Rocco – Available – Yorkshire & Humberside
Dogs name: Rocco
Age: 3
Current location: Hull
I CAN LIVE WITH
Children: Yes, Dog savvy
Cats: Untested
Dogs: No
A BIT ABOUT ME
Personality:
Rocco is one of those very special dogs who makes everyone he meets smile. He’s affectionate, funny, loyal and wonderfully entertaining, with all the charm, determination and cheekiness you’d expect from an English Bulldog.
His favourite place is wherever his people are. Whether you’re heading out for an adventure, relaxing in the garden or enjoying a quiet evening on the sofa, Rocco simply wants to be part of it. He thrives on companionship and forms incredibly strong bonds with those he loves, rewarding them with endless affection, cuddles and unwavering loyalty.
Like any true Bulldog, Rocco has a wonderfully stubborn streak. He has perfected the famous Bulldog stare, occasionally develops selective hearing when asked to move from his favourite chair and believes shoes are far more exciting than they really are! His foster family affectionately refer to these moments as “Goblin Rocco”—his mischievous, playful side that keeps everyone laughing. Thankfully, it’s all done with a wagging tail and a sense of fun, never malice.
Behaviour:
Rocco has made excellent progress with his training during foster care. He sits reliably on command, understands the cue to wait before meals and takes treats much more gently than when he first arrived. His recall has improved significantly and is good in secure enclosed areas. He also understands his bedtime toilet routine and will happily go outside when asked. He is still learning the “leave” command and does not yet know “paw”, so his new family should continue his reward-based training.
Rocco absolutely loves playing with toys. His favourites are squeaky toys, footballs and tough rubber balls, and he enjoys carrying them around, squeaking them and chasing after them. He needs durable toys as he is strong and can quickly destroy lightweight ones. He enjoys chasing a ball but has not yet mastered bringing it back and would rather continue playing independently. He has never shown any possessive or guarding behaviour around toys and is happy for people to interact with him while he is playing.
He also enjoys interactive games with his people and gentle rough-and-tumble play. If play continues for too long, he can become overexcited, resulting in the occasional zoomies and playful interaction with clothing or feet. This behaviour is purely excitement and is easily managed by ending the game before he becomes overstimulated and allowing him time to settle.
Needs:
Rocco is looking for a home where he will be a much-loved member of the family and included in everyday life. He thrives on companionship and enjoys being around his people, although he is happy to be left for reasonable periods once he has settled into a routine.
Rocco has shown himself to be a gentle, well-mannered dog around children and we have no behavioural concerns that would prevent him from living with a family, provided normal supervision and sensible management are in place.
He would benefit from owners who are calm, confident and consistent, and who are committed to continuing the training he has already started. Rocco responds exceptionally well to positive reinforcement and food rewards, and he enjoys learning when training is fun and rewarding.
As a strong and enthusiastic Bulldog, Rocco would benefit from owners who are physically capable of handling him during his occasional moments of excitement. He can become overexcited during play, so he will do best with a family who can recognise when he needs a break and help him settle before he becomes overstimulated.
Rocco has shown some anxiety around having his harness put on, so his new family will need to continue building his confidence using patience, reassurance and reward-based training. He also benefits from a regular skincare routine to help manage his mild environmental allergies, including keeping his facial and skin folds clean.
Most importantly, Rocco needs a home that will embrace his Bulldog quirks, provide clear but kind boundaries and give him the love, stability and companionship he deserves. In return, he will be a loyal and devoted companion who will quickly become a cherished member of the family.
Walk/exercise:
Rocco enjoys getting out and about and has shown that he is much more active than many people might expect from an English Bulldog. He thoroughly enjoys exploring his surroundings and is always keen to investigate new sights and smells.
He walks well on the lead and naturally enjoys being out in front, taking in everything around him. Like many Bulldogs, he is a strong dog and can pull if something catches his interest, but he has made excellent progress with his lead manners through consistent, reward-based training. He has also learned to sit and wait at road crossings and responds well to calm, consistent guidance.
Rocco has behaved very well when meeting unfamiliar dogs in public. Throughout his time in foster care, he has shown calm and appropriate behaviour towards both male and female dogs and has generally remained relaxed during these encounters.
