It looks like the Obamas have finally settled on a Portugese water hound as the next dog-in-residence at the White House. Apparently the search is now on for a rescue dog.
I wish them luck and I am sure that they will find a dog waiting to be rescued somewhere in the United States - but they would a made life a whole lot easier for themselves if they had chosen a greyhound!
Like Portugese water hounds, greyhounds also seem to be good for some people that have allergies to dogs. This seems to be because they have just the one coat.
There are thousands of greyhounds waiting to be rehomed. Click here for a starting point for UK rehoming kennels, there are many others as well. I'm still working on lists for the US & elsewhere in the world - do send me links if you want to be included and are not already.
If you have allergies, and want a dog, go visit your local kennels! You should be able to spend plenty of time with the dogs to see if they trigger your allergies. They'll have all ages of dog, and while your unlikely to get a very young puppy, you may be able to get a young dog - like my lovely Ava - who has all the bounce, energy and naughtiness of a puppy. If you want a more sedate dog, they'll be there too. You could choose an old age pensioner, or go for a placid five-year old.
One final hint - ask to look at the black dogs. They're often overlooked, because they are not as pretty as some of the others. And I find these guys are often the best dogs in the kennels. (Just don't tell blue-and-white Ava I said that, she'd never forgive me).
Friday, 27 February 2009
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Keep your fingers crossed for Nicky
Dear little Nicky is out on home trial! I am keeping everything crossed that he has found his "forever" home, and ask that you keep everything crossed too.
I really hope that this home works out for him - my lovely boy has been in kennels for far too long. I do feel sad that I may not be able to walk him again, but this is far outweighed by the joy that he may have found a duvet to call his own. He is such a super boy (and I suspect if he had been a colour other than black he would have been rehomed months ago).
This could leave a big gaping hole in my top dog list. It almost goes without saying that Ava and Nobby have bounced (a very appropriate word for this naughty pair) to the very top of my list - and are now the first dogs I walk when I go to the kennels - but I now have another vacancy.
Shawn can rest assured that his place remains intact, but I like to have three sets of dogs that I walk regularly (I usually do five walks).
The search will have to begin next week... although there seem to be plenty of new dogs to choose from. I'll keep you posted.
I really hope that this home works out for him - my lovely boy has been in kennels for far too long. I do feel sad that I may not be able to walk him again, but this is far outweighed by the joy that he may have found a duvet to call his own. He is such a super boy (and I suspect if he had been a colour other than black he would have been rehomed months ago).
This could leave a big gaping hole in my top dog list. It almost goes without saying that Ava and Nobby have bounced (a very appropriate word for this naughty pair) to the very top of my list - and are now the first dogs I walk when I go to the kennels - but I now have another vacancy.
Shawn can rest assured that his place remains intact, but I like to have three sets of dogs that I walk regularly (I usually do five walks).
The search will have to begin next week... although there seem to be plenty of new dogs to choose from. I'll keep you posted.
Monday, 23 February 2009
Rehoming news
It was my Angie that has been rehomed. And she SEEMS to have settled in quite nicely judging by the pictures I've seen of her.
Meanwhile little Nicky has another new kennelmate - new to him, but sadly not new to the kennels. Emma is back due to a change in her owner's circumstances, and I can report that she is blue under her kennel coat.
Anyhow the partnership may not last long - I am hoping for good news about Nicky when I next go to the kennels. He has a reserve on him, so I hope he will finally be going home!
Meanwhile little Nicky has another new kennelmate - new to him, but sadly not new to the kennels. Emma is back due to a change in her owner's circumstances, and I can report that she is blue under her kennel coat.
Anyhow the partnership may not last long - I am hoping for good news about Nicky when I next go to the kennels. He has a reserve on him, so I hope he will finally be going home!
Friday, 20 February 2009
A word about muzzles
Following my post earlier in the week about the Shawn and Kenny face-off. I thought I should tell you a bit more about the rules that we follow when we walk greyhounds from the local retired greyhound rehoming kennels.
I've already talked about how we keep the dogs safe by always walking them on a lead. We also hold the lead in a special way with the loop at the top in the palm of our hand, and then the lead looped again around our forearm.
When I pass other dogs I always ensure that there is at least one walker between the sets of dogs - and always ensure that my dogs are on a short lead as we go by.
