Hi Janice

That's great news! Can't really advise you as we haven't got a second dog - yet!! I think Suzanne's earlier posts about Erin might help you when she brought her home at first. All the best to you - hope Jacky settles in - it sounds as if the fun and games have started already! I'll no doubt get to meet the big chap at the park sometime.

Christine

Hi, Janice - for what it's worth, this is what Steve and I have been doing to ease Harry into our routine as a newby two-dog household.

We've always been told to start as you mean to go on. So if you sleep with your dogs in the bedroom normally, then fine - do that. But if they normally sleep in the kitchen then let them sleep in the kitchen from the get go. We bedded down Pearly and Harry together and there was a bit of whining and barking from the big man but we just ignored it (hard though that may be!) and he settled down after a while.

We feed them at the same time but at opposite ends of the kitchen and we make sure that one of us is there to supervise. For the first few days they scoffed their food down double-quick but now Pearly is slowing down and beginning to crunch again. Harry is still a gut-bucket and wolfs his without it touching the sides. But he's good in that he doesn't go over to barge Pearly away from her's, so we're pleased with that. If we give them any treats, again, we supervise them and make sure it's something that they're likely to finish at the same time.

When the two dogs are by themselves, we make sure that there is nothing for the to squabble over - no toys, no chews, no long-lasting treats (though they get a biscuit as we leave). Seems harsh, but it's not worth the risk at this early stage. We started off by keeping them separated by a dog-gate (which you can get from Argos for about £35 - it's about 6 or 8 inches taller than a baby-gate) but Harry was chewing his bedding and scratching at the door frame, so we've put them together. They've settled now, which is good.

Getting on their leads is a bit of a circus at the moment cos they both get so over excited. I'd say watch out for your face cos a whop with a greyhound helicopter-like tail is blummen sore!!!

Finally, I'm really, really, really (x a million!) thrilled that Jacky has found himself a home. I realise you're fostering at the moment but I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes well for you all. I'd love to meet up if you're in the vicinity. Are you coming to the walk here in Gullane on 24th April?

All the very best to you,

Fiona

Trying, probably unsuccessfully to upload a photo of Jacky?? Funny feeling it's going to come up as a web link!

I'm so brainy!!

what stunning markings he has Janice - a very striking, handsome boy!!

Well done you!

What a handsome boy! He reminds me of a pirate with that patch over his eye! It's great he's looking really settled and enjoying home life. How's Mandy getting on with him?

Christine

Christine, they get on most of the time but Mandy's definitely been put in her place by Jacky. It's a fight to see who gets on the couch and if it's Mandy Jacky just jumps on too forcing her to get off! Poor Mandy has now taken to sleeping at the bottom of the stairs at night. I feed them separately as Jacky wolfs it down and would finish hers off given the chance. When it's 'toy time' (only under supervision, I'd have no house left to come back to if I gave them toys while I'm out) they go absolutely crazy flinging them about and racing around, great to watch but don't get in the way!

Janice 

Hey Jacky is a real stunner,

What a face  - I could walk down Byres Road in the west end  any day with Jacky and my matching  B&W handbag ( well thats another story ) We would be the star attraction.

He look a real character  - jumpimg the grid and rushing upstairs  - well what can I say!!

 

Charles

Fiona, the lovely Jacky at the moment is a holy terror, but loveable with it.( Check under "Cleo New Foster Dog" postings re his antics with cat). At the moment his sole purpose in life is to get a hold of my next door neighbours cat, my nerves are shredded! Last night he saw it trotting across our garden and leaped about six feet in the air and launched himself at my patio window almost knocking himself out! Will be phoning Carole tomorrow for some of her expert advice. Apart from this he is doing fine and survived his first watering-can shower at the weekend and even let me blow dry him with the hairdryer. Every time I move he follows me which is quite sweet but a bit off-putting when he's waiting outside the toilet for me! Mandy has turned into a magician - she can do the equivalent of pulling the tablecloth and leaving the dishes standing on the table. If Jacky wont get off the couch when she barks at him (and he's never budged once for her yet) she tugs and tugs at his duvet until she's pulled it out from under him and he's left on the cold leather! Enjoying having him but worried about his feline fantasy.

Janice

 

Hi Janice

Yeah - I can sympathise. Vegas just hates cats! Our street is teeming with them and he's chased goodness knows how many up trees in the woods next to us. We put him on the lead while we're in our street as there are two kittens living nearby who like to live dangerously. The other morning one of them was hiding behind one of the pots on my patio - Vegas spotted it - but I didn't. Lucky for the kitten he was on the lead - but Vegas nearly pulled me through a glass panel in the porch.

When he spots one outside and he's indoors - well, he gets all indignant, doesn't he - all alert and stiff legged.

I don't know if there's anything you can do apart from being aware, which you already are, of his feline fetish. It's something he shares with many dogs - not just greyhounds and lurchers.

Christine

Hi Janice

I put the message on our Intranet today and as it's published overnight, you should see it tomorrow. Hope you get some people interested!

Delighted that Jacky enjoyed himself at Bellahouston - at least he'll know what to do now when he's off the lead.

Christine

Hi, Janice

How's the gorgeous Jacky-boy doing?

Fiona

Oh dear, sounds like a very upsetting experience for all concerned. No doubt Jacky will have a high old time of it with Rachel. It was quite a shock for me to see Harry jump with all four feet off the ground onto Carole's wheelie bin to get at her cat the other week, so goodness only knows how poor Janice is feeling.

Janice - don't be upset at having to give up Jacky (easier said than done, I know). As Dave says, GAL knows so much more about him now and can match him all the better to his forever home. Forewarned is forearmed, so when his future family meet him and fall for him they'll know exactly what to do from day 1.

Fiona

Hi folks, sorry not been online recently, hubby is in hospital recovering from an operation, so things a bit hectic juggling kids, work, dog, hospital visits etc. Yes it was very upsetting to return Jacky but don't think there was any other answer. Apart from his very high prey drive he is a fantastic dog, very sooky and eager to please. It was very unfortunate what happened with the cat especially as it belonged to a neighbour in my street. He was ON the lead at the time but was like lightning and in a matter of seconds it was too late. (I was talking to Eddy at Langbank about it and a bit of advice he gave me was that if your grey has anything in it's mouth and won't let go they will drop it instantly if you blow hard in one of it's ears.)

It was all very traumatic especially as my wee girl was with me. It broke my heart to give him back but we did fuss over him all day the Hot Dog Show. He will make a great pet for a family who don't live in a built-up area with cats in every street. If anyone is down at the kennels please make a fuss of him, he was only following his instincts and is not a bad dog in any way, oh, oh feel a blubber coming on again.       

Janice  

 

Lesley, yes I would still like to foster but not straight away. What happened was so awful (the police were involved, luckily there was a witness who could confirm that Jacky was on his lead), I still think about it every day. Dave will no doubt remember the hysterical, incoherent phone call I made to him at the time! I feel it would be a real slap in the face to the people who lost their cat if I appeared with another foster dog. But never say never......

Janice