Dark brindle rescued ex racing greyhounds like ** make lovely, gentle pets

muzzle on him, more to protect the other Greyhounds than anything else if Sandy because very upset and lashed out at one of them as fear can have this effect. The lads seeing me struggle stayed in the pub car park but alas, they didn't stop playing with the car - if only they had, but they weren't to know. Indi charged down the road to see what it was, decided it was boring and came running back. Kell wasn't too sure but was more concerned about Sandy prancing about and Sandy, well he couldn't take his eyes off it. I was very aware of the five stages of aggression and was desperate not to let Sandy get too far down that track. I phoned Stuart for help but before I had chance to speak to him I had to hold Sandy again and when I put the phone back to my ear it had switched itself off somehow. I tried twice more to ring him but the signal kept disappearing and I was about to put the phone in my pocket and take Sandy by the collar and physically force him to turn away from the noise when I spotted a car coming down the road towards us. My immediate reaction was 'no, that's all I need' because we were in the middle of the road and both Indi and Bobby were off the lead and wandering down the road sniffing the verges, when I suddenly realised it was Stuart. My phone had rung and he had heard me trying to sort Sandy out before it switched itself off. Realising I wouldn't ring him during a walk for a social call he immediately got in the car and came after me. Once the car stopped and the back door opened Sandy couldn't get in there quick enough! All the Greyhounds in the car we drove home, got them out and all went for a quiet walk in the opposite direction. Sandy had never seen a remote control car before and the way it was being driven 'aggressively' along the road I think he thought it was something coming to get us!
19th November 2008
This evening we took Sadie to training classes to help her socialise with other dogs. To help her relax more we took in Sandy as well so she could watch him wandering around the other dogs and show her there was no need to worry about them. He was very good, wore no muzzle, joined in with the class and did the 'snake' walk around a row of dogs with their owners. We took him in to give him to help Sadie and likewise himself - he did us proud.
16th March 2009
The teeshirt idea didn't work because it became loose and stretched as he ran around the garden causing him to get caught up in it. He came in the house covered in mud where he'd tripped on it even though I tied it fairly tight so as to prevent thissort of thing from happening. A bit of thought about what else I could do to stop him licking the wound and I decided to tie a sock to his harness and put that on him. He looked very silly in it - and he knew it, but if it stops him licking his leg then so be it.
18th March 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANDY - 6 TODAY
19th March 2009
The Metacam and antibiotics Sandy's been put on sem to be working because he seems less inclined to lick the wound and its looking a little less angry, but not yet healed. The harness and sock was a superb idea because it keeps the wound covered so he can't lick it, but allows air around it and doesn't restrict him from running.
27th March 2009
As Sandy's leg has healed so well we decided the time had come to remove the harness and sock, which makes him look more like a dog and less like a freak, but at least it worked.
4th April 2009
Because Sandy still isn't brilliant meeting all our guests especially if they are unsure of dogs we have decided to start him on an intensive 'meet and greet' course!!
26th April 2009
After Bobby fell in the kitchen shortly before he died and I was helping him after his fall Sandy was concerned for him but I had to put him and the other Greyhounds behind the safety gate at the end of the kitchen leading into the living room to ensure none of them accidentally stood on him. Sandy disappeared into the living room with Indi out of the way, but after Bobby died we let him back into the kitchen so he could see his body as this will help him understand what has happened and will help him get over his death better. He quietly went up to him and had a look but wouldn't go any nearer that about a yard and then wanted to go back behind the safety gate. After we buried Bobby in the garden next to Penny's grave we fed all the dogs then let them out with supervision because of the new grave. They all ran straight to it and sniffed the area where Bobby's body had lain on the blanket on the grass for a minute or so before we lowered him in. Sandy sniffed the ground then sniffed the soil on the grave before wandering off to do his toilet.
The rest of the night he was very, very quiet and grumbled at us if we went near him so we thought it best to leave him to do his own thing tonight.
