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Post by whywalkalone on Jan 25, 2010 15:33:20 GMT
Slim introduced himself to our vet, Louisa, today and had his second vaccination. He was very brave and didn't wimp it! Louisa thinks he's no more than two kgs underweight, which is great news because that's not too significant an amount of weight for him to gain over the next four to five months. He's booked in for his neutering operation on Tuesday 9 February. Slim and our girls are settling in very nicely, and Slim is noticeably calmer in the house. He and Tia actually have a couple of sleeps during the day now, after breakfast and again early afternoon after they've had another walk at lunchtime. Chloe supervises them to make sure the youngsters know where they're supposed to be and when, and she has joined in joyfully on the morning free-running sessions, rough-housing with the youngsters. It's good to see her enjoying life to the full after losing Saffie barely a month ago. In case you're interested in Slim but worried about what to feed him if you made a successful application for him, please don't be concerned. Slim loves food - all food - and he will eat whatever you want to feed him. If you're interested in raw food diets but don't think you want to tackle it 100%, please be aware you can feed your dog a dry complete kibble and include a few raw chicken wings every week to keep his teeth clean and his digestion sound by giving him a proportion of raw food in his diet. It really doesn't have to be all or nothing. Raw diets are adaptable! They are often recommended for greyhounds and lurchers because their digestive systems work so fast they can sometimes fail to get the best out of a wholly pet food diet. Here's Slim today, having finished one of his routine kitchen inspections: He knows I've just baked a batch of sardine & Parmesan oatcakes from the 'A La Bark' cookbook, available through Southern Lurcher Rescue! A contribution is made to SLR for every cookbook sold. Slim is an ideal candidate for healthy treats like this because he needs to put on a bit of weight. How lucky is this dog? Talking of luck, Slim has a ruff of hair at the top of his neck which some call "the Prince's thumbmark." It's considered a very lucky thing for an animal to have. I certainly think Slim's had a bit of luck being picked up by SLR so maybe it works!
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Post by Absolutely Barking on Jan 25, 2010 15:52:53 GMT
Slim is lovely. I can't stop looking at his thread, he reminds me so much of our Slim who was so very good to me at a time when I really needed it, so much so I was amazed, and thinking of him brings a not in the least bit macho tear to my eye I'm not afraid to admit. This chap looks like he'd do the same. You'd never regret giving him a share of your sofa, I'm sure. Good luck Slim, and if no one appreciates you by the time I've got Tig properly settled and house trained we'll talk, OK mate? Chin up dude, you've got it made so far..... Nick
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Post by aijee on Jan 25, 2010 18:22:20 GMT
Glad to hear that Slim's vet visit went well and that he is gaining weight Everything crossed here for his op on the 9th. For anyone thinking of offering young Slim his forever sofa, I can attest to the fact that Slim will eat ANYTHING!!!! and be incredibly grateful for it, to the point that his gratitude made me very sad for how starved he has clearly been at some point Val, am really pleased to hear that the two youngsters have helped Chloe move beyond the loss of Saffie to a place once again in which she can play and have lurcher fun. Way to go Tia and Slim!!!
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gilly73
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Post by gilly73 on Jan 25, 2010 22:20:31 GMT
Oh Slim, your just gorgeous and loving your Foster Mummy's updates Val has been a great inspiration to us with the raw feeding and we are giving it a go, with kibble Be thinking of you next week Slim x x
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Post by whywalkalone on Jan 26, 2010 20:01:37 GMT
Slim's had a very good day today. He's enjoyed his usual free run with Tia and Chloe, a big breakfast and chicken supper, and he's been really chilled out in the house for most of the day. His behaviour towards the chickens is great; truly calm and willing to walk closely past them, ignoring them. Tia would still like to see if they can be persuaded to fly but it's early days. Chloe likes chickens, as long as they don't come too close to her, which she finds a bit scary. I am truly impressed with how laid back and sociable this chap is. Whoever takes him on will find he's a dog they can take anywhere dogs are allowed. He simply does not respond to dogs which don't want to socialise with him. Earlier today he met George the boxer, who lives next door. George can be a bit funny with larger dogs, but he spotted Slim in our driveway and came bounding over to say hello. Slim immediately initiated a couple of lurcher play bows to see if a game could be started. No such luck. George's dad ran over and ushered him back indoors. Well, George does have a heart complaint! He's not supposed to get too excited and he is a bit overweight. When we have our woodburning stove lit, Slim sometimes finds the lounge a bit too warm for his tastes, and tonight was no exception. He'd scarpered off to his big bed in the dogs' bedroom before 8 pm: Meanwhile, back in the lounge, the cosy warmth was weaving its magic on another three occupants: Crikey. Good job the author managed to stay awake long enough to post this update. Slim is making good progress. Remind me to dust under the sofa next time I take a shot like this, will you?
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indysmum
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Post by indysmum on Jan 26, 2010 20:09:30 GMT
Brilliant update Val - loving the last picture Tia's favourite place in the world .....
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Post by Jeanette on Jan 26, 2010 20:10:06 GMT
Fantastic photos....love the last one with your OH squeezed up at the end !
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Post by aijee on Jan 26, 2010 20:35:08 GMT
;D ;D ;D Love it!!! Clearly a 'chilled-out' evening in this household!
