Tony
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SUKI's new home on the Isle of WightSUKI’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.
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guy
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great to read the story tony.
i think one of the hardest things to learn about these dogs is to read their 'envelope' and then get comfortable with it. 
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Patricia
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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...
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guy
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Tony - got any pictures?
Having had two 'second owner' Brittanys they certainly know when they have landed on their paws and repay you with all their heart.
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Lin Dyke
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So happy Suki is settled with you. Poor girl has certainly been passed from pillar to post 
By the way, how's Ted getting on 
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doganjo
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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
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Liz
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Hi Tony, great to hear from you, and to read Suki's story.
Glad she has settled in so well with you and Ted.
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Tony
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Suki and TedThanks 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.
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guy
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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.
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Tony
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Suki and TedHere goes! A pic or two of Suki and Ted (courtesy Mrs Margaret Brown).
That didn't work; I'll study the instructions again.
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guy
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Tony - if the pictures are to large, either in physical pixel dimension or to detailed as in dpi then the forum software will not cope with converting them. The ideal size for the forum is about 680 pixels at 72dpi. If your camera is set to print quality pictures then it is likely to be somewhere up in the 2400 pixels at 300dpi.
The other thing the software doesn't like is things like '&' in the file name.
If you cannot convert them email them to me and I will sort it for you.
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Tony
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Suki and TedSome pics of Suki and Ted
Click to see full size image
Click to see full size image
Click to see full size image
Click to see full size image
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Patricia
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Tony, she looks nice.but I am quite sure she must be over 6 by the greying on her face....
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doganjo
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Yes, me too, I would say 7 or 8 maybe. Lovely to see Ted again - must be a few years since you've been at Le Weekend, Tony.
Annie
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Patricia
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I must say these rescue dogs are a credit to you...kind and genuine dog lovers who are willing to give some quality years to an older dog.
That goes for Mugi too , as when his French owner rang( when I was involved with rescue) I did not think in a million years he would end up as a shooting dog and so loved.
Most people looking for a rescue tend to draw the line at 6 or 7 top. 
So, from me; you give back faith to these dogs and I think you are just...wonderful
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Tony
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SukiLong-time members of the Club may remember Tony Sweatman, a founder member of BCGB. At that time he was breeding and training Brittanys. A few years ago he switched to Labradors as being more suitable for working on the Island.
He is a near neighbour and this morning I introduced Suki to him.
He liked the look of her and thought her to be well-bred. He suggested that she was likely to be 4-5 rather than the 7-8 years estimated by the RSPCA. Her light muzzle makes her look older. This is not 'greying' but the lighter coloured hair to be seen elsewhere on her body. Anyway, does it matter? I tell her she's only as old as she feels!
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Lin Dyke
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Or, as Groucho Marx said "you're only as old as the woman you feel"  Terribly non PC but still funny
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Lin Dyke
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Seriously now, like Patricia, I thought she may be older (6+ to maybe 8 ) but you are the one she lives with and are in a much better position than us. She looks lovely and I'm sure Ted will love having her share his wonderful home 
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Patricia
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Tony, I remember Gaele Sweatman well. She was a lovely lady and last time I saw her was at one of the Brimingham shows if I remember rightly...Still got a photo of her alongside the founder members of the BCGB. Funny looking back...everyone looked so young!
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doganjo
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Yes, I remember Gaile and Tony too. Nice people, wonder if they have any Brittanys now? I missed out on the photo, couldn't leave the kids to come all that way south as they were quite young (and three dogs too)
Annie
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staandejachthond
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Loures; my 1e breton was with 4 years already grey around his eyes and nose.... so everbody mistakingly said ooohhh he is playfull on his "old" age.....
what i see is that the most of the orange breton's on joung age allready start to "loose" colour.....
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Patricia
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4 years old is really young to start " greying". I have seen many Brittanys going grey but it normally start at 6... at 7 years old, some can be white and some have" glasses". Yet, some keep all their colouring until 9 or even 10.
This is partly why I prefer the Black, they have a longer" shelf life" 
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Tony
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Gaele and Tony SweatmanBy chance I met Gaele Sweatman when I collected Suzi from the RSPCA here, on the Isle of Wight. She now works for RSPCA HQ - I think with particular responsibility for collecting rescues. She and Tony separated some while ago. Tony now trains labradors, goes on shoots, picking up. Says he's never carried a gun! I generally pass the Club magazine on to him.
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doganjo
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Goodness, a blast from the past, Tony. Next time you see Gaele give her my regards, please. I don't think I met Tony very often, but if he remembers me say hello to him too for me.
Annie
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