing at night too, in the dark.
When I take my crew round the fields she always comes with me and gets quite excited although she can go out on her own at any time. Her recall is very good and she races off looking for rabbits! She’s caught two rabbits recently which she brought for me, very pleased with herself. We don’t encourage this but probably she needs to avoid having a new home with a resident cat, just to be safe!
Joleen desperately wants to be loved and she tries her best all the time; I can stroke her all over and she gives me gentle kisses.
Her favourite sleeping place is in the porch where she can smell the air and hear the sounds of nature. She puts herself to bed about 8 pm after a long day of running about and sleeps through till she’s woken about half 6 / 7 am.
Clean in the house and will walk on a lead and collar, this gentle girl needs a home with at least one gentle, active friend, with an adopter who has plenty of time to take her on long walks and to interesting places. She’s not a city dog and will need a garden to play in and relax and access to the outside throughout the day.

Joleen has been clean in the house since arrival and travels well in a crate during car rides. She walks nicely on a collar and lead and has a good appetite, currently eating Arden Grange with a little raw added on top.

She ignores our smaller dogs (10kg and under) and gets along well with our other Retriever, though she’s quite independent and doesn’t seek out cuddly companionship. Joleen must be placed in a rural home with plenty of open space and an outside door that remains open for her to come and go as she pleases.

She sleeps comfortably in the back porch with the door open to the living room and our resident dogs, though she chooses not to enter. Joleen is fine with both me and my husband but can still be skittish at times, for reasons that aren’t always obvious.

She needs a lot of exercise and thrives on a consistent routine. She isn’t food aggressive and doesn’t appear to be particularly food motivated. Rain doesn’t bother her, but she is afraid of the dark.

Joleen would suit someone who enjoys long walks, gardening, and a rural lifestyle, ideally someone actively retired with at least one other active dog.

Joleene is a very gentle and timid girl who has come to us from a breeder. She’s a true sweetheart and an absolute heart-breaker, but right now she’s carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Joleene is currently a little shut down and unsure but is trying her best to understand a world she’s never known and what she needs most is kindness, patience, and love.

She will need an adult-only home where life is calm and gentle, and where her new family understands that trust takes time. Joleene has never lived in a home before, so everything, from house training to walking on a lead – will be completely new to her. She will need a gentle introduction to a lead but for now some sniffs and a stroll in the garden may be a good start.

Joleen has come to us with pressure sores on her hocks and elbows from laying on hard flooring, dermatitis on her skin that is receiving treatment and healing scabs and scaring on her right shoulder.

A kind and confident resident dog is essential to help show her the way, offer comfort, and be the steady paw she can rely on as she finds her feet. With time, tender care, and a lot of love, we believe Joleene will begin to blossom. She may not be ready to show it yet, but there’s a truly special girl in there just waiting for the chance to shine.

Joleene has a travel document.