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

GREYHOUND RESCUE
Fostering Greyhounds in the South Lake District, Cumbria

Ted
(RE- HOMED)

Ted arrived on Friday 27th May 2011
Went to his new home on Saturday 25th June 2011.

Ted's arrival and a brief history
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Ted is a young black greyhound who simply wouldn't chase anything so came to us to foster until we find him a new forever home. Ted was born on the 29th October 2009 and walks lovely on the lead. He is house trained, neutered, inoculated and microchipped. We've been told he's a quiet natured dog and because of his temperament we believe he will be okay with other breeds of dogs and possibly even cats, but this we will need to assess once he's settled. Ted, bless him, is quite nervous of people approaching him and will drop to the ground as you go to him, but gentle persuasion and he will stand. We are working with him on this so he will come to understand there is no need to worry because all people will want to do is stroke and cuddle him, which is nice!

Ted's Diary

27th May 2011
Ted didn't have a name as such and we were told the varience of his racing name they used in the kennels to diferenciate him from the other dogs he didn't understand. After a bit of thought we decided to call him Ted. Ted travelled well in the car on his way here, met our greyhounds in the garden then came in the house and as he arrived at feeding time we fed him as well. We fed him while still on the lead as he was very wary of us and all the strange comings and goings and wanted to eat the food in Solo's dish rather than his own. He ate his food well once he realised which was his dish, then Stuart took him on the lead around the garden to do his toilet - nothing, not a drop!
Back inside the house we hooked his lead to the hook by the kitchen fire and placed a dog bed there. At first Coaly decided to sleep there and Ted stood by the side, but after a while Coaly moved and Ted lay on the bed and that is where he stayed for the next few hours!
28th May 2011
Never heard a peep out of Ted all night and this morning he was up with the others wanting to go in the garden. Sadly in trying to avoid us in the rush he never realised the glass conservatory door so went with a bit of a bang and a tiny bit of hair came off where he caught it on something. Outside he did all his toilet and was the first back at the door wanting to come in.
29th May 2011
Ted was really good again last night and happily went in the garden with the others to do his toilet. When we give the other dogs attention he will come to us for a stroke as well, not into cuddles just yet and if we put our hand forward to stroke him he will back off so we have to wait for him to come to us then he's okay. Day 1 we got a tiny flicker of a tail wag, day 2 the tail wag extended to a couple of inches or so and today, - day 3 he's wagging his tail properly, not a lot but he gave us a lovely greeting as we got all the collars and leads out to take them for a walk. He's getting there and once he regains his confidence he will become a lovely affectionate dog.
This evening after our walk where we saw a lamb in the grass verge which he saw but then treated as if it didn't exist we took him in the pub where he said hello to a couple of Spaniels. Again, had a sniff then ignored.
9th June 2011
Yesterday was my birthday, but what with one thing and another we didn't go out, so this evening we went for a meal. Having left all the dogs in the house we thought they would be okay, but we came back to find paper chewed on the floor. We believe it was Ted as none of the others, who have been with us a while have shown these tendencies. He left all my accounts paperwork as I left it and chose a brand new note book I'd planned to use today, but hadn't had the chance. The note book

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In our garden
18th June 2011

Ace with Ted
in their new home together
29th June 2011

. . . and again.

was in shreds all over the floor, so in future Ted will be coming with us whenever we both go out until he is slightly less nervous and understands what 'stay there, back soon' means.
24th June 2011
This morning Stuart went to collect Ace who Ted was kennelled adjacent to not long ago. She has come to us specifically to be re-homed with Ted tomorrow because she has the perfect temperament to help him gain confidence and overcome his fears. When Ace walked through the garden gate and met our greyhounds Ted was higher up the garden, but when he saw her he came running down to see her, tail wagging, not concerned that Stuart was there, because all he wanted to do was say hello to Ace. Tail wagging he gave her a sniff and a lick on the face, and from his body language - yes, he certainly remembered Ace!