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Post by Mimsmum on Aug 23, 2010 16:18:24 GMT
Rhonda has been waiting several weeks to come over to us. Safe in a foster home, but in kennels, we had to put the English dogs first. She arrives early hours of tomorrow in Dorset. Rhonda is around 3/4 years old and as you can see Cat Friendly. She is named Rhonda as she hopped into a car belonging to a friend of the Rescue at McDonalds take away - back then she was covered in mange, thin and generally in a typical neglected state. Very loving girl Smashing friendly disposition and not destructive, or ,a barker.Really loves to chill on car journeys. Needs a belt around a garden once a day and then likes to "recline" in a comfortable bed for the rest of the day.....
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Post by Karla on Aug 23, 2010 16:57:50 GMT
She's beautiful and doesn't look like she's too big either
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Post by Jules on Aug 23, 2010 18:01:12 GMT
"Oh, Felix!" ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Casparsdad on Aug 24, 2010 21:46:17 GMT
Donal arrived at the Severn View Services at about 3.20am. His van holds about 24 dogs in 2 tiers of cages. Rhonda had travelled just over an hour in the car to join the transport, then the ferry crossing into Fishguard takes 3 hours. Then a drive of another couple of hours to reach the rendezvous. It is not surprising that she was very glad to get over to the grass for a pee when she was let out! There were two other vans there to meet him, one took just one big black and white greyhound, the other was from the Margaret Green Foundation in Devon waiting to collect 7 assorted breeds. Rhonda jumped in the back of the car very readily, and as we drove away settled herself well and dozed quietly all the way back to Poole. We stopped at the local park just before home and she did wees and poo before going home to meet Caspar. He has been more welcoming of her than the recent pups, partly because she's a girl! She had some food, inspected all the countertops in case there was anything else edible, then settled for a snooze She loved racing up and down the garden, and seems very quick. As you can see she is whippet x?,about 22inches ats, but is not very fit yet! As the weather has been good today she has enjoyed snoozing on the lawn She has not taken anything she shouldn't, like a shoe, nor chewed anything (except food!). She walks well on the lead, is friendly to every person or dog she meets..... We find ourselves going to bed tonight with her curled up on her bed in our room(once she had been turfed off OUR bed!), and not anxious that she might do anything 'naughty' overnight.........
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Post by Casparsdad on Aug 25, 2010 9:43:48 GMT
I forgot to mention that I had to carry her upstairs last night. I thought nothing of it, just 'she must be unsure if it's allowed'. We had a good night, quite undisturbed, despite my getting up and going down stairs around 1am. Caspar followed me, but Rhonda stayed up in the bedroom. This morning when I got up to make the tea, Caspar trotted down and out the back door, but she wouldn't budge. Despite all my entreaties, and even when Mollie got out of bed and tried to encourage her, no way, so I carried her down. Then I realised....maybe she's never used stairs in a house! Travellers don't have stairs of course, so maybe when we are talking about these rescues needing homes, we must add another category: "good with children and cats, can't do stairs!!" On the walk this morning we met lots of new dogs, easy, friendly greetings to all, and we went up and down all the steps I could find on the hill...no problem.
We shall have to train her on the home stairs with lots of treats!
She is definitely more relaxed this morning,quite bouncy and cheeky. Unfortunately it is raining, so not so easy to tire her out on the lawn.
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indysmum
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Post by indysmum on Aug 25, 2010 9:48:57 GMT
She is a lovely girlie .... are you fostering her Keith ? Well done for the transport run again .... you are definately a superstar She is a cat friendly so if you have any problems she can always come here Enjoy xxx (Sorry i wasnt quite awake, when jenny said she was going to Keith i presumed the other one !!! so ignore that last comment .... i was going to save the transport run .. he he he)
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Post by vickiemily on Aug 25, 2010 11:01:51 GMT
glad Rhonda has arrived safely, looks like she is really happy indoors and enjoying a few home comforts , hope she continues to do well, she sounds very good and not too fazed by her long journey x
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Post by Mimsmum on Aug 25, 2010 11:31:32 GMT
Thanks for the lovely update Keith. She looks so relaxed already.
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gilly73
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Post by gilly73 on Aug 25, 2010 12:49:34 GMT
Oh isn't she beautiful Well done Keith, you are a hero
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Post by moopops on Aug 25, 2010 13:12:08 GMT
She is gorgeous and seems really settled already after what she has been through
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Post by Karla on Aug 25, 2010 14:21:53 GMT
Sounds like she's settling well Keith - nice for Caspar to have a girlie friend this time Shylo had never done stairs when she first came to us, nor had Ronnie - lots of treats and patiences eventually works and once they realise nothing bad will happen they soon start getting the hang of it. Good luck xx
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Post by Casparsdad on Aug 26, 2010 9:40:08 GMT
We had another good night, she really is such a good girl. However, I could not get her to climb the stairs, and when I went down to make the tea, again I had to carry her (she is not a featherweight!). After they had been out to the garden I carried the tea upstairs to Mollie, and Caspar came back up as well. We then had crying at the foot of the stairs, and with me kneeling at the top making encouraging noises, she did finally manage to come the whole way! She was clearly very proud of herself, and grabbed a quick cuddle from Mollie on our bed, before being reminded that was not her place! Later she managed to go down carefully as well (our stairs are rather slippy wood), and has come up again while I type this.
