very interesting!

in order of age (oldest first)

DAVE:  otherwise known as horizontal harry.  nothing fazes him except fireworks and thunder ! woofs occasionally but is otherwise very laid-back.

DAISY: likes to think she is in charge but I think she is bullied by the boys when her mum and dad are not around. winds up the boys and then pretends to be the victim!  in love with her pink piggy soft toy.  woebetide the dog that takes it away from her.

TOM: the new boy.  very vocal when it's breakfast time.  a bit grumpy if you stroke him when he's asleep but, when awake, loves cuddles.

Amazing that their personalities are so individual and i love them all.

Okay, so two of them aren't hounds but I couldn't resist!

Oldest first:

GEMS: Strange looking corgi cross! Perhaps a bit of collie or sheltie, we're not sure. She is now about 14yrs old. Very clever dog. Great guard dog, but has become very affectionate in her old age. Stolen many things. Food especially. Gets all snarly if you try to take food off her. Her little legs are taking the toll of many years chasing rabbits! Is definately pack leader.We think she lived on the street at some point.

GEM: Daft 9 year old collie. Always looks a bit confused!! Has a damaged throat. If he isn't being cuddled/stroked he hits you with his clumpy paws! We think he has fear aggression as he always tries to fight with other dogs if he/they are on the lead. Stalkes anything that moves! A big softy.

Rosie: 2 year old greyhound. Very confident. Loves food! She leans on you when she gets a cuddle. Her neck is very tickly. If you stratch her neck she moves her head from side to side and usually picks her back leg up and waves it about! Likes to chase small furry things. Loves her teddy bear Jim, he is her pillow and toy! She likes to chuck him about the house, but she never rips him. Has stolen quite a lot of food, Fruit seems to be a favourite at the moment!

They are all so different, but we wouldn't change them for the world

It's great hearing about all the little quirks and characters out there.

My three (in order that I got them):

Wills - one of the nicest natured dogs you will ever meet.  He's also very long suffering.  Has been really badly treated by someone at some time in his life which has left an imprint on him.  Gets very anxious at raised voices or arguments.  Behaves like it's his fault if another dog yelps.  Other than that, he's extremely affectionate and cuddly.  Loves everyone and seems to be grateful to be part of a family that want him and love him.  Eats anything (and I mean anything) but think it might be part of the stray thing.  Loves his squeaky soft toys (now that he's learned what they're for).  I'd trust him with anyone but not food!

Millie - a right little princess.  Doesn't like anyone or anything to disturb "her space" when she's in it.  Can be a right grump at times if she's disturbed.  Loves her bed or couch.  Will whine until you get her what she wants. Has everyone wrapped round her little claw.  She's very affectionate when she wants attention and enjoys cuddles when they're on her terms.  Also loves her cuddly squeakies. 

Tigger - a hooligan.  Full of life and nonsense.  Nothing gets her down for long.  Loves to play, loves her cuddles, loves her walks - just loves life really.  Chronic thief - we've lost umpteen things to her over the year she's been here.  She's just a bundle of energy and mischief.

Would I swap any of them?    Not a chance!!!

I'm trying to think how to describe Dan and Sally...

Dan: Dan dan grumpy old man I sometimes call him, but he's only really like that with dogs he doesn't know who are on his territory. He's sweet tempered most of the time, is very patient with Sally who regularly lands on his head when she's jumping about all excited, when we're out walkies we get to see a glimpse of his inner puppy, he throws his head about and dances around, although being 10 he does get tired and then has to sniff every blade of grass and leaf to slow us down. He screams like a banshee when the vet cuts his nails then comes out with a proud expression on his face feeling like a brave boy. Dan whines when he wants cuddles but at other times likes his space. He likes his voice to be heard (anyone at the xmas dog show would have heard him). He's probably the brighter of our two and is generally a wonderful companion.

