buddyboy

Bud sometimes had blackouts, with the occasional wetting. I kept an old towel in most rooms, and when he blacked out would position it "just in case" - if he did go out deeply enough to wet himself, once the flow had stopped he was still out for a little while longer, so I was able to move it out of the way quickly, so that when he did come round he was not lying in a wet patch. Not so much for me, but it distressed him to realise what had happened, and that way we were able to avoid it.... okay he could still sniff it, but as by then it was not touching him, he did not realise he had done it.

I had been on a course - my neighbour was looking after my 2 "mature" dogs and I had really missed them. On the way home I called in to Dogs Trust to see if there would be a problem getting another dog "when the time came". I wasn't really looking to adopt a 3rd dog, as I lived on my own, and worked full time in an office. I had a quick look round the kennels, and do remember seeing a certain boxer cross, and saying to him "sorry, but you're a bit big, Jake would bark at you". I was chatting to the lady in reception and we said about overlooked dogs (Jake was only about 2 when he came to me, but had been in the kennels there since he was 1). She mentioned Bud - told me his story about 3 attempts at rehoming but being returned each time - needless to say I asked to see him, and the boxer cross was brought up. We went for a little walk but he was more interested in the hedgerows, then back to reception where he behaved himself until someone brought some black bin bags in..... he had been living on the streets for some time before he was brought in the first time, so naturally bin bags = possible food and he kept trying to get them.... I told him to ignore them, he ignored me so I did what I would to the other 2 - picked him up to keep him still so I could continue my conversation. After a few minutes it dawned on me that I had only met this dog a short time before, and here I was holding him so his mouth was next to my neck! Needless to say the others came up to meet him 2 days later and he came home with us. He was around 10 at the time, so the only thoughts re age were that he was around the same as Emily (12) and Jake (11). The people who had homed and returned him before missed an absolute gem of a dog.... he was loving, became confident and had friends all over the country in the 3 years 10 months he had with me. Bud was around (Emily and Jake had died, and he had become senior dog to Lucy Greyhound) and I was working from home when I started fostering for the Cinnamon Trust and Oldies Club. The other foster dogs were ok, but no heartstrings when they left. Alice was destined to live with a friend - she had seen her on the website, so when it was mentioned Alice was coming over and needed a foster home I volunteered to take her with that as an ulterior motive. My friend's dog sulked when she walked Alice, sulked when Alice visited his house, and generally made it clear he wanted to be an only dog..... by which time Alice had convinced me that she was meant to stay. She was about 8 then - and if she sees my friend's dog on the rec they all play together well, and he is happy for all of mine to visit his house - just not stay! Bud died at the end of November 2006. I decided I would stay at 2 dogs for a while, however got a very strong urge to go to Dogs Trust one day - to drop off newspapers, not to look! The staff said how Bud had really lived life to the full with me, and I said if they had any more hard to home ones in future to let me know.... they just pointed to behind the reception desk, where there were 2 dogs. One was the size I prefer (Bud's size), one was an emaciated terrier, at least 10 years old, heart murmur, deaf, on medication as been very poorly. Even though he was still ill, they had a strong urge to put him in reception that day. Well, the girls (Lucy and Alice) accepted him, so the Wednesday before Christmas Toastie came home - he has since put on 2 kilos (to weigh 7 kilos, so you can imagine how scrawny he was), he is a complete menace and has to be put on a lead if anyone is playing football or cricket in the rec, otherwise he hurtles over to join in, he comes on long walks with us, and last Saturday came 4th in the Veterans Class at a fun show - which thrilled me and Dogs Trust after the state he was in last December. The problem with old dogs in my house is that they don't realise they are meant to be old - they just join in everything and live life to the full!!!! Luckily I can just about keep up with them!

Hope you are going to get her a purple bikini to match her collar. Tip from when mine used to go swimming - go to Oxfam and buy a teeshirt for her to put on as you leave the pool - by the time you get home she should be almost dry, she will not have caught cold, and the car will not have that wet-dog stink.

Good to see you again. I have had to add my few pics to an existing album cos cannot master adding direct http://georgina.myphotoalbum.com/slideshow...bumName=album03

Had to add to the existing album, think my brain got addled in the sun today... not many of the walk, as JazzieJ was the man in charge of photography. http://georgina.myphotoalbum.com/slideshow...bumName=album03

We're home. Thanks for superb organising JazzieJ. Russ said at the end of the afternoon that his nephew can be a bit worried around dogs - well, all I can say to that is he certainly hid it well!!

I am sorry to hear this, but thankful Storm has someone to care for him who accepts the situation and has made sure he does not suffer. There was a dog locally who had very little quality of life, but his human was scared to let him go.... Well done for being brave enough to do what is best for him.

We'll be there!!!!!!!!!! Bought a single ring camping stove the other week, so will bring it along in case we need to boil water etc (in the new camping kettle!!) Georgina, Lucy, Alice and Toastie....

I wonder what the weather there would be like on 28th (hint hint). You are soooooooo mean to Ruby - she has been taking her training for the NSBT walk seriously, and you mock her!!!!!!!!!!!! (cue tragic face).

I have just realised this could be Storm, who became Dan, possibly reverting to Storm again... if so please give him a gentle hug from me.... I picked him up from the transport and brought him back to Coventry to try and save his foster mum having to race around when she had something else on that day (well, actually was going to pick him and Alice up, but Alice had got on the wrong transport and gone joyriding round Norfolk, resulting in 2 trips to Northampton for me that day!!!). He is a lovely boy, who accepted a lift in a strange car and a hasty shower once we got back here without hesitation.