Although she will pick things up and carry them off, now that she is more confident with us, she does not chew them straight away as the puppies did, and it seems to be just a cheeky exuberance.
She is eager to go out for walks, but does not pull, except last night when she saw one of our cheeky local foxes and wanted to give chase. This afternoon if the weather improves, we shall try some recall in the big open area where lots of dogs are walked. Watch this space!
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Post by vickiemily on Aug 26, 2010 13:52:39 GMT
great update on Rhonda, glad she is doing so well and overcoming her worries with the stairs, keep up the good work with her
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Post by Casparsdad on Aug 26, 2010 22:04:50 GMT
So this afternoon was a milestone as Rhonda went off the lead for the first time with us. We were walking along with Shirley and her steady old grey called Katie, who some of you know from GIN walks. Rhonda mooched along with her some of the time, almost like Mum and Daughter, but other times she had a good blast with a couple of willing dogs that we met. She greeted all with wagging tail and a smile.
Considering this is only day 3 her recall was very good, but I wouldn't let her off in the Forest just yet! This was open ground where she could see us easily. At least it means we can now have lots of off lead time to get her used to my whistle and call.
She is a super girl, very interested in all that goes on, easily learns the rules as they crop up. Not greedy, but rather interested in human food, so we are working on "go to your bed" while we are eating! She is going to make one lucky family very happy.
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Post by vickiemily on Aug 27, 2010 10:58:40 GMT
brilliant to hear Rhonda continues to make such good progress, what a good girl and well done
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Post by Celtic Animal Life Line on Aug 28, 2010 19:02:22 GMT
Hi Keith, wonderful to read Rhonda's antics and that she is settling so well...at least you don't have to lug her up and down the stairs now She's a little darling and Christine over here who rescued her did wonders with her as she was in dreadful state when she found her - or rather when Rhonda hopped into Christine's car - that was the best move Rhonda made - get away from "those people" and now look where she is living in the lap of luxury totally befitting a stunning kurcher girl thank youKeith & Mollie & SLR for helping this celtic beauty - oh, and sorry about the bin raids ;D x
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Post by Christina on Aug 29, 2010 11:57:50 GMT
She is a lovely girl Keith , another one you have helped along the way to a better life ;D . Love those ears!
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Post by Casparsdad on Aug 29, 2010 16:31:47 GMT
Here we are at Day 6, and the "little Irish darlin" continues to behave herself(mostly). She has certainly 'come out of her shell' and is always ready for the next game or outing. Even Caspar has been worn down, and has 'almost' played with her a couple of times! I'm sure it won't be long before I can post photos of 'bitey face', like the other Fosterers do! In the meantime, here she is wearing her new SLR collar, she really is part of the pack now! Note the broad chest and back - maybe one of her parents was a bit 'Staffie'? Cetainly she is very quick, and friendly with every dog and person she meets. This morning she enjoyed a runaround in the shallow water chasing the seagulls, this afternoon in between good runs with some other dogs, she came across a little boy of about 3 having a sit down protest in the long grass. She trotted up to him and licked his face, whereupon he cried, not because he was frightened, but because she had spoilt his 'strop'! His parents laughed at him, as did we! She likes sitting in the sunshine on the patio: Come on folks, surely she has a place on your sofa?
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Post by vickiemily on Aug 30, 2010 11:18:40 GMT
another great update Keith, she looks so relaxed and like she is loving home life and her trips out, what a happy girl she looks now
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Post by Casparsdad on Aug 30, 2010 22:49:37 GMT
This afternoon I rashly suggested we go across the chain ferry to Studland for a walk on the beach. Mistake! First we had to drive round and round looking for a parking space before the ferry, and when we got the other side I remembered why we don't usually bother on a bank holiday or sunny school holiday - the beach was packed! However, as a testing new experience for Rhonda it was good. She walked into the big iron beast without problem, and despite the vibrations through the deck and the terrific clanging when in motion, no problem: We walked past the crowds, on the lead, and then she had a little run on the sand - until we reached another National Trust sign saying No Dogs past this point, so we turned up into the sand dunes. She thought this was a lovely place, with little twisty paths through the bracken and lots of rabbit smells and droppings everywhere! Although she quickly got out of sight, she came back easily to the whistle. We then went over to Whitecliff to meet Monty with Colin: She tried hard to get him to play, but it is only his first full day here, and he was on the lead!..........Maybe tomorrow!
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