Sally: Famous for stealing bananas and mushrooms, and eating 3 collars so far, she doesn't have Dan's subtlety and often gets caught in the act. Shy at first but she's coming out of her shell now and is a cheeky wee girl. She thinks she's a lapdog and will sit on top of you, digging in her jaggy elbows until she's comfy. She occasionally barks but only if there's no one else in the room with her (only once ever witnessed her woofing). She likes to sniff the cat but will try to chase him if no one's looking. She also likes to lie next to the guinea pigs cage, just keeping an eye on things. Sally is still settling in and often looks at us like she's going to get told off for playing. But she's a great girl and her confidence is growing by the day.

I wouldn't be without them, such different characters but both such great dogs.

Lenny (Irish Grey aged 11 1/2)

Chose Lenny from sspca in Bothwell in Feb 2000. Was quite mad and an obvious people lover. Definately no couch potato. Very active. Click your fingers and he was up in a flash! Very very keen, but just with rabbits and hare. Knew the difference at some distance. Obviously been used for coursing at some time in his life. Used to scream at the sight. Got over the initial excitement and became 100% relable. Always checks my wearabouts when out and about. Ok with little dogs right down to chihuauas, actually prefers them to big guys. Can be quite dominant wth big dogs he doesn't like too much. Liked to 'kill' toys frequently when he was a little younger. Very accident prone. Has been stitched up more times than I can remember. Fireworks and thunder usually cause him to want to go out and check all is well. Gets aggitated but not afraid. Loves his ears being scratched. Doesn't mind the rain. Happy to go 'walkies' in any weather. Doesn't chase rabbits he knows he can't catch. Never steals food. Has never bin raked. Likes to smile. Sticks his nose up strangers bums if they ignore him! Loves people and likes to be noticed. suffers heart murmur, enlarged heart and irregular beat so been on medication since he was 5 1/2. Has reduced in size and he's doing fine but medication is for life. Has arthritis now so on metacam too. Still lives his life to the full, although at a slower pace these days. He used to have bags of energy and loved running around. Adores the beach. Still gives a good gallop. Pretty laid back now. Protective of Rosie and has put himself between another dog and her on several occassions in the past when she first arrived. These days he lets her look after herself!

Rosie (lurcher, colliexwhippet type, aged 9 1/2)

Rosie came from Seafield in May 2001. Friendly, but quiet and shy girl. Ex worker covered in scars. Very very keen and very very good! Goes a little rigid if cuddled but likes a fuss. Obviously didn't recieve many cuddles during her early life. She's a little fussy regards friends. Not keen on large bitches, especially her own kind. Own size and smaller fine. Maybe been bullied in the past. Male dogs any size is fine. Afraid of fireworks and thunder. Will happily go for walk in any weather. Has never stole or bin raked. Can't be left home alone. Gets really distressed. Needs another hound at all times. Loves squirrel hunting. Barks her head off and runs from tree to tree. Actually stands and scans the trees for any signs of squirrels. Although shy when she arrived has become quite a dominant character and will stand her ground. She's as fit as a fiddle and very fast. A tad bit accident prone too. That's life in the fast lane! She likes to play with squeakies in the house but to be honest she's fairly quiet indoors. 

Lucy (lurcher, beddiexwhippet, aged 11 months on arrival)

She came on 2nd Jan 2006 as a playmate for Rosie. Although Rosie kind of didn't mind her took 2 weeks before she 'accepted' her. Lucy was a cruelty case from Greyhounds Galore. Timid little thing. Afraid of everything and everyone. Wouldn't even walk past another dog. By the time she arrived here, 2 months later, she was changing. I've never known a dog to end up the total opposite. Would steal every soft toy in the house daily and chuck them around. Has a cotton wool fetish and thought she was an andrex puppy on accassions. She was completely mad! Didn't trust people but LOVED dogs. Tormented Rosie into playing with her. She adored Rosie and Rosie became really fond of Lucy. They constantly chased each other. She loved life and lifed it to the full. She just ran and ran and ran. She never trotted or walked. Full speed all the time. Life was never dull. She was pts on 9th June 2006 after a fatal collision with a tree. She simply failed to look where she was going. Rosie missed her dreadfully, as did we. 

