At 55 kilos, Lucho was definitely one of Battersea’s biggest temporary residents.
Despite his size, Lucho was shy around new people and dogs when he arrived. He clearly needed a confidence boost, so our behaviour team set to work building him a personal training plan.
Lucho had regular visits from his favourite people who kept him company and gave him lots of calm praise and fuss. To manage his stress when left alone, we gave him food puzzles to keep his brain busy.
Building confidence around other dogs was essential for Lucho. The team made slow introductions with some of our more gentle dogs. These positive interactions gave Lucho a chance to practise his social skills in a safe environment.
With time, patience and plenty of positive experiences, Lucho’s confidence blossomed. His goofy and lovable personality began to shine through – especially his love of chasing bouncing tennis balls. His happy bum wiggles and helicopter tail were very popular with our team, and he made friends all over site.
After three months of confidence building, Lucho was ready to venture out of Battersea and into his new loving home. Armed with newfound courage and blossoming social skills, Lucho is thriving. He enjoys paddling in the river near his home, playing with his toys and making lots of new friends.
We often see gentle giants like Lucho at Battersea. Our team make sure to give each of them the specialised training and support they need to flourish in their new homes.