Finally all the hounds are walked with a muzzle. This protects the dogs if they do decide to have a bit of a nip and a growl. (I guess it also protects any unsuspecting squirrels that might be rooting around in the undergrowth. Although most aren't stupid enough to hang around for too long!)
This is not popular with all hounds and some will do all they can to get rid of the dreaded contraption. They'll do this by trying to flick it off with their front paws, or by rubbing the muzzle HARD against your leg. Neither method works.
However one day a few weeks ago I was asked to walk one of the dogs from the adjoining racing kennels. This lovely little black girl had developed a bit of a knack of getting rid of the muzzle. Something like a shake and a sharp flick of the head which would - somehow - send the muzzle flying in the air into the undergrowth.
I'm still not sure how she did it - the muzzle wasn't particularly loose, but in the end I did it up REALLY REALLY tightly, and this seemed to do the trick.
I've already talked about how we keep the dogs safe by always walking them on a lead. We also hold the lead in a special way with the loop at the top in the palm of our hand, and then the lead looped again around our forearm.
When I pass other dogs I always ensure that there is at least one walker between the sets of dogs - and always ensure that my dogs are on a short lead as we go by.
Finally all the hounds are walked with a muzzle. This protects the dogs if they do decide to have a bit of a nip and a growl. (I guess it also protects any unsuspecting squirrels that might be rooting around in the undergrowth. Although most aren't stupid enough to hang around for too long!)
This is not popular with all hounds and some will do all they can to get rid of the dreaded contraption. They'll do this by trying to flick it off with their front paws, or by rubbing the muzzle HARD against your leg. Neither method works.
However one day a few weeks ago I was asked to walk one of the dogs from the adjoining racing kennels. This lovely little black girl had developed a bit of a knack of getting rid of the muzzle. Something like a shake and a sharp flick of the head which would - somehow - send the muzzle flying in the air into the undergrowth.
I'm still not sure how she did it - the muzzle wasn't particularly loose, but in the end I did it up REALLY REALLY tightly, and this seemed to do the trick.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Shawn blots his copy book
It was another school half-term week and another case of doggy-mania at the kennels yesterday.
The yard was packed, the paddock - well the part of it that you could get to, most is still flooded - was packed, the lane was packed. You could barely move for greyhounds and walkers.
It was all a bit too much for Shawn. Since Kelly was rehomed he is sharing Missy, a cheeky - and very lively - white and brindle girl. The pair SEEM to get on very well, but I think this includes having a nice chat about how much fun being naughty is!
Recently Shawn has become a bit of a growly dog around some other males. He's actually generally pretty good, and will only growl if they try to sniff either him or his girlfriend, and I've found I can usually get him to stop if I firmly tell him NO!
Earlier on in fact he'd had a bit of a growl and I'd stopped him, told him NO and the rest of the walk had been uneventful. That was until we got back to the yard.
There was a crowd of people around the gate into the yard, and I heard some growling and barking. So, I decided to take Shawn and Missy on another loop.
BIG MISTAKE. On the way back, very close to the yard, we met Kenny. Kenny is the old man of the kennels, he takes no prisoners, and likes to have a good yell at everyone. I put both dogs on a very short lead, and walked them past Kenny. Kenny started growling and barking, Shawn reciprocated, and Missy - obviously thinking she was missing out - leapt towards Kenny. (At least I think that's what happened - it's all a bit of a blur).
"NO!!!! ENOUGH OF THAT" I yelled, dragging the dogs away. No harm done - apart from a bit of a shaken walker.
Shawn seemed to know that he'd overstepped the mark, because as soon as I sat down he buried his head into my side and demanded cuddles and tickles - he's not normally so demonstrative - and gave me a look as if to say: "But, butter wouldn't melt in my mouth." Hmm, I don't think so my boy!
The yard was packed, the paddock - well the part of it that you could get to, most is still flooded - was packed, the lane was packed. You could barely move for greyhounds and walkers.
It was all a bit too much for Shawn. Since Kelly was rehomed he is sharing Missy, a cheeky - and very lively - white and brindle girl. The pair SEEM to get on very well, but I think this includes having a nice chat about how much fun being naughty is!
Recently Shawn has become a bit of a growly dog around some other males. He's actually generally pretty good, and will only growl if they try to sniff either him or his girlfriend, and I've found I can usually get him to stop if I firmly tell him NO!