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Post by whywalkalone on Jan 27, 2010 19:54:59 GMT
Hi Slim fans Val was back to work today, and Slim started his separation anxiety training. Bill left all three dogs alone today, first for half an hour, and then later for another 45 minutes. We're delighted to report all was quiet and there was no damage or mess when Bill returned to the house. How cool is Slim? He does whine and yodel a bit when first left, but it only lasts a couple of minutes. Bill crept up on the house and peeped in the dogs' bedroom window [we have a bungalow]. All three dogs were on their beds, in the one room together. Slim has been with us just 13 days. He is housetrained and uncrated. I just would like you all to think about that for a moment. This morning, when we exercised the dogs, Slim's recall was clearly improving. Of course, I shall say it was my home cooked sardine & Parmesan oatcake treats but you all know lurchers don't come back unless they want to. Slim wants to be good. He's still mouthing inappropriately when he's excited, but he accepts his verbal corrections in good spirit and not at all resentfully. He is uncrated [and unmuzzled when running], and we're proud of him. He is tired, though, and he doesn't fit in Tia's basket:
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Post by aijee on Jan 28, 2010 9:37:02 GMT
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Post by whywalkalone on Jan 28, 2010 21:28:10 GMT
Slim is relaxed: Val & Tia are relaxed: Chloe is tired, and she's gone to bed. Nothing to report here!
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Post by Karla on Jan 28, 2010 22:16:38 GMT
Super contented doggies ;D and a super contented Val me thinks
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Post by sallybeth on Jan 28, 2010 22:59:28 GMT
How lovely.... !!!
;D ;D ;D
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Post by whywalkalone on Jan 30, 2010 14:59:41 GMT
We wanted to give Slim a real go with separation anxiety training today. Flushed with our success earlier in the week when he was left for two short periods, each less than an hour, we left him for 2 hours at lunchtime today. When we got back to the house, we found: - no mess
- no noise
- no worries
Slim continues to delight us with his progress. He can be left uncrated at all times - if fact we haven't had to use his crate since the first few days we had him. His recall is also improving. Friends who own a saluki/greyhound lurcher popped in to see him and fell in love. They left, muttering darkly at each other, "No, we don't want a second dog. No, we really don't want a second dog. We are not having a second dog. We don't want a second lurcher." Not sure if I believed them. Slim will be neutered on 9 February. If you're interested in him to be the second dog in your household, I suggest you make your interest known pretty soon.
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Post by little Sal on Jan 30, 2010 15:24:30 GMT
Wow...what a top job you've done with a top dog ;D ;D Just luv reading Slim's updates and seeing the piccies too. to you all.
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Post by aijee on Jan 30, 2010 19:13:23 GMT
Great stuff Val! So glad Slim is continuing to settle I do hope that The Boy can find his forever doggy-companion and sofa soonest
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Post by pumpkinlady on Jan 30, 2010 20:07:39 GMT
How lovely to see Slim so chilled and settled. He is fab, isn't he!
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Post by whywalkalone on Jan 30, 2010 20:16:22 GMT
Yes he is. A near neighbour of ours brought his daughter, Connie, round to see all our dogs this evening. Now Connie must be about 7 years old and she's dog-savvy but nevertheless, Slim and Tia didn't disappoint. They lurcher-loved her to bits, giving her hugs, lurcher-leans and sharing their squeaky toys with her.
Slim is obviously child-friendly but please be aware, he still mouths inappropriately at times. Connie took it in her stride, but a small child unused to dogs might not. Slim loves people; he just doesn't have perfect manners yet.
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gilly73
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Post by gilly73 on Jan 30, 2010 21:22:12 GMT
Oh Val Slim is coming on leaps and bounds with you all Great to hear he handled the 2 hours without any issues Can't wait to see you all tomorrow hun
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Post by whywalkalone on Feb 1, 2010 18:27:34 GMT
Slim has been making splendid further progress with learning how to live comfortably with everyone. We know he can be left for up to 2 hours without any problems whatsoever. He no longer howls or whines when we leave the house. He's calm and accepts our absence, and enjoys the company of his two girls - Chloe and Tia. We leave the radio on for the dogs but shut them out of the lounge. They have their own bedroom, the hallway and the kitchen to roam freely in. They have access, therefore, to the front and the back doors and they can see us leave and return to the house. Slim is fully and, we think reliably, housetrained. He knows how to sit, lie down, come when called and wait politely [well, reasonably politely] when food is being served. He does sing a bit, but a boy can only stand so much excitement. Chloe and Tia are served their bowls before him - I only have two hands - but he is very respectful of the girls' space and does not try to steal from them. He eats in the kitchen with them both. We do not let him off lead in an unenclosed area yet because he is still unneutered. Losing him now would be too high risk because he would be a desirable hound for those wanting to breed from a lurcher. We will try him in a larger gated area of Ringwood Forest after he has been neutered and finished recuperating a week or so after 9 Feb. So far the signs are very good that recall training has been successfully "explained" to Slim. He has become calmer and more confident now he has fully understood our household routine and feeding times, and is willing to settle down for a good old lurcher snooze a couple of times during the day when he knows we're not likely to do anything interesting. Tia has been brilliant in showing him how to enjoy himself on his early morning runs off lead, and how to behave a little more gently and quietly in the house. She is a star. Chloe has unleashed her inner lurcher self. She runs with the youngsters in the mornings and fully joins in with their hardball lurcher games. She's quite prepared to tell Slim off and wrestle Tia to the ground. How cool is this middle-aged girl? Very. Here's Slim tonight, checking out the kitchen in case he overlooked anything at dinner: And here's a demonstration of how well-behaved he can be when asked to sit. He'll do this for food, to have his lead put on, or to get attention when in competition with the girls. I like to switch on his batteries when I'm taking shots like this: We'll try and get some outdoor shots of Slim running with the girls over the next few days. We use a gentle leader for walking Slim because he can become excited when loose dogs run up to him to say hello. He walks very politely on the lead most of the time.
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