Hiya Rudi - whereabouts in the Midlands are you thinking of? I am part of Coventry Greyhound Group and we have monthly walks where all dogs are welcome... the next one is at Ryton Pools (just off A45) this Sunday - ok so there will be tons of greyhounds, but if you are interested we are meeting in the main carpark at 10.45 for an 11.00 start.

err whoops, sorry, it is actually the Chequers Inn, not the Thatched House.... just been downstairs to look in the AA book of Pubs.... strange, cos now I have looked it up there appears to be a glut of thatched dwellings in the area offering B&B....

B&B booked so all raring to go..... in case anyone else is looking for somewhere, The Thatched House in Thompson did not blink an eye when I mentioned 3 dogs - just stated that they must bring their own bedding... of course they will - making them sleep on it is another matter

I would suggest looking into the possible move from Australia to Dubai, so you know all the details now. For one thing the flights between the 2 would be shorter, and horrible tho it sounds, it is possible the oldest of the 3 may not have to make that journey.... If it was me I would rather take mine with me - even tho it involves a long flight they will be together - and enjoy the time - especially as unless they are REALLY lucky rehoming means losing their humans and canine companions.

Fee - how soon is soon? We will be there in the barn conversion from April 22nd, so maybe we will overlap???? Friends have been there and highly recommend it as being EXTREMELY dog friendly - just as well as there will be 3 humans, 2 terriers and 5 greyhounds!!!! whoops, make that 21st or I'll miss a day of my hols!!

Hello everyone - finally got on here.... The atavar is the late, great Bud, who many of you have met over the years (didn't matter where we were, if anyone published pics from a doggie event there was bound to be one of him with comments about his gorgeous eyes!). Sadly he died at the end of November 2006 - he was around 10 when he came to live with me, and I truly believe the final 3yrs 10 months were a loving, happy time for him, when he achieved so much (PAT dog, holidays all over the place, etc). This is the current household: http://georgina.myphotoalbum.com/view_albu...bumName=album03. Lucy Greyhound has never known a day's hardship - she was bred and raced by my friend, who looks after all his dogs when they retire, until such time as he finds a GOOD home for them (one has just gone to a new home 3 years after retiring). Lucy will be 8 in July. Alice Terrier is an ex Oldies girl - she came as a foster, as my friend had seen her picture and thought she would be a great companion for her dog. Unfortunately he made it clear he wanted to be an only dog, although he loves everyone when he is out with them. She was about 8 when she came, and as she arrived on Lucy's birthday, hers is now the same date - so she will be 10 in July. Alice is the one with the big smile. Toastie Terrier - well, what can I say. I've put a brief description of how he came to me on the Anniversary walk thread, so won't bore you with it again. Suffice it to say that a little dog who was near death in December (due to illness and infection, not neglect) has now gained 2 kilos, is football mad and has to be kept on the lead if anyone is silly enough to be kicking a ball in the park. If fate had not made me go to Dogs Trust that day, and made the ladies there bring him up to spend the day in reception he could well have been on the Oldies website as he is AT LEAST 10, deaf, grade 2 heart murmur, only 3 teeth, etc etc... Oh yes, there are also 5 fish indoors, and 2 fish in a ginormous barrel outside (but they make any others I put in there leap out, so they now have to stay on their own), and me.... I am the area co-ordinator for PAT in Coventry and Warwickshire, so Lucy and Alice are PAT visitors, and once Toastie has been with me the required 6 months he will be assessed as a PAT dog - tho he may not do any visits, he will be on the stand with me during shows, so will be official then..

Cindy - put us down for £10 in memory of Emily. Will give you the money when see you on 28th. Georgina, Lucy, Alice and Toastie.

Sars - do you think they are related?? http://georgina.myphotoalbum.com/albumscroll.php? (cannot work out how to get pictures direct onto here)

I will be manning (?womanning?) a stall at "Canine Capers & So Your Family Wants a Dog?" on September 22nd through the Crossbreed and Mongrel Club. I had been suggested as someone who has taken on an older dog - however I have to admit that as the organisers only heard about Bud's death minutes before they saw me to ask, we did not go into depth. However, I will be there, and will be passing out info including first hand experience (Bud was 10, Alice was 8, and now Toastie at least 10 when they came to me) and natuarlly Oldies Club details.

[i will mention it to Cher as I'm sure she will want to come.....We'll have to put up with her! ;)It will seem funny without her Jess who went to the bridge recently and Lizs Kline and Cheryl and Mike have lost 2 of their little ones lately too I think......and,like last time,Seb will be in our thoughts too.I see he is still in your Avatar John. Finally managed to get on here.... Sadly Bud is another who won;t be there this time. Lucy Greyhound and Alice "Oldies" Terrier will be, along with new boy Toastie. I am sure Bud had a paw in Toastie coming to live with us, as a couple of weeks after he died I took the normal Christmas box to Dogs Trust, along with his coat etc. Was fairly upset, and it was busy there so did not really speak to anyone. The next week I got a really strong urge to take down a pile of newspapers - kept telling myself it was silly to go all that way, especially as by then 2 o'clock on Saturday, but eventually went. When I got there there were only a couple of other people plus the staff, who were saying how much Bud had achieved with me. Said if they had any more oldies or awkward to rehomes to let me know, and they just pointed behind the desk.... 2 dogs there, one about Bud's size (my preferred size) - nice dog, but no spark for me, and an emaciated little terrier. To cut a long story short, guess which one came home a few days before Christmas. The lady there had a strong urge to bring him up to reception that day, even tho he had been so poorly! He is at least 10, has 3 teeth, a grade 2 heart murmur and is deaf. He had got an infection after neutering, then kennel cough, then d&v...... the day he came home he weighed 5.3kilos, now stabilised at 7 so you can imagine how scrawny he was. I was not trying to replace Bud, however I am sure he had a paw in things, the way it all fell into place.