I'll try to get some video on Friday when I have Michael to walk her. She still has a little stilt but a lot better than when she first had the op. She jumps up into the car now and onto the sofas. She and Sasha like to cuddle up.
A quick update on Winnie as she has now been with the Rescue for a couple of months, and her thread goes into 16 pages. When she came in it was obvious that she she was scared of other dogs. She soon adapted to her first Foster mum and little dog, and then onto me with my 4 plus another foster Sasha. She has come out of her shell and loves the company of the other dogs. She also loves the Company of humans, and her tail doesn't stop wagging when you come into the room and smile at her. Actually, she makes you smile. We cannot fault her behaviour in the home and with visitors, who she greet equally as if they had been before. Sometimes, just sometimes a man may make her a bit worried and she will Woof at them, but tail still wagging. She is always okay when they say hello with a treat and then she is their best friend. She is housetrained now. Sleeps downstairs with not a murmur all night, and if given a biscuit and a wee in the morning, stays quietly downstairs so we can have a lie in with a cuppa. She is accompanied downstairs by our other Lurcher foster Sasha and they are both equally quiet. She eats politely and doesn't try to muscle in on anyone's dinner when they are eating, waiting patiently to go around the bowls to see what is left. Winnie wees on command when you need to leave her for a while or before bedtime. She doesn't touch a thing in the house, but does like to do the Lurcher dig with bedding before settling.
When Winnie came in she was so worried about the outside world that she would woof at anything she saw remotely near us when walking. She especially woofed to warn other dogs not to approach. But we have found that if friendly dogs do approach nose up to her she is then calm. It is something that will take some time and patience. But progress has been greatly made and she no longer woofs at people and dogs in the distance every time, up to 50 feet away. She walks nicely on the lead as well, no pulling. If anything she likes to stay a little to the side or behind, probably for protection of anything that might jump out at her.
She will be re-x-rayed at the end of January, and neutered at the same time. We can then see how well her leg has healed. Exercise outside is still restricted to fast lead walking but she can now cope with a mile or more on level ground. No off-lead until after the second x-ray. But Lurchers being Lurchers, she does have the odd mad moment with the pack on the back garden.
Winnie is typically lazy, a trait of the mix. She will lay around and sleep at least 21 hours a day, only lifting her head if someone comes home, or prepares anything in the kitchen. She doesn't counter-surf but just looks.
She is an all-round lovely dog. We feel that she will make a lovely family dog. She will need someone around most of the time, and another Lurcher to lay with would be her and our ideal for her. Work is still needed on her barking and socialization needs. She has a very kissable nose, and does she know it...
A short video this morning. It is hit and miss who she barks at and when. I have booked us in for some lunchtime weekly walks with a dog walking group to see if it helps her socialization. She still worries about the world.
A dog is a gift in life. Love and protect it. _________________
I took Winnie on a group lunchtime walk. She walked with a chihuahua, a small cavalier and a huskie bitch. I apologised in advance if she was a pain, but she greeted each of them nicely. She seems to be better with smaller dogs, and a quiet walk was had for around 20 minutes. Then a large Spinger spaniel came running up to us and she was pulling and barking at it. I can only conclude that she soon felt that her new friends were part of her pack and soon wanted to make sure no-one hurt them all. Some photos of our walk with her new friends.
She doesn't react to humans, except if they are men on their own and they look at her whilst passing.
Winnie is booked in for her leg x-ray and spaying on Thursday. Crossing fingers the leg is healed as she does wheelies round the garden, and today did a slide to a stop! on that leg!!!
A dog is a gift in life. Love and protect it. _________________
Winnie went on another socializing dog walk at lunchtime. This time I took Annie Heggie too. One of the ladies who walks without a dog had Winnie. It was hit and miss as to who she barked at, but not so much barking this time round. We walked with 7 dogs. One pittball type, two collies, a cavalier, a shitszu and a chihuahua. One other Lurcher and a little mixed breed. She was fine with all of them aftering sniffing, and we walked both in front and behind. I then left the group and walked fast with her and Annie. She was fine with small dogs but it seems to be black and white collies and black dogs that she doesn't like.
A dog is a gift in life. Love and protect it. _________________
I dropped Winnie over at Anils in North Weald this morning for her x-rays and spay. Sasha weighed in at 21.25 kilos and Winnie weighed in at 19.660. It's 30 miles over there from here, but Anil has already done so much for Winnie I wanted the continuation of care. Plus, I might get to see Colin later. x
A dog is a gift in life. Love and protect it. _________________