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Once home we did as advised, letting him
explore the house at his own time, showing him the garden first.
The first few days were relatively smooth and painless. Lester had just
two accidents (and he confined these to the kitchen on our wipe clean
floor). He doesn't seem to like duvets though. He has peed rather
comprehensibly on the two we have provided.
We bought a baby gate because we decided we didn't want him roaming upstairs (his first 2 attempts resulted in us having to carry him back down the steep staircase). So when we retired to bed, initially he whimpered and whined and then started barking (not good at 11-12 at night). However, this rapidly improved to the stage that he doesn't even make a noise now when we go to bed. He crashes out to sleep.
It was only after about a week we noticed how settled he had become. He was happy to sit alone and not quite so determined to follow us around the house at every opportunity. He still does this I but I think this is more to do with the fact that he thinks we will be getting food!
We kept Lester on the food the kennels had been feeding him, adding a meat or fish and some pasta. We've tried to establish a routine for him. I walk him in the morning, am home about 1.30pm and usually take him out again. And after his one big meal at 5pm, he goes out again about 7-8pm.
His temperament is just brilliant. Small dogs, noisy children, nothing fazes him. He lazily ignored the lawnmower, making my husband go round him! I gave him a shampoo in the bath and he looked rather forlorn but wasn't frightened or stressed. A couple of seconds of warriness of the hairdryer and then he gave up and let me blow dry him with warm air!
He mostly sleeps....for England! But he has his silly moments and will start rolling around and barking and making noises and I think this is my cue to pay him some attention. For a kennel dog, he learns rapidly and copes amazingly with things like household noises (TV, radio, vacuum) and outside things like traffic and other dogs/cats.
He is just a beautiful dog and gets lots of love and grooming from my husband and I. We think the photos will show he is very happy and hope reading this will encourage more people to rehome a greyhound. Get the right one and you will have a devoted friend and companion.
Lorraine and David Etherington
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Gracie is a PAT (Pets as Therapy) dog, and has, over the years visited a brain injury rehabilitation unit, an short term closed psychiatric unit for teenagers at a community hospital, an old peoples' home and a class of autistic children. She has also been seen and stroked by thousands (literally) of children for the Blue Cross Childrens' Education scheme.
She is now semi-retired from her second occupation as a therapy dog but you can see what a marvellous nature she has and how she has brought comfort and love into many peoples' lives.
;)
I had intended to bring Minnie and Whizz (formerly known as Fire) over to the kennels over the Christmas period to see Joy, unfortunately we never made it so I would be really grateful if you would share the following update with Joy.
Firstly, Minnie and Whizz both appear to be really settled, Whizz in particular has really found his feet as you will find out later!
We visited Russ's mum in Somerset the Saturday before Christmas. A badger visits her garden and yes you've guessed one of the pair found the badgers calling card and rolled in it. It was Whizz who did the honours and he smelt so bad that Minnie growled at him. This also appeared to trigger their fussy eating phase . Over Christmas they became really fussy about their food and even Minnie wasn't emptying her bowl (which is really unusual for her - she is starting to resemble a barrel on legs). We have got back into a routine after the disruptions of Christmas and New Year and things are improving although there has been a lot of food thieving going on. Whizz managed to get hold of an entire loaf of bread I had left in a carrier bag on the fridge freezer (I know it was him because Minnie can't reach that high though I wouldn't be surprised if she put him up to it), and Minnie helped herself to half a kilo of cheese I left on the side accidentally, then went for the grapes and I think if she had had her way would have cracked open the port to polish it all off.
Our neighbours have been curious as to why we have started moving furniture in the early hours of the morning, I had to explain to them that Minnie is intent on heading for Oz, burrowing through her bed, a rug and the carpet, scratching away on bare floorboards till all hours. Perhaps once she has been spayed she will give up the whole nesting idea?
