Mavis AmBulldog DofB 2013? Fareham Foster

[Steve O]

Mavis is an absolute angel with her big, dreamy brown eyes that melt your heart. At approximately 13 years old, this sweet senior girl has displayed impeccable manners during her first week in foster care. Mavis takes treats gently (though occasionally forgets how pointy her teeth are), sits beautifully when asked, and even waits patiently at mealtimes without being prompted.

During her initial walks, she was eager and quick, likely due to the new and unfamiliar environment. However, as the week has progressed, she’s begun to relax, taking time to sniff and explore at her own pace. Despite the growth on her rear left foot and some discomfort in her rear left leg when standing, Mavis shows no hesitation when it comes to enjoying longer walks.

At home, Mavis is the ultimate cuddle companion and thrives on endless petting. She adores being near you and will twist herself into knots just to stay in contact. Her affectionate nature shines through as she happily soaks up attention and reassurance from her humans.

Mavis is generally friendly but can sometimes feel unsure around men, particularly when approached for stroking. She may display discomfort through her body language or a low growl. It’s important for her future adopters to recognize and respect these signals, advocating for her boundaries before she feels the need to escalate. With time, understanding, and care, this behavior can likely improve, but her comfort and trust must come first.

[Jan Case]

Thank you for this update, it is lovely to know that Mavis is enjoying the comforts of a foster home whilst waiting for a forever one xxxx

[Steve O]

Following her operations last week (removal of a mass on her hip, surgery on her rear right paw, and spaying), Mavis is recovering well. However, we did have one setback—she managed to chew through a couple of sutures on her rear right paw, which reopened the wound. This required a visit to the vet, but she has since been healing without further issues.

Mavis has made it very clear that she is a true foodie! She eats with enthusiasm and assumes any movement toward the kitchen means food is on the way. If I make a cup of tea, she waits patiently, convinced that a treat must be coming her way. One afternoon, I briefly left a sandwich on the kitchen worktop while I went to collect the post—only to return and find Mavis happily helping herself to my bread and cheese. Lesson learned: either move food to the back of the counter or keep it in hand at all times!

She had her first visit to the pub this week and handled it like a seasoned regular. She settled on the bench seat and relaxed, as if she had been visiting for years.

When out on walks, Mavis becomes very alert when she spots other dogs—especially at a distance or across the road. She often locks into a stare, though it's unclear whether this is curiosity or something else. With dogs of a similar size, she’s playful and engaged, but interactions with smaller dogs seem more uncertain. Their owners tend to keep their distance, possibly due to her build. This is something I’ll continue to monitor.

Overall, Mavis is making great progress, and her personality continues to shine through.

[Steve O]

This week, we've been focusing on helping Mavis with her reactions to other dogs during walks. Her responses don’t appear to be aggressive but seem to stem from social inexperience. She’s making slow but steady progress, particularly when we use the "Mavis, me" cue to redirect her attention and follow up with treats. There have been times when this hasn’t worked—mostly when she spots the other dog before we do or when our timing with the treats is a bit off. Definitely a case of human error rather than Mavis struggling!

At home, Mavis continues to be affectionate and enjoys spending time with us. She gets especially excited when invited upstairs—zoomies are guaranteed!

[PaulB]

Thank you for the lovely updates Steve. Mavis strikes me as a gorgeous girl!

[Steve O]

Apologies for not posting over the last few weeks—home renovations have taken over! But despite the chaos, Mavis and I have been making the most of our time together with plenty of long walks, some stretching up to 18 miles. She’s had loads of opportunities to sniff around and take in the world, and we’ve had a mix of dog interactions along the way. Some have been pleasant, while others… not so much!

I’m doing my best to help her feel more at ease around other dogs, but it’s proving to be a challenge. She gives all the right social signals—silly sneezes, tongue flicks—but when it comes to actually interacting, things don’t always go smoothly. We’ll keep working on it, though!

At home, Mavis continues to be an absolute joy (and a bit of a foodie). She adores her meals, treats, and would happily sample anything we’re eating if given the chance. I’m even considering getting her a cookbook so she can refine her culinary expertise… but finding one in dog language is proving tricky!

All in all, she’s still an amazing lady, and we’ll keep pushing forward with her social skills.

[Jan Case]

That you so much for this update xxx

[Steve O]

We've been out on plenty of long walks recently, exploring the South Downs and the Solent coastline. No matter where we go, Mavis is always happy and excited to get moving—she truly loves her adventures!

When it comes to other dogs, progress is slow but steady. She’s showing less intense interest in others while we’re out, which is a big step forward. It’s been a long and consistent journey to get her to this point, but we’re getting there.

That said, we did have one incident recently. While out on a walk with my mum, we got distracted watching a heron, and I hadn’t noticed another dog approaching Mavis. She clearly wasn’t happy about the unexpected visitor and went after the spaniel, which yelped and ran off. In the chaos, I ended up on the floor! Thankfully, the other owner was understanding and apologetic. It was a good reminder that vigilance is key when advocating for Mavis while we’re out and about.

At home, though, she remains the most gentle and gorgeous soul—her affectionate, loving nature never changes.

[Steve O]

Mavis continues to be an absolute delight at home. She’s always ready for a cuddle and sits patiently at mealtimes, eagerly waiting for her food. She shows interest in our meals, but after ignoring her puppy-eyed stares she eventually moves on. At night, she enjoys her own space and prefers to sleep downstairs, making herself comfortable in her usual spot fully stretched out on the settee.

We’re still making slow but steady progress with her around other dogs. She’s showing less intense interest in them overall, though she still has moments where she struggles with unexpected interactions. It’s a work in progress, but she’s come so far already.

Out on our walks—whether put in the countryside of the South Downs or the pebbly Solent coastline—she’s full of energy and enthusiasm, always eager to poke her nose in things. She absolutely loves rough play, (sometimes teeth get in the way!!) and enjoys every bit of attention she can get. Right now, she’s also leaving a little bit of herself behind wherever she goes… her fur is everywhere as she’s in full-on molting mode!

She may have a few quirks, but they only add to her charm. She really is such a wonderful girl!

[PaulB]

Any photos/videos you can share please?