King – Available – North West
Dogs name: King
Age: 6
Current location: Warrington
I CAN LIVE WITH
Children: No
Cats: No
Dogs: No
A BIT ABOUT ME
Personality:
King is a big dog with a big personality and absolutely no shortage of confidence! When he first arrived, he was something of a wrecking ball, chaotic, destructive, unpredictable and determined to take on pretty much anything that got in his way. He had clearly spent a long time simply surviving, and pain and discomfort had played a huge part in how he behaved.
But underneath all that bravado was a very different dog, and it has been incredibly rewarding to watch him emerge. King is bold as brass, full of character and a little bit of a hooligan, but he is also kind, soft and incredibly affectionate. He has gone from having very little trust in people to becoming a proper snuggle bunny who loves a bum scratch, enjoys being brushed and genuinely believes that, despite his size, he absolutely belongs on your lap!
He loves his comfort teddy, enjoys paddling in the water, happily jumps into the car and likes nothing more than being near his person. He isn’t a nervous dog and takes most things in his stride, but he does need life to be calm, predictable and uncomplicated. With his pain now much better managed, his behaviour has become far more settled and predictable, and the difference in him has been remarkable.
He may have arrived like a wrecking ball, but underneath it all is one enormous, soft-hearted pudding. And once King decides you’re his person, you’ll have a big, shadow following you around, probably with a teddy in his mouth and absolutely no understanding of the concept of personal space!
Behaviour:
King’s behaviour has changed enormously during his time in foster. When he first arrived, he was extremely difficult to manage and could be unpredictable, particularly when he was uncomfortable or frustrated. His behaviour was often driven by pain, and once this was properly addressed, there was a huge improvement in his ability to settle and regulate himself.
He is now much more predictable in day-to-day life and is easy to manage within the home. He settles well when left in the kitchen and has never been destructive when alone. He is also very good around food, waits politely for his meals and shows no signs of resource guarding.
He does not enjoy rough or unpredictable interaction and does best when people are calm and consistent with him. He responds well to clear boundaries and routine, and the progress he has made shows just how much his behaviour has benefited from having his physical discomfort properly managed.
Needs:
King is not suitable for a home with other dogs or animals, and his future owners will need to be confident handling a large, strong dog who can become unsettled if placed in situations he finds difficult. With sensible management, consistency and an understanding of his limitations, he is now a much happier dog to the one who first arrived in foster.
King is a very special boy who will need the right home to bring out the very best in him. He needs an adult-only home with no children. He has not lived with children during his time in foster, and given his size, strength and previous behavioural challenges, an adult-only environment is considered the most appropriate for him. His future home should be calm and predictable, with someone who understands that beneath the big personality is a boy who has been through a lot and now needs security, consistency and someone he can trust. Essentially, he is looking for a best friend to show him love and understanding.
Walk/exercise:
King has come a long way with his walking and now really enjoys getting out and about. He likes a good wander and is happiest when he can take his time, have a good sniff and see what’s going on around him rather than being expected to keep up a fast pace.
He is a strong boy, so his walks need to be sensible and suited to his age and mobility, particularly given his arthritis, hip and knee changes and spondylosis. He doesn’t need endless miles or exhausting adventures; regular, manageable walks with plenty of opportunity to potter and sniff are much more his style.
He has also made huge progress when it comes to seeing unfamiliar dogs while out. He can now spot another dog and generally carry on with his walk without making a fuss, provided they are given plenty of space. He isn’t comfortable with dogs getting too close, so his handler will need to be mindful of this and avoid putting him in situations where he feels crowded.
He enjoys a bit of paddling, so if there is water involved, King is likely to be very interested! He isn’t looking for an action-packed itinerary, a pleasant outing, a good sniff around and then home for a rest is pretty much his idea of a successful day.
Toilet trained:
King is toilet trained. He is very good in the house and will stand at the door and cry when he needs to go outside. There have been no reported issues with accidents in the home.
Travel:
King travels well. He happily jumps into the car, settles on the front seat and seems to enjoy watching the world go by. He is relaxed during journeys and doesn’t appear to find travelling stressful. Because of this we could consider homes up to four hours from his foster home.
We recommend using a seatbelt restraint or travel crate whenever transporting dogs.
Things to be aware of:
King has several ongoing medical conditions, including arthritis, changes to his hips and knees and spondylosis, so keeping him comfortable and pain-free is an important part of his ongoing care.
He is currently prescribed Pardale and Gabapentin as part of his pain-management regime, alongside YuMOVE as a joint supplement to support his joints and mobility. He is also prescribed Reconcile, which has been an important part of helping him remain calmer and better able to manage his behaviour.
It is particularly important that King’s medication is continued exactly as prescribed and that his pain remains well managed. We have seen a significant improvement in his behaviour and general wellbeing since his discomfort has been brought under better control. When he is comfortable, he is much more settled and predictable, whereas unmanaged pain has previously contributed to him becoming frustrated and unsettled.
His medication and pain management are therefore an essential part of his care and should not be stopped or changed without veterinary advice and consulting the charity. Any future owner must be committed to maintaining his prescribed treatment, monitoring him closely and working with us and their vet if his pain, mobility or behaviour changes.
King is particularly sensitive when it comes to his eyes and ears. He does not tolerate treatment or handling of these areas and can react defensively if pushed beyond his comfort level, so this is something any future owner must be prepared to manage carefully. His tolerance has improved slightly with gentle handling, but his boundaries in this area need to be respected.
