Sally

Gail · Big Cheese

Sally

Teresa · Enlightened One

WOW, she's beautiful

Nicki · Big Cheese

Well what can I say except what a stunner she is

Look forward to hearing all about the progress she makes.

Nicki and wee Janie.x

Isla · Enlightened One

I met her at the GALa - she is very sweet.

JENNY · Big Cheese

Well done! Sally looks gorgeous.

Lesley · Guru

I met her at the GALa too!! She looks a real sweetie.

Lorna · GAL Shop Co-Ordinator

Fantastic news Gail - I'm so pleased she is in her new foster home now. She is a lovely dog - looks very photogenic!

Sounds like she will do very well in the house Fingers crossed for you all.

-- Edited by Lorna at 11:14, 2006-08-23

Valerie · Guru

Well done Gail, Sally looks a shy wee cutie

saldec · Master

Sally is gorgeous.

With a name like that she would be as it's my name too

Gail · Big Cheese

Hello everyone, My mum says i have to let everyone know how i'm settling in to this big house kennel now that i have been here for a few days.

It's much nicer than a little kennel and it has these funny things called stairs that lead up to big comfy beds at the top, my friend Neo usually lies on my mum's one but he lets me lie there instead a lot of the time now and it's really cosy. Mum must really trust me because she left me to look after neo for 2 hours yesterday while she bought some food for us, when she came back she said we had both been very good and gave us a treat for not chewing anything in the house.

She also gave me treats on the first day everytime i did the toilet outside but she doesn't anymore, she said that's because i am now something called house-trained and i'm a very clever girl. She is always telling me that, except when i meet other dogs outside, i like to bark and growl at them but mum says that's not very nice and tells me to stop but i've not managed to yet because it's so much fun, but i am getting better. Sometimes when i'm out i get a bit frightened and i stop for a minute but mum tells me it's ok and gives me a little pat and i know that she is looking after me so i just walk on. We meet lots of people and i think i quite like them touching me now because they always say how beautiful i am.

The little people are really nice and i like to follow Ryan to his room and sit on his bed while he plays this computer thing but i always go back downstairs if i hear the baby one crying just to make sure he is ok. I don't play with him very much but i like watching him and he makes funny noises but they don't frighten me at all. Sometimes i hear him when it's dark but i don't go to him then because i like sleeping on my bed all night and don't want to move until morning when it's time to go out. Mum says i'm lazy but i just think i'm very well behaved.

I had a bath and that was good because i get lots of cuddles now that i'm nice and clean, and i've noticed that if i wag my tail i get even more so i do that all the time now. This big house kennel really is not so bad and i don't really want to go back to the other type but mum says that's ok because i don't have to and i can be part of a family now. She says i'm very special and i don't really know what that is but i will agree anyway.

Sally. x

BOWGANG · Master

Sally it's so good to hear you are settling into the big type of kennel. We love our one and if you behave it just gets better and better! Aren't those things called beds fabby? We don't get there very often but when we do they're great..and if you keep wagging your tail the cuddles will never stop! Hope everything continues to go from strength to strength and be good to your Mum...she's obviously giving you lots of help and tlc.

Gambol Keera and Jamie xxx

Teresa · Enlightened One

Sally, how nice to hear that you've settled so well into the house kennel. You must have been ever so good because mummy will let you stay forever now. Keep wagging that tail so you get lots of cuddles.

We know what you mean about the soft big beds - our mum lets us sleep on hers too, even if she's in it ! How generous is that?? We had a bath once too, it was ok but we're not keen on repeating the experience cos we smelt so funny afterwards.

Anyway, well done you.

Licky kisses and lots of waggy tails from Dave and Daisy

Valerie · Guru

Sally, sounds like you are having a rare time of it, and you've got a smashing mum who is helping you learn lots of new things.

Like my mum says, don't disrespect your mum, and try and be good.

emma · Guru

Sally,

I am so glad to hear that you have your four paws firmly under the table!

Try to stay 'house trained' and let Mum get up to the baby one, you are not lazy you just know how to behave after all, we are far to beautiful to be getting up in the night! All greyhounds need their beauty sleep. Every human needs to learn this, mine often disturb me in the night! I find it best to roll over and ignore them they usually go back to bed once they have toileted.They can take a bit of training in the early days wanting to fuss over you and make sure you are all right. It sounds harsh to ignore them I know but it really is best if you stick to a routine with them.

I hope you have a lovely happy retirement, Neo is lucky to have such a beautiful girl keep in touch love from Chad xxx

Gail · Big Cheese

Hi Folks, well Sally has been here for ten days now and her confidence is improving every day. She is still a bit hesitant on walks and has to be encouraged out the door but once out she walks like a little star on the lead and has remained house trained with no accidents at all.

She visited the vet on Tuesday for a pre-neutering health check and he says her heart and lungs are fine, in fact she is in really good condition overall, no baldy bits and once bathed she has a lovely shine to her coat, once the kennel coat all comes out she will be looking fantastic. She will be neutered on the 14th of this month, so fingers crossed it all goes well for her.

