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

GREYHOUND RESCUE
Fostering Greyhounds in the South Lake District, Cumbria

Josh

Josh arrived on Thursday 8th December 2011
Went to his new home on Thursday 5th January 2012.

Josh's arrival and a brief history
Click images for a larger view

Josh is a stunning white and black ex-racing greyhound who was born on the 5th June 2006. Whilst with his previous owner who raced him he was good with other dogs and didn't even bother with rabbits whilst on his walks, but show him a track and his eyes lit up and he was ready for the off because he loved to run.
He is currently being fostered with Julia, her family who have very quickly fallen for him, and their 3 dogs (labrador and 2 lurchers). He is house trained, neutered, inoculated and microchipped. Josh has a lovely nature, is very laid back, and is okay with other breeds of dogs and children, he travels well in the car and walks nicely on the lead.

Josh's previous owner has known Josh since a puppy because he belonged to a friend of his who sadly was killed in a car crash on the way to the track one night just after he got Josh. Josh was in the car at the time as was very lucky to have survived, but was in a bit of a mess. As the family couldn't take Josh he was placed to be re-homed, but being very young and lively no one wanted him so after being there 8 months Josh went to live with the gentleman who handed him over to us. He settled him down and made him fit again, and as Josh loved running so much he won the Gretna Greyhound of the year in 2010 with 11 wins and 19 seconds. His owner loves his greyhounds and would have kept Josh in his kennels, but wanted a warm fire and comfy sofa for him instead and hence he is with us.

Josh's Diary

8th December 2011
Josh's owners brought Josh here this morning and what a lovely dog he is. He was fine when introduced to our greyhounds behind the kitchen gate and quietly waited until his owners left. When they had gone I took him in the garden to see if he wanted to do any toilet then brought him back in the house again to wait until Julia came to collect him. Julia will be fostering Josh until we find him his forever home and he will be living with Julia, her children and their labrador and two lurchers, one being Maisie.
Having jumped in the back of Julia's car off he went to his new foster home where he met the children, the other dogs and Julia's guinea pigs, which he ignored (a first for a new foster dog!).
9th December 2011
We received and email today from Julia letting us know she wormed and flead Josh last night, which is standard procedure for a new dog arriving into foster care.
10th December 2011
We received an email from Julia today letting us know that

Josh has settled well. He hasn't had any accidents in the house, and always does one outside when she lets him out. He walks quite slow and has a slight limp so she checked his feet and she thinks he has a corn. He's not at all keen on walking on gravel or tarmac and finds it easier going on the soft paths through the woods.

Last night he slept by her bed and he never moved once so he must have had a good sleep.
11th December 2011
Today was our 2nd Annual Christmas Fair, which was held in the Newton-in-Furness village hall from 11.00am to 3.00pm. Julia took Josh there, but he did not like walking over the gravel into the hall and he wasn't keen at all walking around the wooden hall floor. Not that he didn't like wooden floors, but he was struggling to walk on them. Julia showed me his feet and yes, he does have a couple of corns, so when Julia gets home tonight she's going to get her clippers and emery board and take the surface off then cover them with some duct tape so as not to allow the corns any air to breath and eventually they will die and drop out.
Josh wasn't in the least bit bothered with all the dogs in the hall whether they be large or small, greyhound or otherwise, but then as he's shown no interest in Julia's guinea pigs we didn't think he would be. In fact Josh may even be cat friendly and once he's settled in we will probably test him to see how he is with cats. Josh probably hasn't been to an event such as this and was happier laying on a dog bed behind our stall and either watch what was going on or went to sleep.
12th December 2011
Julia took Josh to the vets this morning to be neutered and have his first inoculation because he came with no paperwork. All went well and she collected him this afternoon. We later received an email from her letting us know that Josh has been looking for food so she gave him some rice with two handfuls of his food mixed in. It seems to have settled him and he enjoyed a pampering pedicure this evening, which she gave him to make him feel better. She has trimmed his nails, attended to his corns and dressed his soft pads with Tuff Foot. He enjoyed it so much he slept through the whole experience!
A little later he was looking for food again so she gave him a couple of slices of bread for his supper. I emailed her to let her know that some dogs after an operation don't want anything while others won't accept or settle for anything other than their full normal meal so if when it's bed time he won't settle or he wakes in the early hours whimpering or pacing, but not wanting out its because he is hungry and to feed him.
13th December 2011
We received an email this morning from Julia letting us know that as I suggested she was up at 11.30pm giving Josh a bowl of food. He had gone to bed but was whimpering very quietly so her guess was that he was hungry. After he ate it he settled and slept all night.
Having had his morning walk and returning to the house his feet were obviously quite tender but he was walking better than when he first arrived. She kept him on soft ground as much as possible, and hopefully over the next few weeks the Tuff Foot will harden his very soft pads so walking on stones etc will be no issue.

Click images for a larger view

8th December 2011

In our drive
8th December 2011

.. and again. . .

.. and again.

5th January 2012
This morning Josh's new owners called to complete the adoption paperwork and take Josh home with them. Josh happily walked to their car with them and jumped in, but pulled Julia's heart strings as he looked to her wanting to know why she wasn't going as well. Josh is a really lovely greyhound and will make a lovely companion for his new owners, so we wish him a long and happy life in his new home.
Julia later phoned to let me know that Josh's new owners had phoned to say all was okay and they would keep in touch, which is nice.