Sometimes King is excited to play but doesn’t realise his size, any young children in the home must be supervised, as he has the potential to jump and knock children over.
Children must understand that bulldogs need time to settle in and have space to rest peacefully and uninterrupted.
Additional information from King’s foster mumma:
He arrived like a wrecking ball. Caused chaos and destruction. Brought his fleas with him and turned me into a neurotic Nitty Nora the Bug Explorer! He was big, powerful and wild. I very publicly tried to give up on him but no one else would have him, so I had no choice but to stick with him and man oh man, am I glad I did, as I got to meet the real dog. The big soft pudding. The one who wants to snuggle with you and climb on your lap. The one who wants to paddle in the water with you. The old boy who just wants security and someone to trust. The one who’s happy to just be in the same room as you. He’s a rock star and I just love him.
King’s adoption donation fee is £400 and will need to be paid in full prior to him going home which will also be subject to a home check.
**Every dog rehomed by GBSR receives Rescue Back-up for their whole Life. And the admin team are available for advice and support for the whole of that dog’s lifetime via Messenger, therefore the successful applicant will need to have an active Facebook and Messenger account for the life of the dog. If you cannot agree to this, please don’t apply**
***ALL DOG’S MUST BE COLLECTED WITHIN 7 DAYS OF ADOPTION***
🚨 PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE APPLYING 🚨
1. You MUST MEET ALL the dogs’ criteria, have you read the adoption criteria in full?
2. COMPLETE APPLICATION FORM
3. PAY YOUR £5 SUBSCRIPTION – SEE NOTE BELOW*
4. PAYMENT REFERENCE must on the application form to cross reference. Mention if you have paid by Paypal or Bank Transfer if you are unable to provide a Transaction Number so we can check.
5. PAYMENT METHOD Via Enthuse using the link below.
https://geordiebullies.enthuse.com/donate
Note:
UNLESS WE SEE PROOF, YOU HAVE PAID; WE WILL NOT PROCESS YOUR APPLICATION AND YOU WILL NOT BE CONTACTED.
£5 per year allows you to apply for as many dogs as you wish over a 12-month period from your first application. Please mention if you have paid by PayPal or Bank Transfer on any previous applications so we can cross reference.
Below is the link to the Application Form.
https://www.cognitoforms.com/geordiebulliesspringboard1/adoptionapplication2
King’s Story
On Saturday, we received an urgent call from the RSPCA asking if we could help this poor boy. One look at these photographs explains why they were so desperate to find him somewhere safe.
We believe that since January 2025, when he was returned to his previous owner by Dogs Trust, he has been passed through at least three different homes and 2 in the past 5 weeks! Although he was neutered during that time, his cherry eyes remained untreated—and this poor boy continued to suffer.
Most recently, he was advertised on a selling site before being taken in by someone who had him for less than 24 hours. When he “trashed her garden” and she felt unable to cope, he was taken to an RSPCA centre.
But he wasn’t being naughty or deliberately difficult. He was living in absolute torment.
The centre was already full and recognised that he urgently needed an experienced, breed-specific rescue. We reached out to our volunteers and, as always, they immediately jumped into action. Within hours, he was safely in our care.
Nothing could have prepared us for his condition. His skin is among the worst we have seen in a very long time. Large areas of his body are red raw, infected and almost completely bald. The irritation has been so relentless that he has scratched, bitten and torn at himself in a desperate attempt to find relief.
He has repeatedly cried and screamed because he is so uncomfortable. Listening to him and being unable to explain that help had finally arrived was utterly heartbreaking.
We immediately bathed him to soothe his burning skin—and he absolutely loved it. You could almost feel his entire body relax as the water provided a little relief from the constant pain and itching.
An emergency veterinary examination found:
Severely infected double cherry eye
Bilateral entropion
Demodex
A horrendous flea infestation
Widespread infected and inflamed skin
Eye and ear infections
A cough that may potentially be kennel cough
He is now receiving soothing baths, antihistamines, steroids, pain relief and creams for his skin and eyes. For the first time in who knows how long, he is finally getting the treatment he desperately needs.
No dog could be expected to settle or behave normally while living with this level of pain, discomfort and fear.
He didn’t need another advert.
He didn’t need another temporary home.
He needed somebody to recognise that he was suffering.
This is exactly why GBSR provides Rescue Back Up for life—to prevent our dogs from ever being passed from pillar to post again. Humans have let this boy down over and over, but we are putting a stop to it. He will always have the safety of GBSR behind him and will never need to face this uncertainty again.
His recovery won’t happen overnight, and we estimate that his veterinary care will cost more than £2,000. This will include treatment for his eyes and skin, alongside everything else needed to get this beautiful boy healthy and back on his feet.
Without further ado, please welcome six-year-old #King to the GBSR family.
King, the passing around stops here. You are safe with us now, and from this moment forward, you will know nothing but patience, comfort and love. We are so sorry that you were left suffering for so long—but we promise you will never face anything alone again.
To help towards King’s treatment, please donate using the button below or visit:
https://linktr.ee/gbspringboard
No donation is too small. If you’re unable to donate, please share King’s story—every share makes a difference.
We cannot do this without you. Thank you for always standing beside the dogs who need us most.
Follow King https://www.facebook.com/geordiebullies
For more updates on all our dogs please join our community group
Remember to answer the question, otherwise your request will be denied.