Earlier on in fact he'd had a bit of a growl and I'd stopped him, told him NO and the rest of the walk had been uneventful. That was until we got back to the yard.
There was a crowd of people around the gate into the yard, and I heard some growling and barking. So, I decided to take Shawn and Missy on another loop.
BIG MISTAKE. On the way back, very close to the yard, we met Kenny. Kenny is the old man of the kennels, he takes no prisoners, and likes to have a good yell at everyone. I put both dogs on a very short lead, and walked them past Kenny. Kenny started growling and barking, Shawn reciprocated, and Missy - obviously thinking she was missing out - leapt towards Kenny. (At least I think that's what happened - it's all a bit of a blur).
"NO!!!! ENOUGH OF THAT" I yelled, dragging the dogs away. No harm done - apart from a bit of a shaken walker.
Shawn seemed to know that he'd overstepped the mark, because as soon as I sat down he buried his head into my side and demanded cuddles and tickles - he's not normally so demonstrative - and gave me a look as if to say: "But, butter wouldn't melt in my mouth." Hmm, I don't think so my boy!
Monday, 16 February 2009
Angie goes home?
It's now been two-and-a-half weeks since I've seen the hounds - I hope to walk them tomorrow. Can't wait!
But the exciting news is I think that old terror Angie may have been rehomed (Nicky's latest girlfriend). Of course there could be another Angie at the kennels - I guess I will have to wait until I get there tomorrow to find out. It'd be lovely if she did find a home.
The lovely Topsy has also been rehomed, so it'll be a case of beginning to fill up the top-dog spots again. I'm sure Shawn and Nicky will still be there - but who knows? Someone may have come down to the kennels and fallen in love with them... watch this space!
But the exciting news is I think that old terror Angie may have been rehomed (Nicky's latest girlfriend). Of course there could be another Angie at the kennels - I guess I will have to wait until I get there tomorrow to find out. It'd be lovely if she did find a home.
The lovely Topsy has also been rehomed, so it'll be a case of beginning to fill up the top-dog spots again. I'm sure Shawn and Nicky will still be there - but who knows? Someone may have come down to the kennels and fallen in love with them... watch this space!
Thursday, 12 February 2009
Another allergy finding
Well I promised another allergy finding (apologies to all of you that have never had a sniffle, sore eyes, or itchy skin when around a dog).
As usual the last time I was at the kennels I walked the lovely Ava and Nobby again, and once again, the lovely Ava asked for a hug. She's so cute when she does this that I couldn't resist - this is despite the fact that she had just waded through some big puddles and the mucky girl had mud and water all the way up her legs.
My big girlie is really coming out of herself, so, after I had told her it was OK to put her paws on my shoulders, she jumped up, and firmly planted one on my chin and lower lip, scragging my face a little.
I moved her paw down and gave her a big hug all the time thinking: "Oh heck, that'll do it, I'm going to come up with several massive itchy red welts on my face."
Usually dog claws don't even have to puncture my skin to make me come up in a reaction, which looks a little bit like insect bites. In fact I've sometimes been seen to dance the fandango trying to avoid the claws of little dogs when they're trying to jump up and I'm in shorts. The little dogs think it's a great game.
I usually carry antihistamine cream with me, which calms the reaction down, but of course on this day I'd forgotten it.
Anyhow, Nobby and Ava were at the start of their walk and I wasn't going to let them suffer because of my stupidity. So we carried on, and I forgot all about the scratch, until... erm... that evening when I looked in the mirror at home and saw four very faint triangular marks in a rough paw mark on my face.
I suppose it could be that her claws weren't very doggy at that point (very muddy though), but it looks like the greyhounds have passed another allergy-test.
Just the final allergy test of getting them into the home to pass then - and the reason I haven't done this is I'm terrified they'll make me sniffle in an enclosed environment, and I'm not ready to find out that news yet!!
As usual the last time I was at the kennels I walked the lovely Ava and Nobby again, and once again, the lovely Ava asked for a hug. She's so cute when she does this that I couldn't resist - this is despite the fact that she had just waded through some big puddles and the mucky girl had mud and water all the way up her legs.
My big girlie is really coming out of herself, so, after I had told her it was OK to put her paws on my shoulders, she jumped up, and firmly planted one on my chin and lower lip, scragging my face a little.