Whizz absolutely loves bones, they keep in quiet for hours. Infact he has become quite a chewer although he is normally very good and will only chew what you give him, unless its gloves, I'm not sure why but he has a real thing for gloves. He now goes completely hyper every time he sees either of us putting a coat and shoes on and bounces around so much that putting his lead on can be a challenge. Minnie is less fussed about having a bone but is completely obsessed with squirrels, to the point that she even looks up lampposts and telegraph poles for them. The squirrels are still winning, no fur hat for Minnie yet.
They are getting on with people really well (still working on the not jumping up and knocking people over), and just ignore people we meet on the street (even when they get insulted - Minnie was called a whippet the other day!)
There also seems to be a little competition going on between the two of them as to who is top dog, Russ and I have decided to let them figure that one out between themselves. I've attached some photos, squirrel watching in earnest, Minnie and her greyhound grin and Whizz's 'it wasn't me honest' look.
We are all looking forward to the New Year and the longer days (except Whizz who seems to think that its really unnecessary to walk any further than he has to) and wish everybody at the kennels a very Happy New Year.
Sarah, Russ, Minnie and Whizz
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Max
& LuluI went to live with Kev and Susie about 2 years ago, oh the delight of the garden whenever I wanted it and the soft bed, not to mention the sofa (when nobody was looking!). I cherish my time there and walks with Kevin are such
Highlights of the day even though I am now arthritic and I cant get about as much as I used to.
About 6 months after I first moved in Lulu arrived. Originally called Mandy she was like a whirling dervish. She didn’t stop for a moment and made me dizzy just watching her. She made me rather cross to begin with sometimes
as she was far too lively but I soon got used to having her around. Kevin’s daughter started saying she was a bit of a lulu, so the name stuck and I think it suits her. Life was idyllic, I had someone to play with and boss around, befitting my station in life, of course!
Next came Stella who was quickly renamed Daphne, snooty or what? She and Lulu tear round the garden at lightening speed flicking wet mud onto the walls as they continue to career around the living room. At least the two
of them play together and as my arthritis gets worse, they leave me alone and I can sleep which; apart from eating is what I like to do best. I try and keep them in line, however Daphne does shout back at me when I tell her off
and I have to go for a cuddle with Susie, as I get upset afterwards. Our family was complete, or so I thought.
Suddenly we were invaded (that’s not too strong a word) by Poppy. At only 18 months old and still a little
nipper, she has turned our lives around. Our toys have been eaten, so have our leads. She has chewed my bed to bits and lots of things that belong to Kevin and Susie. I know that when I here one of them cry out 'Oh no, Poppy!' I know she's been at it again.
Well, we all live happily together, most of the time and as much as the love that Joy and all the staff gave us, I wouldn’t change my new family for the world. Now I'm off to dig up a tasty bone I buried a while back, that’s if
Poppy didn’t get there first!
Kevin, Susie, Max, Lulu, Daphne & Poppy
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Daphne
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Poppy
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Bella (Baby) receiving morning cuddles from Kim
Just a quick note to say Baby is settling in very nicely. She was very hyper on Tuesday when we brought her home, even though we did take her for lots of walks, but has now calmed down considerably, only getting excited when we come down to greet her in the morning. She travelled well in the car and has settled very comfortably on the settee in her room (completely ignoring the nice new bed and bean bag we bought her!). She cried a lot on the first night and my son decided to spend the night with her to calm her down. It was very amusing to come down in the morning to find Baby spread out on the settee and my son wrapped up in his duvet … on the floor! We introduced her to my 16 month old niece yesterday and Baby was very gentle with her, only licking her a couple of times on the nose and letting herself be stroked and fussed over. Baby is eating well and has had no accidents indoors. We are all really happy to have her and cannot believe how lucky we have been to find what seems like the perfect dog straight away. A big thank you to Joy and everybody at the kennels for their help. Best regards, Sabina
Updated - 2nd April 2008
Baby has been with us for a week now, but sometimes it feels as though she has been with us forever. We spent the day down at the rugby club where my three sons play on Sunday and she was the best behaved dog there. She got on very well with people and dogs alike (small and big). Loads of people I have encountered on our walks have asked me where we got her from and some have expressed interest in coming to see the dogs you have for re-homing. I hope this will lead to something.