Larry the stockbroker

If Larry was human I'm sure he'd be a stockbroker. If not a stockbroker he'd at least be an investor in the FTSE - he reacts in the same way the stock markets are reacting at the moment.

Larry is a stunning brindle boy. Brindles are tan and brown with tiger stripes, and most are rehomed in the blink of an eye. Larry's been in the local greyhound rehoming kennels for about 6 months because he's a bit of a silly billy.

When you first meet him, he's nervous, he's skittery, and will jump at his shadow. Or a leaf. And if he hears a male voice his legs will spin round and he'll drag you back to the kennels - and safety.

After a few walks, he's a different dog. "Me, scared? No, must have been another brindle," and he trots off confidently, happily leading the way. You think to yourself: "Brilliant, a breakthrough, he's really come out of himself."

Then something happens, you haven't walked him for a few weeks, or he sees A WHITE VAN, and the nervous jittery boy is back, plunging and lunging back to the safety of the kennels. (See I told you he was a stockbroker).

"Poor Larry," laments one of the walkers. "He's so nervous he'll never find a home." And yet, with the kennel hands, with his regular walkers, he's a completely different loving boy.

Go on, when you go to choose your hound, give one of the shy ones a go.