Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject: SUKI's new home on the Isle of Wight
SUKI’S New Home
About two months ago Club member Mrs Margaret Brown ‘phoned to say that our local RSPCA had a Brittany bitch for re-homing; was I interested? Did I know anyone who would take her? The answer to both questions was ‘no’. I already have an elderly dog (Ted) and had no plans to have another dog now or when he dies. But I would visit the RSPCA and try to think of someone who would have her.
Suki was picked up as a stray west of London in April and passed to the Battersea Dogs Home. There she was x-rayed to check her hips (OK), spayed and chipped; I suppose she was named at this time. A couple of months later she was re-homed to a woman who lives about a mile from me. I have since learned something of her and of Suki’s time with her. The new owner is disabled and walks with difficulty; she needed help to exercise Suki. Four weeks later the woman decided she couldn’t cope and passed the dog to a family five miles away, via an internet advert. Dog and resident cat were not compatible and, two days later, Suki went to the RSPCA. They called Mrs Brown.
The thought of a Brittany being shunted off to another inappropriate home bothered me, so, after getting to know her by several visits and short walks, I decided Suki should join me and Ted.
Suki is said to be seven or eight years of age; she is orange/roan; stands 15”; weighs about 14.5kg. My vet says her teeth are more like those of a four year old so maybe she is younger than she looks.
I signed the adoption papers, made a donation (normal fee waived as ‘she’s an old dog’) and brought Suki to her new home on 2 August. I walked her around the garden on a lead. At the back gate she poised to leap over the metre high gate. My first job was to increase the height; my second was to do similarly to the back fence as Suki leapt that the following day – led astray by a visiting border collie. Fortunately I back onto open fields. Suki had a quick look round and returned.
To use up her energy (well, some of it) I walked Suki on the lead for two hours am and pm. She pulled very strongly and I began to ache all over! I almost dreaded the next walk. I kept to much the same route each time so that Suki would know her way home by paths and bridleways. On the extended lead I practised re-call by voice and whistle. After four days I couldn’t stand the pulling any longer. So off the lead she went, came back when I called, then off again, this time into nearby woods – and didn’t come back. After a while I headed for home and Suki soon caught up This happened several times on later walks, once she was home waiting for me. She is now much more reliable and although often 100 mts away will come back to check on Ted and me then be off again.
A problem? Not now that she runs 15-20 miles a day!
Suki is a delight and walking is a pleasure again.
i think one of the hardest things to learn about these dogs is to read their 'envelope' and then get comfortable with it. _________________ Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk
Lucky little dog to have found you Tony...
Sadly, it is too often that a Brittany could be rehomed 4 or 5 times. After that I find, things get a lot harder and they seem to lose confidence in the human kind....who can blame them.
All the best with her...
Having had two 'second owner' Brittanys they certainly know when they have landed on their paws and repay you with all their heart. _________________ Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk
Hi Mr C, great to see you on here, and what a smashing story - that is one lucky little girl! I hope Ted's nose isn't out of joint and that he enjoys having a new sister. I haven't seen Ted for a while so perhaps you'd like to put some photos of both of them on here. I hope he is keeping well too.
Annie _________________ Annie
Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject: Suki and Ted
Thanks for your comments and for enquiries about Ted. It is now almost a year since I raised a question about arthritis, here on the Forum. Responses then were very helpful.
Ted continues to be in good health but much slower than he was. Now he doesn't do much more than I do on a walk - but that can still be four hours a day; occasionally, we might be out for longer and he copes very well. He doesn't seem to be in pain, always wants to go and will from time to time be off to investigate hedgerows etc. He cannot keep up with Suki, of course. Just watching her makes us both feel tired and old!
I use a magnetic collar for Ted, give him glucosamine/chondroitin, garlic/fenugreek, Mixed Vegetable and Keepers Mix (all from Dorwest Herbs), and Omega 3/EPA. He has a fortnightly session at a hydrotherapy pool. Professional view is that Ted does much better than expected given the severity of his arthritis.
When I master the system, I'll post a pic or two of Ted and Suki.
Tony - I give all mine Kronch Salmon Oil - apart from the condition of their coats I believe it does their joints a power of good. http://www.henne-pet-food.dk/engl/index.htm i buy it from someone in Ireland - off eBay. _________________ Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk
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