Abandoned dog who could only understand German learns English to find new home
Hector the bulldog, who only understood German, has been taught English in a bid to find the “gentle giant” a forever home.
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He’s an American bulldog, living in the UK, but abandoned dog Hector only understood German commands.
Now, in an attempt to find him a new home, the “gentle giant” found tied to the gates of an RSPCA animal centre with cigarette burns on his body has been taught English.
When staff at the animal centre realised the car of the man who left him there on August 1 had foreign licence plates, they tried a number of languages before realising he responded to German.
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The “intelligent and loving” dog has been training at the RSPCA Leeds, Wakefield, and District centre in West Yorkshire ever since, and has quickly learned to respond to English.
The RSPCA is hoping to find the “big baby”, who weighs around 40kg, a new home, despite the fact he still struggles to trust new people.
Animal care manager at the centre Lucynda Hodgson said Hector was left wearing a hefty muzzle and tied up with a heavy chain that was so short he could barely lie down.
“He’d twisted the lead tighter and tighter around his neck and couldn’t move at all,” she said.
“He wasn’t responding to any English commands so, given the foreign plates on the car, we decided to try some different languages and it emerged he was actually quite well trained and knew several commands – in German.
“We started to introduce him to English words and used hand signals alongside verbal commands so he started to pick it up really quickly.
“He’s a very intelligent dog and is very loving.
“He’s a big baby really; he loves to gallop around the paddock and play with his giant tennis balls. He’s so loveable and is such a gentle giant.”
SEARCHING FOR A NEW HOME
Staff believe Hector previously had little exposure to the outside world, saying he initially seemed shocked by things like traffic and strangers, but that he’s slowly adapting.
Ms Hodgson said: “He definitely has a negative association with smokers, which confirms our suspicion that he’s been burned using a cigarette.
“We have two smokers here and they are the only members of staff that he can be unsure of. The only similarity between them and the only reason for him to be nervous is that they both smoke.”
She said that the centre is now searching for a new home for Hector, and that he will need new owners who are able to visit him regularly to build up a relationship before taking him home.
“He’d like a calm and quiet home without too many visitors and must go to a non-smoking, adult-only family,” Ms Hodgson said.
“He would also benefit from further socialisation with other dogs so would be best as an only pet with owners who can slowly introduce him to new dogs.
“He’d love a rural home with a large, secure garden to gallop around and explore.
“He loves nothing more than a good game of ball and then a relaxing cuddle and tummy scratch in his kennel or a delicious chew to gnaw on.”
This article originally appeared on the Sun and was reproduced here with permission
Originally published as Abandoned dog who could only understand German learns English to find new home
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