Well i did say never say never about getting another foster dog so soon after Ozzy....
Branston arrived last Friday and he's a lovely big fella. he's a total star in the house and is full of fun. I've been doing a bit of clicker training with him and im so impressed at how smart he is, he sits, gives paws, is doing well at "leave it" and lays down on command. (all at the one time almost when pigs ears are produced!)
He settled in almost immediately and there have been no accidents in the house at all, which i was so impressed at seeing as how he's been in kennels for so long.
Does anyone have any tips on bathing very large greyhounds in very small awkward shaped bathrooms?He still has that kennel smell about him and I'm desperate to give him a bath, but I'm at a loss as how to do it as the bathroom in my new house is miniscule.
we've met another couple of dogs on our travels but so far we've managed to avoid any major incidents with regard to his fear aggression. luckily enough most of the people round here walk their dogs on leads so it's been easy enough to distract him before he starts to get himself worked up when another pooch is anywhere near.
i've managed to get the idiot proof camera up and running. piccies anyone?
He's gorgeous! What handsome markings he has. Sounds like he's going to be loads of fun.
As for the bathing, we got a great tip from Nicki and so we use a large watering can outside in the garden. Fill it with nice warm water and it's just like a shower. Works a treat! (Though only if it's not too freezing cold outside).
yep, didn't take him long to work out that the couch was comfier than his bed!
His markings are lovely aren't they...especially the wee"button" on top of his head...bless!
thanks for the bathing tip FAJ, was going to try it out when we came back from bothwell castle today, but thought he might end up with pneumonia as it was bitter cold. i can live with the "aroma" for another wee while i suppose.
It's great to see Branston settle in with you so well and so quickly! He's a lovely big guy. All the very best with him - hope you manage to bath him soon. Let us know how he's getting on.
His markings are lovely aren't they...especially the wee"button" on top of his head...bless!
the 'wee button' on his head is how Branston got his name - when he was handed into GAL a volunteer thought someone had dropped a blob of Branston Pickle on his head...
We bath both of ours in the bath. One at a time though as Tara only just fits. One of us will have our own bath and then whichever dog then gets the deep and still warm water. Anyone seeing the process would have a good laugh though as graham has to lift the dog in and I stand in the bath in my underwear so there is less to get soaked. I then use a bowl to wet the dog and then shampoo them. As I do this Graham distracts the dog by feeding the odd treat. Once they are rinsed we make them stand for a moment to drain and then they jump out onto a large towel and graham does the drying.
Zak does not need bathed often but Tara needs a weekly bath. Both of them behave very well while being bathed. Tara although she does not enjoy the bath does like to be clean.
Of course you then need to clean the bath out well afterwards.
Just another wee suggestion - place rubberised math matt in the bath, in case he slips and so you slip, when you helping out of the bath, after his wee wash.
I frequently visited Branston and took him out walks - what a glorious dog, I just fell in love with him.
Thanks everyone for the good wishes and the bathing tips, still not managed a full bath for him yet though. my bathroom is tiny and if i'm in the bathroom with Branston, there's not enough room for him to turn around to get him into the bath. He's smelling a bit more fragrant after a sponge down, and i'm working up to asking my sister if i can bathe him in her enormous, newly decorated en-suite.
Branston has had no problem at all settling in, in fact it feels like he's always been here. He's such an adorable big guy, he loves nothing better than playing football, he greets anyone that comes into the house like an old friend and all the kids in the street think hes fab! He's also been a good ambassador for greyhounds; the girl who walks him at lunch times brings her friend along for company and she's so taken with Branston that she wants to foster for GAL (if she can talk her boyfriend into it)
He's even been great when we've been out and about, Granted i have my "action man, eagle eyes" in gear for any errant hounds, but so far there's been no incidents. If he sees another dog in the distance he has a wee whine but as long as we cross over he manages to keep it together and there's been no lunging since the first week he arrived. Anyways i'll stop rambling now, I know its the piccies you want really..
I was going to run a captions competiton for the first pic....something along the lines of "..and you're going out wearing that...?" would fit the expression he has there
It really breaks my heart to see piccies of Branston, he's such a great dog, you know he's been on the GAL books since October 2002, thats when he was found as a stray and handed into GAL, 2 permanent homes and 2 foster homes later (plus a long long stint in the kennels) and he's STILL looking for a home. He's 8 years old now so that means he's effectively been homeless for half his life, it really gets to me how such a great dog is just so difficult to rehome simply due to his issues with other dogs, if I get one crimbo pressie this year I hope it's a permanent home for the big lad..
That would be a lovely crimbo pressie for Branston! i'll put that on my list too! it would be such a shame if the only thing putting off people considering offering him a permanent home was because of the issues he has with other dogs, as it's so manageable. He's such a character, its a real testament to him to be so loving and adaptable after all the changes and upheavel he's gone through. bless him!
hope you're not all too bored with the pics yet...i gave him a pigs ear tonight and had to take some snaps as he has to have a 5 minute play with it before he devours it. it cracks me up every time...
ha ha thats so funny, thats what millie does sometimes, chucks her food and toys about. He looks so happy in your home. Its good that you have him so people can see what a loveable dog he is and that you can cope with his doggie issues. He's so good looking too its amzing he's been waiting so long for a forever home. Hopefully he finds one soon
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"Adopting just one Greyhound won't change the world, but the world will surely change
for that one Greyhound."