Rather than actively seeking interaction, Rocco tends to be quite neutral around other dogs. He is usually happy to continue on his walk or simply observe them from a distance, showing little interest in engaging. This appears to be his preferred way of responding rather than a sign of nervousness or anxiety.
After his exercise, Rocco settles beautifully and is more than happy to relax for the rest of the day.
Toilet trained:
Rocco is fully toilet trained and has established an excellent routine during his time in foster care. He understands his bedtime toilet routine and will happily go outside when asked before settling down for the night.
Travel:
Rocco travels exceptionally well in the car and appears to genuinely enjoy going out. He travels on the back seat wearing a dog seat belt and settles quickly for the journey without the need for a crate. Because of this we would consider homes up to four hours from his foster home.
We recommend using a seatbelt restraint or travel crate whenever transporting dogs.
**TRANSPORTING DURING WARMER WEATHER IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE CAR AS COOL AS POSSIBLE**
Things to be aware of:
Rocco has mild skin sensitivities and possible environmental allergies, which are currently well managed with a regular skincare routine. His new family should continue cleaning his facial and skin folds and monitor his skin for any flare-ups.
Sometimes bulldogs are excited to play but don’t realise their size, any young children in the home must be supervised, as they 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 Rocco’s foster mumma:
Fostering Rocco has been an absolute privilege and, if I’m honest, I have completely fallen in love with him.
From the moment he arrived, despite everything he had been through, he chose to trust. Watching him grow from a frightened, underweight little boy into the happy, confident, cheeky Bulldog he is today has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as a foster carer.
Rocco has the most incredible personality. He will make you laugh every single day with his zoomies, his stubborn Bulldog expressions and his hilarious antics, but he also has the gentlest, most loving heart. He simply wants to be with his people, whether that’s joining you on an adventure or snoring contentedly beside you at the end of the day.
He isn’t just looking for a house—he deserves a home where he will be adored, included and cherished as a member of the family. Someone who will laugh when his mischievous “Goblin Rocco” side appears, smile at his loud snoring, embrace his quirky personality and love him for exactly who he is.
What I hope his future family sees is what I’ve been lucky enough to see every day: not just a Bulldog, but a loyal best friend with the biggest heart, who has so much love to give.
Letting him go will be incredibly hard because he has left a huge paw print on my heart. But nothing will make me happier than knowing he has found the forever family he has always deserved.
If you choose Prince Rocco, I truly believe you’ll wonder how you ever lived without him.
Rocco’s adoption donation fee is £500 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
Rocco’s Story
Please welcome Rocco into the GBSR family.
Rocco was recently rescued by a lady who found him through a Facebook ad. When she arrived to collect him, she quickly realised he was nothing like the photos she had been shown. Instead, she found a shut down, underweight and deeply sad little boy. She knew she couldn’t leave him there, so she brought him home immediately to get him safe.
After getting Rocco home, she began to notice just how much support he truly needed. Rocco was riddled with worms and is showing clear signs of previous abuse and neglect. He cowers frequently and seems unsure of the world around him. We have no idea what this poor boy has been through, but we’re incredibly grateful he is now safe with us.
Wanting to do the very best for him, she made the difficult but selfless decision to surrender Rocco into our care when she realised she couldn’t provide the level of mental and physical support he needed to recover. We completely understood, and we’re thankful she stepped in to save him when she did. Now it’s our turn to help Rocco heal and prepare him for the forever life he deserves.
Despite everything he’s endured, Rocco has already shown us he still has so much love to give. He’s a playful boy who loves a ball and enjoys his little walks.
Rocco is a 2-year-old unneutered boy who is now in foster with first-time foster Helen in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. Thank you, Helen, for stepping up so quickly to collect him — we appreciate you so much. Welcome to the team.
And of course, a huge welcome to you too, Rocco. You’re safe now, and we can’t wait to watch you grow in confidence with Helen’s love, patience and support.
Please note: Rocco is not available for adoption at this time and we are not taking any pre-interest applications. You are welcome to follow his journey with us, but applications will not be accepted right now.
