We were away on holiday last week, and I didn't get to see the hounds. So, with great excitment I checked the website of the local retired greyhound rehoming kennels to find out which, if any, dogs had been rehomed while I was away.
Guess what! Guess what! Guess what! I am soooo excited. William is on the reserved list. Can I say it again? I am soooo excited.
A reservation is just the first step in the rehoming process, so I have to keep everything crossed for this lovely boy. This sweet lad just isn't very good at selling himself to potential owners, and actually when you get to know him he is a delightful boy. I really hope everything goes well.
Another long-term resident name on the reserved list is Ollie, a big beautiful softie of a blue boy, who is more horse than greyhound.
All thrilling news, and I can't wait to hear more when I visit the kennels later in the week.
Showing posts with label nervous dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nervous dogs. Show all posts
Monday, 16 March 2009
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Sweet William
I have a bit of a soft spot for William, one of the white and brindle boys who has been at the kennels for a number of months now.
I wasn't always so fond of him. The first couple of times I took him for a walk I was a complete nervous wreck. William can be a growler and a barker, and he'll growl and bark at some other male greyhounds. He's quite a big boy, so you have to make sure you hold on TIGHT.
After he's gone to the toilet he'll gouge the ground raking up piles of earth. You can tell when William's been out, because there are deep scratch marks all the way down the sprint and around the paddocks.
I think, however, that William is just a bit confused, and all he needs is someone with patience, love and understanding to bring him out of himself. (And I hope they walk through that kennel gate sometime soon).
I came to this conclusion when I noticed that William wags his tail madly at a dog while barking and growling. A mixed-up boy if I ever saw one.
I've also discovered that you can usually calm him down by stroking his head and speaking calmly to him.
If there's one thing William loves is love, cuddles and attention. So, if you can find a quiet place to wait-a-while and have some cuddles and tickles, you'll be rewarded by just about the most vigorous tail-wagging you've ever seen.
There's another thing that he loves as well, and that's treats. William likes to do something akin to kangaroo-jumping for treats - he bounces up and down on his back legs just begging for you to give him something.
How could you resist?
I wasn't always so fond of him. The first couple of times I took him for a walk I was a complete nervous wreck. William can be a growler and a barker, and he'll growl and bark at some other male greyhounds. He's quite a big boy, so you have to make sure you hold on TIGHT.
After he's gone to the toilet he'll gouge the ground raking up piles of earth. You can tell when William's been out, because there are deep scratch marks all the way down the sprint and around the paddocks.
I think, however, that William is just a bit confused, and all he needs is someone with patience, love and understanding to bring him out of himself. (And I hope they walk through that kennel gate sometime soon).
I came to this conclusion when I noticed that William wags his tail madly at a dog while barking and growling. A mixed-up boy if I ever saw one.
I've also discovered that you can usually calm him down by stroking his head and speaking calmly to him.
If there's one thing William loves is love, cuddles and attention. So, if you can find a quiet place to wait-a-while and have some cuddles and tickles, you'll be rewarded by just about the most vigorous tail-wagging you've ever seen.
There's another thing that he loves as well, and that's treats. William likes to do something akin to kangaroo-jumping for treats - he bounces up and down on his back legs just begging for you to give him something.
How could you resist?
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.
Monday, 17 November 2008
Mud glorious mud
Today I decided to take my walking boots and not my wellies with me when I went to walk the greyhounds at the local greyhound rehoming kennels.
Big mistake. Silly me thought that, as it had been dry for the last few days, the ground would be relatively firm. I had forgotten that we'd had several days of torrential rain in the past two weeks.
Ooops - part of the field was more like a swamp. There was no way I was getting round it, so I decided to take the dogs around a smaller overgrown field. Larry was the first hound I walked, and after trying to skitter back to the kennels after seeing A BLUE VAN, he settled quite nicely onto the lead and LOVED going around the overgrown field.
I wasn't sure of the path through the undergrowth, and Larry took advantage of this by sniffing every single tussock of grass to be seen. He thought it was all WONDERFUL. It was the same story for all the other dogs I took out - so I've made a mental note to make sure I vary their routes a little bit more in the future.
Big mistake. Silly me thought that, as it had been dry for the last few days, the ground would be relatively firm. I had forgotten that we'd had several days of torrential rain in the past two weeks.
Ooops - part of the field was more like a swamp. There was no way I was getting round it, so I decided to take the dogs around a smaller overgrown field. Larry was the first hound I walked, and after trying to skitter back to the kennels after seeing A BLUE VAN, he settled quite nicely onto the lead and LOVED going around the overgrown field.
I wasn't sure of the path through the undergrowth, and Larry took advantage of this by sniffing every single tussock of grass to be seen. He thought it was all WONDERFUL. It was the same story for all the other dogs I took out - so I've made a mental note to make sure I vary their routes a little bit more in the future.
Sunday, 2 November 2008
Remember, remember the 5th of November
Like many dogs, some greyhounds are scared of loud noises. On a walk a sudden crash can send a dog like Larry bowling for the safety of the kennels. Others, like Nicky, will tug at the lead, with their ears back and tail between their hind legs until you speak softly to them, and they continue on their way.
So just a reminder to keep your pets safe around Bonfire Night. People have started letting off fireworks around here already - so we like to ensure that the cats are in, with the cat flap locked, before it gets dark.
The Retired Greyhound Trust gives some good advice on what to do during the firework season, and I'm sure it extends to all dogs, not just greyhounds. The main thrust is that you should take the dog for their final walk before it gets dark, draw the curtains at dusk, and turn the radio or television on.
The RGT also says that your dog will look for your response to strange sounds - so try not to jump - let your dog go to where they feel safe, and don't pamper them (they'll react more).
So just a reminder to keep your pets safe around Bonfire Night. People have started letting off fireworks around here already - so we like to ensure that the cats are in, with the cat flap locked, before it gets dark.
The Retired Greyhound Trust gives some good advice on what to do during the firework season, and I'm sure it extends to all dogs, not just greyhounds. The main thrust is that you should take the dog for their final walk before it gets dark, draw the curtains at dusk, and turn the radio or television on.
The RGT also says that your dog will look for your response to strange sounds - so try not to jump - let your dog go to where they feel safe, and don't pamper them (they'll react more).
Friday, 17 October 2008
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.
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.
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