RGT South Lakes, Cumbria Greyhound Rescue - Retired Greyhounds make great pets

GREYHOUND RESCUE
Fostering Greyhounds in the South Lake District, Cumbria

Owen

Owen arrived on Friday 3rd September 2010
Went to his new home on Thursday 9th September 2010.

Owen's arrival and a brief history
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Owen is a lovely black ex-racing greyhound who raced his last race just 6 weeks ago. He was born on the 24th December 2006, is neutered, microchipped and inoculate. He walks really nicely on the lead and travels well in the car.

Owen's Diary

3rd September 2010
Stuart collected four greyhounds this morning, one of which was Owen, although he didn't know that was his name at the time. When they arrived home I'd already put ours behind the kitchen gate so all the new ones stayed in the kitchen, but before we brought them inside we walked them around the garden to do their toilet then fed them and walked them around the garden again. Back inside Stuart sat in the kitchen and did some work while I finished the guest bedrooms then I came down to help him. Having four new greyhounds in the house was rather hectic and thankfully doesn't happen too often.
Owen came here with no 'pet' name only his racing name so the 'thinking caps' were on to decide what we should call him - he chose his own name! For the first three or four hours he made little wimpering noises that sounded like 'ow, ow, ow' and we nicknamed him 'ow, ow, ow' so we called him Owen. The little noises he makes is nervousness in new situations so we will watch to see if this is the case. If it is, then we know it's him feeling insecure so we ignore them (to calm or fuss him will only re-afirm he has a need to feel insecure, so will make him worse). What we do is to ignore his insecure behaviour and praise his calm behaviour, which will settle him quicker.

5th September 2010
What a different dog Owen is today, settled down and part of the pack. He no longer wants to walk all over poor Freddie and will lay quite happily on one of the dog beds in the living room or bedroom. He's eating well and loves to wander around the garden. Apart from the first day when there were so many new dogs around and their nervousness was unsettling him we've had no accidents in the house. Last thing at night he wanders off in the garden to do what he has to do then comes running into the house with the others.
Most of today Owen has been following either Stuart or I around

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In our garden
3rd September 2010

.. and again.

and laying near us, which again is insecurtiy and will disappear. From what we know of him so far he seems to be a lovely dog and will make someone a really nice companion.
This evening we took Owen for a walk along the back road then took him in the pub hoping there would be either children or other dogs in there so we could see how he got on. Just inside the pub door were two dogs, a husky type dog and a small brown terrier. Owen walked past them and ignored them. At first we thought he hadn't seen them so we positioned him so he could see them - he didn't even lift his ears in interest. He watched the dogs then turned and lay down under the table near our dogs. To say it was the first time in a pub he was very good and while we had a bite to eat he lay under the table and watched what was going on. He wimpered a couple of times, but that was about it so going in pubs is a 'pass'.
Thursday 9th September 2010
This afternoon Owen's new owners came to collect him and once all the paperwork etc. was completed he walked with them to their car. As their car was a saloon he wasn't too sure about jumping in, but managed with a helping hand and he quickly sorted himself out and lay on the duvet on the back seat ready to go to his new home.
We only had Owen a short time, but in that time he proved himself a true gentleman and we shall miss him. However, we hope he has a long and happy life in his new home, which isn't too far away so hopefully we shall see him from time to time. The first of which will be tomorrow, when he is coming back for his stitches to be removed!
23rd September 2010
We recently received a 'Thank you' card from Owen's new owners thanking us for finding them Owen, saying he is everything they could have wished for and more. The card was a lovely surprise and wonderful news.
18th October 2010
This lunch time Owen and his owners called in to say hello. Owen has really settled now and he was looking well. He's mastered how to get in and out the back seat of their car now, well most times, occasionally he will struggle because of the slope of the door frame so they move the driver's seat forward and this helps. He loves taking his fluffy toys in the garden and throwing them in the air. On one occasion he actually threw one over into the next door neighbour's garden! He's also taken to running around their garden and turning it into a race track!
11th November 2010
This afternoon Owen's owners called in to see Sam. When they brought Owen over to visit us last month they fell in love with Sam. As they hadn't had Owen very long they weren't sure, but Sam kept niggling them and when they saw his picture in our monthly advert in the Westmorland Gazette they phoned immediately because they knew he was for them, and they wanted him, as long as he and Owen got on together. This afternoon they came to see how Sam and Owen got on together. After the introductions and a cup of coffee they all went for a walk together and when they returned arrangements were made for them to adopt Sam and pick him up tomorrow.
12th November 2010
This lunch time Owen's owners came to collect Sam who gave them a lovely welcome then went in the garden with Owen where the pair of them wandered for a while before coming back inside. Paperwork and adoption process complete Sam and Owen jumped in the back of the car together and off they went home where we hope they will have a long and happy life together.