Looks can be deceiving and a dog called Angel has both the look and the name to give the impression of sweetness and light of prospective new owners.
The 10-year-old Bichon Frise is currently a resident at Cheshire Dogs Home, in their Warrington based centre after her previous owner could no longer cope with her behaviour.
Now she is looking for an experienced home with patient handlers who will understand the senior pup’s personality quirks.
A post on the rescue’s website said: “I know what you’re thinking, butter wouldn’t melt, but don’t be fooled!
“Cute as she may be, Angel does have issues when it comes to food. She will have no problem letting you know that under no circumstances are you to go anywhere near her or her food when she is eating.”
Angel unfortunately has resource guarding issues, which extends not only to her own food, but to any scraps that could be dropped on the ground, which she’ll then take to her bed to hide.
The Kennel Club defines the instinct of resource guarding as ‘valuable’ for feral dogs but not desirable in domesticated animals.
They said: “Some dogs develop resource guarding after reaching adulthood and become unusually protective about their food, toys, and beds.”
“It is a valuable instinct for feral dogs, because it allows them to survive on limited means in the wild. But it’s not such a great trait for domesticated animals.
“Experienced dog owners and dog-aware people usually know not to disturb an animal while they’re eating or enjoying a toy.
“Simply put, you never can anticipate how they will respond. Some dogs are indifferent to being petted, interrupted, or accidentally bumped into during mealtime or playtime. However, others mind such disturbances very much.”
The rescue have been working on these issues with Angel, but the training would need to continue when she is rehomed.
For this reason, she will need an adult-only home who have preferably had experience with dogs that have exhibited challenging behaviours in the past, so that they can understand when to leave her be.
For more information about Angel, visit Cheshire Dogs Home website here.