I moved her paw down and gave her a big hug all the time thinking: "Oh heck, that'll do it, I'm going to come up with several massive itchy red welts on my face."
Usually dog claws don't even have to puncture my skin to make me come up in a reaction, which looks a little bit like insect bites. In fact I've sometimes been seen to dance the fandango trying to avoid the claws of little dogs when they're trying to jump up and I'm in shorts. The little dogs think it's a great game.
I usually carry antihistamine cream with me, which calms the reaction down, but of course on this day I'd forgotten it.
Anyhow, Nobby and Ava were at the start of their walk and I wasn't going to let them suffer because of my stupidity. So we carried on, and I forgot all about the scratch, until... erm... that evening when I looked in the mirror at home and saw four very faint triangular marks in a rough paw mark on my face.
I suppose it could be that her claws weren't very doggy at that point (very muddy though), but it looks like the greyhounds have passed another allergy-test.
Just the final allergy test of getting them into the home to pass then - and the reason I haven't done this is I'm terrified they'll make me sniffle in an enclosed environment, and I'm not ready to find out that news yet!!
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Dogs all snowed in!
Well not quite, but I've just had a look at the website for the kennels that I walk for and discovered that for at least part of last week dog-walking was cancelled!
(So my horrible cold came at the right time then). There are some wonderful pictures of the dogs in the snow though. I do hope everything is clear next week - so that I can back to see everyone.
(So my horrible cold came at the right time then). There are some wonderful pictures of the dogs in the snow though. I do hope everything is clear next week - so that I can back to see everyone.
Monday, 9 February 2009
Absent friends
Flip, I'm missing my hounds. I didn't get to see them all last week thanks to a cold and snow and now I'm busy with work all week. So it'll be nearly three weeks between greyhound fixes.
To get a hound ration I've been regularly checking the kennel's website, and have discovered, sadly, that one of the most laid-back and funniest dogs at the kennels has died.
Barney was a lovely black-and-white boy and a fantastic greyhound ambassador. He loved his walks and was brilliant with children - more than once, I passed him in the paddocks lying on his back, all four paws in the air, with several children giving him a tummy-tickle.
He knew his own mind, as I'd found to my cost on a couple of occasions, when I tried to go in the WRONG direction. Barney would lie down until you went in the direction he wanted you to (in fact he'd often use this as an excuse to ask for a tummy-tickle as well).
He also loved his pig ears, and would take them back to his kennel, to chew on, often eating some of his bedding as well. (I found out that it passes through unchanged, just in case you wondered!!).
He really was a lovely dog, a true gent, and will be sorely missed.
To get a hound ration I've been regularly checking the kennel's website, and have discovered, sadly, that one of the most laid-back and funniest dogs at the kennels has died.
Barney was a lovely black-and-white boy and a fantastic greyhound ambassador. He loved his walks and was brilliant with children - more than once, I passed him in the paddocks lying on his back, all four paws in the air, with several children giving him a tummy-tickle.
He knew his own mind, as I'd found to my cost on a couple of occasions, when I tried to go in the WRONG direction. Barney would lie down until you went in the direction he wanted you to (in fact he'd often use this as an excuse to ask for a tummy-tickle as well).
He also loved his pig ears, and would take them back to his kennel, to chew on, often eating some of his bedding as well. (I found out that it passes through unchanged, just in case you wondered!!).
He really was a lovely dog, a true gent, and will be sorely missed.
Friday, 6 February 2009
The backward shuffle
Honestly, Nicky is such a little pickle at times. He's a lovely handsome boy, but sometimes he's a bit nervous. And he dosn't like unexpected sounds.
Last week when we were walking without Angie - she had an appointment at the dentist - we heard several distant, but quite distinct, bangs. I'm not sure whether they were to do with the building work, or whether it was a nearby farmer with a gun, but anyhow Nicky decided he didn't like the noise AT ALL.
When he's worried, Nicky paces backwards and forwards, so I crouched down and gave him a cuddle. It seemed to work, and we resumed our walk.
It was only when we got close to the kennels that I realised he was still worried by the bangs. The fields were badly flooded, so I decided to take Nicky down the lane so that he could have a longer walk - closer to the reccomended 20 minutes.