27th April 2009
Today Sandy has been very quiet, given us a few grumbles and come for a few cuddles. Maybe because of Bobby's death, maybe because the others were very quiet and maybe because we were so upset as it was a very sad household. Sandy has never seen Stuart and I so upset - its all new to him and thus the reason for his grumbles, something he does if he is feeling unsure. At lunch time we took them all for a walk then called into the pub for a snack and to raise a glass to the long and happy life Bobby had with us. It was a sad and weepy day and all the dogs were very, very quiet all day.
This evening we decided that his feeding place should no longer be in the conservatory where its been since he arrived but in Bobby's place at the other side of the raised feeding bowls with Indi in the kitchen. He was funny. He was really unsure about this and we had to hold his collar whilst he stood as far back as he could to allow his mouth in the bowl. His eyes were fixed firmly on Indi, who was eating her food and ignoring him whilst he gulped his food down as fast as he could in order to get away as soon as he could - no prizes for guessing who has taken Bobby's place as 'pack leader' - Sandy's reaction to eating from the raised bowls confirmed Indi had taken this position and Sandy, knowing his position was trying to play it safe.
28th April 2009
Sandy seems happier today and enjoyed his trip in the car with Stuart after lunch as a break from being in the house.
27th August 2009
Sandy is now greeting all our guests when they come into the house because he's finally realised they all want to stroke him, which he loves. He's also so much better with all the dogs coming to visit, which is possibly because there are just so many, that is, unless one tries to put their feet on the swing gates between the hall and the conservatory then we hear a low grumble from him letting the other dog know that feet are NOT allowed on the top of the gate!
7th December 2009
For many, many months we've been taking Sandy out wearing a harness because when he first arrived it stopped him pulling on the lead. I'm not sure what happened this afternoon but for some reason we took them out for a walk and forgot to put his harness on. It was only half way along our walk we suddenly realised that he was walking nicely by our side with the lead attached to his collar. It was lovely to see so in future we are going to walk him more this way only using the harness if we have foster dogs that need that bit more work and the harness is Sandy's 'belt and braces' so to speak in case we come across a situation where we need it.
12th December 2009
This evening as we walked around the corner of the pub we came face to face with a terrier off the lead and Sandy, who dislikes small dogs running around his back legs got a bit uptight so we backed away and used the pub wall to keep him out of site of it until they put the dog on a lead and went into the pub. We were going to take them all in the pub after our walk but with the terrier going in there and Sandy becoming stressed we decided to take him home and because of Misty, our current foster dog's laid back approach to life we left her with him. When we got back all was well and we received a lovely welcome from the pair of them.
23rd December 2009
Sandy really made it a special night this evening. Tess had just arrived and was laying on the dog bed near the TV, Dakota was laying on the settee with his head on my lap and Sandy was laying on the duvet by the side of the settee I was sitting on when Indi suddenly climbed off the settee she was on and went to lay on the duvet next to Sandy. She hasn't gone to lay with another dog or allowed another dog to voluntarily lay with her since our Bobby died. She often cuddled up with Bobby so for her to go and lay next to Sandy on the duvet made a lump come to our throats because she's decided he's now her companion now Bobby's gone. To make our day Sandy let her and they lay with their feet entwined all evening. It was a wonderful moment and one we thought we might never see because Sandy won't let any dog touch him when he's laying down or on his bed without a grumble so it shows he has come to accept her.
3rd January 2010
Sandy is still not happy about having the muzzle on all the time in the house but the moment its not on he licks the cut on his leg caused by jumping the fence into the field on Christmas Eve. We don't often get snow here so we never thought that a good snow fall that has frozen hard reduces the height of the fence! Guess who's now got the job of raising the fence? The cut has been healing really nice until this afternoon when Stuart dropped him and Dakota off at the house while we went in the pub with the other two - it was too busy to take all four in, and when he left them in the house he forgot to put his muzzle back on! We arrived back home to a lovely greeting from Sandy minus the muzzle and minus the lovely scab that had developed and was healing nicely. Oh well! He's the silly one because now he has to have his muzzle on even longer.
5th February 2010
This evening we took Dakota, Indi, Sandy and Solo into the pub 'early doors' where they all lay on the floor in front of the fire and went to sleep.
18th March 2010
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANDY - 7 TODAY

more soon ....................