The only slight issue she has is a little aggression to other dogs when out, she growls and barks at every dog she sees, the bigger the better in her book, hard to believe when you look at her sweet little face!! She responds to a firm "No" and will then stand quietly avoiding eye contact while i pet the other dog and talk to the owner, so i'm positive this will be overcome with time and effort. No such problems with Neo though, they are happy to walk and eat together and Neo has even jumped up beside her on my bed which is unheard of for him.

Al in all she is a sweet little girl and it's hard to believe that she is just out of a kennel as she has adapted to family life so well.

From shy and innocent

To gaining confidence

To bed stealing, all in one week

Laura · Master

Awwww

shes lovely! Its great to see them gain confidence and Im sure her op will go well as shes so healthy!

Well done you on fostering, keep us posted (with photos

) on hows she doing

Valerie · Guru

What a tremendous job you are doing for her!! Her coat looks like it's coming on already, and it's really good she is responding to your "No" with other dogs, cos it sounds like it's just a bit of fear aggression, and she will take confidence from you. She sounds really sweet, and lapping up all your attention.

max · Enlightened One

Sally looks and sounds lovely and it seems she has settled in very well. Glad to hear that Neo is not frazzled by her. Keep up the good work.

Nora

Siouxsie · Enlightened One

Thanks for the promised picture of Neo and Sally on the bed together.

talk soon x

Gail · Big Cheese

Your welcome Siouxsie, and like we said on the phone, they do make a lovely pair

Sunny girl · Master

Aww that photo of them on the bed is great, two really happy content hounds. Well done Gail I'm glad its all going so well. Can't wait to meet up with you all again.

Landess Sunny and Zoe.

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Gail, Sally certainly looks much more confident in her new photos & soooo relaxed. Glad she's settled in so well & enjoying her new life with you all. That seems like a good sign that she is responding to you ticking her off when she grumbles at another dog outside!

Gail · Big Cheese

Definately getting closer Siouxsie The gap between them getting smaller every day

Siouxsie · Enlightened One

Nicki · Big Cheese

So glad it is all going well. Love the pics, the one of them on the bed is just fab, bless them.

Nicki and wee Janie.x

Lorna · GAL Shop Co-Ordinator

They look lovely together on the bed - Sally must think she has won the lottery now - glad to see she is so happy with you.

Gail · Big Cheese

Hi Folks,

Nothing major to report on Sally this week but lots of little bits of progress in loads of things.

She is eating much better and now has a small breakfast and normal dinner which seems to suit her and as her weight has remained steady she is obviously getting all she needs. She has taken over the bed closest to mine and likes to be near me and loves her cuddles in the morning. Her confidence in the house has really grown and she is starting to learn to play, her favourite game when she's excited is to run from room to room jumping on and off the beds

Much better on walks now too, although she is still wary of sudden noises. When she is not sure about something she stops and looks at me as if to say "is it ok mum" and then happily continues her walk when she knows everything's fine. She doesn't keep her head up, watching all the time now and sniffs around a lot more and seems to be enjoying being out. She walks like a little star on the lead.

Her reaction to other dogs is improving and i am now convinced that it is a slight fear aggression rather than her just being aggressive in itself. She does still growl if a dog approaches her but will settle down most times and stand quietly, but she will turn away from the dog and not make eye contact. We can now pass dogs on the other side of the street and on a lot of occasions she will not react at all as long as i am talking to her so it's like she is reassured by that and stays calm. It's getting better every day and i am sure with time she will be absolutely fine.

She is a very sweet, loving little girl and the trust she has in me is lovely to see, only down side at the moment is me dreading her neutering op on Thursday!! That and the fact that her snoring is awful

Teresa · Enlightened One

Gail, your Sally and my Tom are both being neutered on Thursday. I'll think of you if you'll think of me !!! I'm sure they'll both be ok tho

Let me know how it goes.

Teresa · Enlightened One

Gail, how is Sally?

Tom came home about 3.30 and he's still asleep now (5.30). Only to be expected tho.

He has to go back tomorrow for a check-up because the vet said his skin reacted a bit so she wants to keep an eye on it. Have cooked him pasta to go with some scrambled egg for tonight, if he wants it. If not, he can have it for breakfast tomorrow.

He also now has lovely gleaming teeth and a micro-chip !!

Gail · Big Cheese

Sally now home, thank god!!

She was very sleepy after her op so was not allowed to collect her until 5pm. She is now lying at my feet looking very sorry for herself. All went well though and the nurses said they were sorry to see her go home as she was a dream patient, they all love her I got lots of waggy tails when i picked her up but she is now well in the huff and is not speaking to anyone

She struggled to get upstairs when i brought her in and to be honest it looks like i will be carrying her back down later for a toilet trip, and up to now it seems Neo is more interested in her shaved bits and stitches than she is!!

Best bit about today....Maybe it was the nerves of being at the vets but she met 5 dogs in the waiting room this morning and not a growl at any of them and on her way out tonight (without her muzzle) a young collie was making friends with her and even licking her face, not so sure she would have been ok with that had she not still been half asleep but it's still a promising reaction

Teresa, glad Tom is home safe and well, let me know how he gets on with his stitches. I've got the same idea as you for encouraging them to eat later..scrambled eggs all round