As we started down the lane Nicky turned to face the kennels and walked backwards - we must have looked a very strange sight, walker and dog facing in opposite directions, but matching each other stride for stride.
Nothing would make Nicky turn around and I thought he probably wanted to join some dogs that had gone in the other direction. So I waited until they were out of sight, and tried again. Once again, Nicky started to walk backwards, facing the kennels.
OK, thought I, maybe he just doesn't fancy the lane today. So, I took him another direction - again away from the kennels - same reaction. Nicky faced the kennels and started to walk backwards, matching me pace for pace.
Poor boy - the loud bangs had obviously upset him more than I realised, so, it was back to the kennels.
Last week when we were walking without Angie - she had an appointment at the dentist - we heard several distant, but quite distinct, bangs. I'm not sure whether they were to do with the building work, or whether it was a nearby farmer with a gun, but anyhow Nicky decided he didn't like the noise AT ALL.
When he's worried, Nicky paces backwards and forwards, so I crouched down and gave him a cuddle. It seemed to work, and we resumed our walk.
It was only when we got close to the kennels that I realised he was still worried by the bangs. The fields were badly flooded, so I decided to take Nicky down the lane so that he could have a longer walk - closer to the reccomended 20 minutes.
As we started down the lane Nicky turned to face the kennels and walked backwards - we must have looked a very strange sight, walker and dog facing in opposite directions, but matching each other stride for stride.
Nothing would make Nicky turn around and I thought he probably wanted to join some dogs that had gone in the other direction. So I waited until they were out of sight, and tried again. Once again, Nicky started to walk backwards, facing the kennels.
OK, thought I, maybe he just doesn't fancy the lane today. So, I took him another direction - again away from the kennels - same reaction. Nicky faced the kennels and started to walk backwards, matching me pace for pace.
Poor boy - the loud bangs had obviously upset him more than I realised, so, it was back to the kennels.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Dreaded Lurgy
Disaster - today was meant to be the day I walked the hounds, but there's still snow on the ground, and I've woken up with a bit of a cold and a rattley cough.
I've decided that being outside walking hounds for three hours probably wouldn't be the best thing for me... but I am missing my weekly greyhound fix already. What's worse, I'm busy working all next week, so I will have to go a whole two weeks without seeing my guys and gals. What a depressing thought!
Anyhow I am just about to drag myself back to bed with a hot drink - probably the best thing for me.
And don't worry, I still have plenty to write about (including another allergy revelation) so will continue to post over the next few days.
Cough. Cough. Sniff.
I've decided that being outside walking hounds for three hours probably wouldn't be the best thing for me... but I am missing my weekly greyhound fix already. What's worse, I'm busy working all next week, so I will have to go a whole two weeks without seeing my guys and gals. What a depressing thought!
Anyhow I am just about to drag myself back to bed with a hot drink - probably the best thing for me.
And don't worry, I still have plenty to write about (including another allergy revelation) so will continue to post over the next few days.
Cough. Cough. Sniff.
Monday, 2 February 2009
Winter wonderland
Here in London we have had the worst snowfall in 18 years. As I sit in my office there's a heavy covering of snow elsewhere - I'd estimate nearly a foot - and apparently conditions will deteriorate throughout the day.
Needless to say I'm thinking about my hounds - I'm sure someone will have been able to get through on the roads to look after them. Although, one things for certain, there's no chance of me getting to the kennels. I go by train from central London, and apparently the weather is even worse south of us - where the kennels are - so I am sure that the trains won't be running!
The dogs should all be fairly snug in their kennels, but I don't think they'll get much of a walk today. I bet all the food will be frozen as well - this will cause trouble for the kennel hands.
Anyhow, hopefully, I'll be able to get to see everyone later in the week and I will hear all about the fun and games then.
Needless to say I'm thinking about my hounds - I'm sure someone will have been able to get through on the roads to look after them. Although, one things for certain, there's no chance of me getting to the kennels. I go by train from central London, and apparently the weather is even worse south of us - where the kennels are - so I am sure that the trains won't be running!
The dogs should all be fairly snug in their kennels, but I don't think they'll get much of a walk today. I bet all the food will be frozen as well - this will cause trouble for the kennel hands.
Anyhow, hopefully, I'll be able to get to see everyone later in the week and I will hear all about the fun and games then.
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