MEGGIE - STEADY 4 YEAR OLD LURCHER GIRLIE

[Mimsmum]

Meggie had had to stay in holding kennels an extra 7 days as she had kennel cough and was halfway through her season.
Meggie came out today into the arms of her foster mum Elaine and wagged and wagged. She was so happy to be away from the noise and bustle of holding kennels. Life savers, but so noisy there

Here in holding kennels




Meggie went straight to Anil for a check-up, and he confirmed that she could be 4 or less, but leaving it at 4 for now. She was a sweetheart at the vets, nosed another dog there and wagged at Anil. She took her vax and microchipping without a flinch.

It is early to be saying what she will be like, as her body posture says I am frightened, especially when another dog comes near, but she does love people.

I watched Elaine walk off over the parkland with her, and she just trotted alongside Elaine and her grand-daughter. She is such a pretty picture.





I'm sure Elaine will have some lovely photos during the next day or so.

[salukigoddess]

Aaawww, another beautiful girly .

[Mickey&Brindiesmum]

Awww bless her be looking on her progress xxx

[whywalkalone]

Gorgeous. Snap her up while you can. X

[Mimsmum]

Tis early days yet, and Elaine has phoned to say that she is nervous at the mo of her pack so I am sure that Elaine will fill you all in at the weekend.
Bless her.

[gilly73]

Oh bless her, she looks so happy to be out of those kennels.

I hope she can settle, it is probably just so overwhelming, she will be fine by the end of the weekend.

Loads of love and hugs Meggie

[vickiemily]

we hope Meggie gains confidence and settles in ok in her foster home, in the last two photos she looks much happier and brighter to be out of the kennels, she sounds lovely

[Rough coat]

Well I arrived home with fostermother yesterday after being in the pound for a few weeks and visiting the nice vet. The nice vet said I was such a good girl but still dug a needle and a chip in my neck, I just don’t understand some humans.

I arrived at foster house and the first couple of hours did not go well with new family as I decided to put my foster sisters and big bruv in their place by acting like a real hoolighan and growling and charging at my little fostersister, Fiver. Foster mummy was not happy and said I would have to wear a muzzle as she didn’t want her precious pups hurt. If she thinks I won’t be able to growl with this thing on my mouth she is wrong, but if it makes fostermummy happy I’ll go along with it and I might even try to be nicer to my foster bruv and sisters.

Fostermummy took the muzzle off in the evening and I started to think if I keep quiet and don’t make trouble this could be an ok place to be. Bed time came and fostermummy said I was to have my own bedroom, although she called it a crate. It was lovely and comfortable and fostermummy said she would feel happier if she knew everyone was safe.

Bright and early next morning fostermummy came down and said all sloppy things, like what a good girl you are, but all I wanted to do was to go outside and do what all dogs do first thing in the morning. Fostermummy keeps saying I am such a good girl and even kissing me, which I am beginning to enjoy - maybe it will be good if I start to be nice to bruv and sisters.

I have never been up stairs before but it didn’t take me long to get the hang of it. We all spread outselves out round the bedroom and fostermummy gave us biscuits.

Time for breakfast - I think fostermummy is not as smart as I thought as she has forgotten to put the muzzle on. Maybe I will try harder and be nice to the others.

Outside for a run round the paddocks with the others, I am quite getting to like this gang, they don’t hassle me and just seem to accept me. I might even buddy up with Pinky, who I know could be a real fun friend. Fostermummy is still watching me closely though, I dont want to upset her so I will keep being a good girl.

I am going off fostermummy and daddy as they just took me upstairs put me in this big white bath. covered me in warm water and put soapy stuff on me. What do you know I think I feel a bit better now, mummy says I don’t smell anymore. Moi smell!

Well outside now to relax on the duvet with bruv and sisters in the sun. I think it is time for my morning nap, so am signing off now. Fostermummy said she will try really hard to put some picture on a forum so that people can see what a lovely little girlie I am. Report back later, must get some sleep.

PS got some lovely photos but may take me a time to get them on forum, hopefully later today.
Elaine

[Mimsmum]

Oh Meggie, I knew you were a good girlie, just very frightened, and ready for your head to explode with two weeks of barking dogs around you, rushing at you and jumping at your pen.

Hopefully, the huuuuuuuge garden to play in and some loving fun will show what a lovely girlie you really are.

