Freddie is a bouncy puppy who loves running and playing and is looking for his forever home.

This is Freddie. He’s an Irish Setter cross and weighs in at 22 kg (48 pounds). He’s a bit underweight at the moment and the AARCS vet say he should be up around 26 kg (55 pounds) at his age so he’s getting extra food until he puts on some weight.

Freddie is a delightful dog, gentle, affectionate, playful and happy all the time. If you’re not familiar with Irish Setters, he’s very similar in temperament to a Golden Retriever. He likes to meet other dogs and, with any luck, they’ll want to run with him. Freddie runs. A lot. Freddie will need a high-energy family to keep him busy. A household with another dog who runs would be ideal. He also likes people and children.

He has SIT down pat and his recall is pretty good for a puppy. We are working on leash skills, as he’s prone to pull on his walks, particularly at the beginning of the walk when he’s very excited to be out and about. He’ll likely grow out of that as he matures and doesn’t find everything so very exciting. He has a good bark and will let you know if someone has come into the house but he’s not a guard dog since he has no guarding instinct at all. He’s not bothered by loud noises like the vacuum or sudden movements. He’s pretty good in the car although he’s prone to licking your ears.

He likes stuffed toys and will carry one around with him everywhere if you let him. He’s not too rough on them, so there aren’t huge piles of stuffing everywhere. He seems to have a little bit of prey drive, particularly toward small creatures like bunnies and squirrels that move quickly. We haven’t met a cat but he’d probably be OK with a cat in the house as he has no aggression at all… a cat that played would be even better. Freddie has fine, silky hair and he sheds a moderate amount – less now that he’s in a house. He had some good mats when he first arrived but they’re under control now.

Ideally, Freddie would do best in a high-energy household, where walks, hikes or runs would be a regular thing. Another dog would be great, not only because he’s still young and would benefit from an older dog’s experience but he’d love someone to play chase-me with. Kids should be fine too.

If you’re thinking about getting a young dog who will be an absolute joy around your house, Freddie might be the one you’re looking for.