By: Margaret Neate

Margaret Neate — Thu, 28 May 2020 11:10:30 +0000

Thank you, Andrew, for your regular, excellent advice. I have enjoyed 6 years with a beautiful GAP greyhound, now aged 8 years. Because of foot problems she never raced. She is the most gentle, friendly and naturally well-behaved soul we could ever have wished for.
6 years ago we also adopted a small, one-year-old dog from a shelter. At first he was very nervous, he didn’t want to go for walks, and had shaking attacks often. I sensed his need for constant company and support, which I was able to give him, being retired. I cuddled him for hours every day, and he slept in bed with me every night (and still does.) Once he decided to try the offered walks he became as keen as any other dog, and now shows the utmost joy when allowed to run free, especially on the beach.
He now is a delightfully loving, funny, playful little boy with few remaining signs of his difficult first year except for two: the first is that although reasonably well toilet trained he occasionally fails to go outside. I have accepted that he will probably never outgrow this, and simply try to avoid incidents by encouraging him to visit the garden with me several times during the day. The second thing which is more serious is that he cannot be trusted with small children, and in fact once bit a little boy, fortunately just a nip. However I would not leave a small child alone with him. He has become extremely attached to me (though does not show signs of separation anxiety.) This worries me a little bit, in case he should outlive me. However, he and our dear greyhound have enriched our lives more than I can describe, and it is a privilege to have been able to share our home with them.

Comments on: Tinker, Tailor, Whisperer, Trainer…

By: Margaret Neate