[Rough coat]

We are into our second full day with Meggie and her progress has been enormous. I just got back from walking in the woods with Meggie and Pinky and she was an absolute joy to walk. I was hoping we would meet lots of other dogs so I could see her reaction but we did not meet one. A few people and children all of which she enjoyed meeting. She does not pull on the lead at all and is a real pleasure to walk.

Meggie is getting on much better with my 4 other lurchers now, especially Pinky who is nearer her age

I don't know what her previous life held for her, but I do know for sure it did not include playing. She hasn't got a clue how to play. When we are playing with the others, whether it is throwing a ball, kicking footballs, shaking squeaky ducks, she just stands there with no reaction at all. Pinky has asked her a few times to play or just have a run round, but very little reaction. Yesterday I accidentally walked into her (easy enough to do when there are 5 dogs continually moving about the house!), and she flew out the back door and down the garden. She was really frightened, I think she thought I had hurt her on purpose and I had to gently approach her until she understood everything was okay.

She doen't like loud noise or raised voices, she cowers and is frightened.

But then when she first arrived on Friday she didn't know how to walk up the stairs, she has no problem now!

So what we have with Meggie is a beautiful, loving, affectionate and gentle little lurcher with very good manners. She will pinch food if left at her eye level, but then what lurcher wouldn't. Totally house trained, and although I haven't tried her yet off the lead outside our paddocks, I would imagine she would be good as she comes to her name. She has still got a way to come until she gets her confidence to play and interact with the others and to realise that no one is going to hurt her, but she has come on so much in a couple of days I would imagine in a weeks time (or less) she will be able to relax and enjoy start enjoying life.

I will try to put photos on later.

I will try and post photos later.

[Mimsmum]

Which explains how nervous she was when she got to you. The noise of the kennels and barking dogs 24/7 was unbearable for me in the five minutes I was there. For a quiet type of dog it must have been hell, even if it was a life saver for her.

[Ruthie xx]

OMG what a poor little poppet... she sounds exactly like Charlie when i first brought him home... frightened, no idea how to play, didnt know what stairs were etc...

If anyone can turn her around, i know Elaine and Bruce can, after the wonderful job they did with Evie

[doodles]

Bless her little cottons she will get there I'm sure

Elaine if your still having trouble with photo's feel free to email them to me & I'll get them up for you

[whywalkalone]

Meggie sounds as if she will become a wonderful girl. When we got Chloe last year she too was very shy but what a difference 11 months have made to her. She's slimmer, fitter and more sociable now and she loves going on mass lurcher walks and greeting all her new friends, canine and human. No more shy girl for her, and I'm sure Meggie will relax and enjoy life in future at her own pace.

All the best. X

[sallyrolf]

Rosie did not know how to play either when we first got her and is still a bit perplexed when confronted with a ball or toy! I am sure Meggie will pick it up quickly with lots of other dogs around her to show her how! She has already made so much progress - wel done.

Sally x

[doodles]

sorry folks been a manic day this end

Meggie pictures on behalf of Elaine & Bruce
having a good look around


a bath


beautiful






snuggles on the sofa



with her foster bruvs & sisters

[Mimsmum]

In all these years I never cease to be amazed at how scared they come in and how easily they settle into a new routine.
Elaine and Bruce's dogs are good teaching dogs, so she will feel de-stressed fairly quickly.

[laurie]

She is beautiful and is making such good progress. Wonderful work foster parents.

[normanandjudy]

Lovely photos. What a lovely gentle face this young girl has.

[Rough coat]

It's hard to believe it is only just over a week since Meggie came to stay with us, as she has come on so much. She is gaining confidence all the time. We did away with the crate after 2 nights as, after her initial non friendly attitude to Alfie and the girls she soon settled in.

We have left her for up to 4 hours with no problems, no separation anxiety at all although she does look lovingly at us when we say bye bye and is the first one to greet us on our return.

Meggie has started to chase a ball, but to be honest hasn't got a clue with what to do with it once she has it in her mouth and just drops it and walks away, but it is early days. My grand-daughter did a little agility training with her over the weekend and she flew over the jumps and really seemed to enjoy it. She will never be an agility champion but it was lovely to see her joining in and enjoying herself with Pinky.

Meggie's first love is children and people and my view is that her ideal home would be in a loving family as an only dog. Whilst she does rub along with my other dogs she is not really too interested in them and her priority is interacting with people. She is at her happiest when she is with the family giving her lots of cuddles and letting her join in their life. She would be a wonderful family dog with no hangups and lots of love to share.