I walked him around the garden again to do more toilet and to show him where the boundaries to the garden were.
Swift is a 'whole' dog but an appointment has been made with our vet to have him neutered. He is in a good condition, but arrived with no paperwork so our vet will inoculate him for us and we will microchip him to bring everything up to date. The vet who took him in examined him after she acquired him and mentioned he had a tiny heart murmour. She said it was so slight, almost un-noticable and could be as a result of the circumstances of his arrival. It certainly wouldn't affect him in any way and may even disappear as we've found in the past with other dogs once they've settled and feel happier..
Because I was on my own and hadn't quite finished doing the rooms before the new guests arrived I attached his lead to the hook on the left of the fire place in the kitchen, where there was a dog bed and the water bowl, then got on with my work. At first he just stood there but after a while he lay down and went to sleep. I kept coming down to make sure he was okay and he was fine, no whimpering or pacing - he just slept until I'd finished upstairs and came down to do some office work in the kitchen.
When Stuart arrived back we took them all for a walk, which Swift enjoyed and upon seeing sheep in the field and a Golden Retriever walking down the road in front of us, both of which he ignored. Back from our walk we kept him on the lead in the kitchen until after we'd had our tea because as a 'whole' dog he found Indi irresistable, and likewise poor Dakota! Solo, being a whole dog he ignored, and Sandy growled at him if he came within six inches of him. Poor Indi and Dakota got all his attention as soon as they got anywhere near him so I sat at the kitchen table doing work on my laptop along with the water spray bottle to distract his affections!.
After we'd finished our tea we fed the dogs then walked him round the garden again on the lead before Stuart took him in the living room where he could keep and eye on him. He found the dog bed near the television and happily slept until last thing, then after he'd been in the garden again we sorted a bed for him in the kitchen.
20th February 2010
Last night Swift slept in the kitchen with the safety gate across the passageway to stop him wandering in the night and disturbing the others. As he'd been attracted to Dakota and Indi during the day we didn't want him approaching either in their sleep and there being an incident. Knowing Indi she wouldn't stand for any nonsense and would probably wake all our guests in the process. Swift slept fine until about 5.30 am then wanted out. About half an hour after I got back into bed he was up and about again so I decided to get up, made myself a cup of tea and did a bit of work on the computer. With me being in the kitchen he settled, but I soon realised the reason he'd not settled - one of the guests had taken their dog out for a walk and as I was about to sit at my computer I heard them coming back in.
A little later we let him in the garden off the lead then put him behind the safety gate with the others so we could start the guest's breakfasts. We half expected a tussle if he tried to 'ride' one of them, but nothing - he was just so good and stayed there with them until we got their food ready. After they'd eaten he went in the garden again then settled to his bed where he slept most of the morning.
Walking with Swift is so easy because he walks nicely by your side and doesn't pull on the lead. He enjoys his walks with the others and when we arrived back from our evening walk we met our guest with his Labrador as we were walking up to the pub. Although they didn't meet they were only a few feet from each other and Swift was indifferent towards it. In the pub he was very relaxed and lay on the carpet with Indi and Solo. There was no panting, no wimpering, nothing - he looked as if he'd been there a dozen times! A couple on the next table were fascinated by the dogs and couldn't believe we'd only had Swift just over 24 hours. They were quite taken with him and he loved all the attention they gave him, snuggling up when one bent down to hug him. We just sat there amazed and so grateful the vet had brought him to us.
Back home he happily went to his bed with the others and that was it for the night - he's slotted in to our routine so quickly and he's a dream!.
21st February 2010
The dogs woke us around 4 am, not sure which one woke first but three went out including Swift and once back in they settled to their beds again. Sometimes I wonder if a new dog hears movement upstairs that we don't hear and it disturbes them until they get used to people asleep above them.
This morning when the alarm went off we were greeted by them all including Swift wagging his tail like mad and jumping around with glee, which was really lovely to see. Off out again, then back to their beds while we did the guest's breakfast. Swift has settled in very quickly and he's a joy to have around.
22nd February 2010
Swift went to our vet this morning where he was neutered, and because he came with no paperwork he had his first inoculation to get a card started for his new owner whoever that may be. When he arrived back he was quite unsettled and wimpered on and off during the evening.
1st March 2010
Swift doesn't mind if another dog lays on his bed with him and is quite happy for Dakota to sleep next to him.
18th March 2010
This afternoon we took Swift to the vet for his 2nd inoculation and he weighed in at nearly 72lbs (32.60k). He was very good in the vets, not showing any interest in the other dogs in the waiting room but wanted to have a look to see what was in the covered up cage on the chair next to where we sat - it was a bird!
21st March 2010
This afternoon a family arrived with their two dogs, a Golden Retriever and a Westie cross so they could go for a walk with Swift to see if they all got on. Their previous Greyhound recently passed away so they would like to adopt Swift if he gets on okay with their other two dogs. Swift has shown no signs of aggression towards other breeds of dog and often just ignores them, but to be on the safe side we put a muzzle on him and introduced them all in the garden. All three dogs were quite bouncy around each other at first but it was more wanting to play than anything else. Once they settled down and sniffed each other properly they all mingled calmly together.
We took all three for a walk with Swift next to the Golden Retriever then next to the Westie cross and all were happy. When the Westie decided to stand under Swift and sniff him Swift just stood still and let him, not bothering to even look. Bless him! Needless to say the muzzle soon came off Swift and all happily walked together. Back home, paperwork complete, Swift happily walked out to his new owners car, jumped in and off they drove.
We only had Swift a short time and because of the circumstances of his arrival I had a 'soft spot' for him because he could so easily not have been here. We are really pleased for Swift and hope he has a long and happy life with his new family.