Adopter Yuri - UK

Yuri (previously Zara) is a gentle, affectionate little Podenco with a playful, cheeky side waiting to emerge once she feels safe. She is currently in the UK and is looking for a new home because her adopter has recognised that a flat in an urban environment, without access to a garden, is simply not allowing Yuri to settle and thrive. This is a very difficult decision, made entirely with Yuri’s needs at heart. Her adopter has got to know her well and feels that she would be much happier in a quieter, more rural or semi-rural home, with a secure garden and easy access to peaceful walks away from traffic and busy streets. Yuri is naturally cautious and finds the outside world overwhelming at present. Traffic, buses, cars, public transport and the general unpredictability of city life frighten her. Once she is walking, she is lovely on the lead and tends to stay close to her person, only pulling if something has scared her and she is trying to reach somewhere she feels safer. At home, Yuri is a completely different girl. Once she trusts you, she is deeply affectionate and loves to be near her people, snoozing by your feet or curled up beside you on the sofa. She enjoys cuddles, belly rubs and a good neck scratch, although it is important to let her initiate contact and to be mindful of her body language, as freezing is her instinctive response when she feels worried. She has a real love of enrichment and is especially fond of scent games, snuffle balls, finding hidden kibble and ripping open paper parcels or cardboard tubes containing her breakfast. She enjoys chewing, playful games and has begun to engage in gentle, playful mouthiness with the person she trusts. In quieter countryside surroundings, she has shown just how much she enjoys long walks, using her nose and watching rabbits and birds. Yuri is food motivated at home and enjoys training, often sitting expectantly in the hope that a treat might appear. She knows basic cues such as sit and lie down, although she can find it difficult to take food or drink outside when she is feeling worried. She is toilet trained for the most part, but her new family will need to continue supporting her with a calm, consistent routine, as she does not always communicate clearly when she needs to go outside and can occasionally have accidents indoors. We think with a garden where she feels comfortable, this will be much easier for her. Yuri sleeps soundly through the night and currently sleeps on her adopter’s bed, although her crate is also a much-loved safe space. She is comfortable settling in her crate and can be left for up to four hours, though this should be built up thoughtfully in her new home. She is very attached to her person and finds reassurance in their presence. Yuri is not reactive towards people or dogs on walks, preferring to ignore them or give them space. We feel Yuri could be happy as an only dog, or potentially alongside other calm, respectful resident dogs who will not overwhelm her and will give her plenty of space and time to settle. Prior to her adoption she was living alongside lots of other dogs in Spain and enjoyed cuddling up to the other dogs. Yuri would be best suited to an adult-only home, although calm, dog-savvy older teenagers may be considered. She needs a secure garden in a peaceful location, ideally with countryside walks accessible from the door or nearby. A calm, predictable routine and patient adopters who understand nervous dogs will make all the difference to her. Underneath Yuri’s anxiety is a sweet, loving and very special girl. With the right home, we believe she has every chance of becoming a wonderfully rounded companion. Yuri is neutered, vaccinated and tested negative for all Mediterranean diseases. She is passported and available for adoption now. If you would prefer to make a one off donation, please click below