Ruby (lurcher, who knows type!, aged 2)

Ruby came from the same place as Rosie in July 2006. Also abused and terribly afraid. Grovelled constantly. Wet herself frequently when you spoke to her, especially my partner. In time came out of her shell and her true personality has shone through. She's a great playmate for Rosie and they often 'share' a stick. She loves a good rough and tumble and is easily 'tormented'. My partner thinks she's great cause she's totally mad. Loves cuddles. Likes her nose to be stroked. Is totally trusting with us now but will always be wary of strangers. She's bottom in the pack but doesn't care. Head is full of mischief. Has never stole food or bin raked or been distructive. They all get full free range of the house. She's a good wee guard dog and looks good! She's got some digestion issues and has been sick frequently (getting seen to now) but she actually wakes me up every time through the night to tell me she's going to be sick. Gives me enough time to pop her in the bathroom. Such a clever wee girl. She loves other dogs and thinks they should all play with her. She's very good with all sizes and lets the small guys chase her. Fireworks and thunder don't phase her in the slightest. Didn't know about rabbits when she came but Rosie sorted that out! Likes to lie completely on top of you in the middles of the night! Lost count how many times she's woken me by jumping up and settling down. She constantly rubs herself in smelly things out a walk! Happily goes for walks in any weather and loves to jump around in murky puddles and get really filthy. Doesn't like being washed down afterwards though! She's just a pocket of mischief really.             

I have to start with Scout, she's the boss, an 8 year old border collie who has been with me from eight weeks old. A typical collie control freak, she likes to line the toys up in size order rather than play with them so the lurchers delight in mucking up her 'system'!  She's pretty benevolent as far as dictators go, she only steps in if she thinks she needs to, and usually a look from her or a body rush is enough (although she would hold Otis's snout if she could reach, so has to make do with his collar!) She tends to look at me and roll her eyes a lot, as if she is half human and we share some secret about the other loonies in the house - yet outside she would defend them all like a lionness with her cubs if the need arose.

Otis (8ish, deerxgreyxcrocodile) has been here since June 2003 and came from GRWE - he's the special needs lad, who as a result of hypothyroidism has all sorts of issues but is the most loving, daft doofus you ever could meet with humans he likes.  He has the widest vocal range of any dog I have ever met and loves the sound of his own voice, he moans, chatters his teeth, sings, arooos, howls, sighs, makes noises like water going through a coffee machine (remember the Red Mountain ad?  Just like that!) and he grins throughout the day.  He has no spatial awareness whatsoever, so thinks he is kitten sized, so leaps on laps, sits on the other dogs and is generally clumsy.  He also has a three second memory so often ends up greeting visitors three or four times (when he wakes and spots them, however long they have been there!)  He's my best boy, because he is the one who needs me the most...

Theo (4ish, failed foster from HWAR, been here since June 2004) is believed to be saluki x whippet x beagle  and is the baby of the family, he has to sleep touching something that lives and breathes, sometimes the other dogs but usually me, so he sleeps under the duvet!  He looks permanently tragic, but actually is a clown and is the most playful of them all.  He's also clever, and although little will leap to the arm of the sofa in order to 'bat' the others with his paw when they run past him at speed!  Definitely a little bit camp, the ladies love him!  His only failing is his prey drive - it is outstanding, so he cannot be trusted off lead unless in a really secure area

and finally Betty, a ten year old greyhound who has been with me since February from Greyhound Gap.  What can I say, she is delightfully senile and if ever a greyhound should wear purple, it is her!  Having spent all her life in kennels or a draughty barn, she greets every day with delight and wonderment - I swear I can hear her saying 'Hello trees!  Hello sky!  Ooo, what's that?  Are you my friend?' as she skips about the fields, bless her.  She has a smashed wrist, a pin in her hock, all her toes are knocked up, she has arthritis just about everywhere and she has had a mammary strip to remove tumours, but she relishes life, loves her walks and her food and is the best advert for retired greys as pets I have ever seen - she's currently roaching next to me and as I talk to her, she wags her tail and kicks her legs as if she is bicycling!  An ex brood bitch, she collects all the soft toys and takes them to her bed, but is not against telling them off if she thinks they have been cheeky...

That's my lot...they are not my whole life, but they do make my life whole