Buster is happily rehomed !

progress update: 29th July 09

Buster is happily living with Kevin and Nicky, DAWGdog pup Izzie

and has several fostered puppies too!

progress update: July 09

Dooley has now moved to Derby!

Here he is with His Favourite New Toy:

progress update: 22nd Dec

‘Dooley walked in the house like it is his home.

Hasn’t growled or anything at my husband, has even been playing with him in the house.

The halti is great too.

He is a joy.

He made another border collie friend today.

He was even good with his owner.

I think he will be a great dog.’

Hazel

progress update: 21st Dec

After several visits to overcome his nerves Dooley will be off to stay permanently at his new home tomorrow !!!

progress update: 13th Dec

Dooley has gone off for the weekend to his potential new home with Hazel !!

progress update: 12th Nov

Thanks very much to Fiona Pendlebury for this article on Dooley !

progress update: 8th Nov

Dooley is in the Echo today!

( we will have a scan of his article here soon ! )

progress update: 27th Oct

Dooley was visited today by a photographer from the Echo,

who had heard how nonplussed Dooley felt at Rocco’s recent media stardom !

You can expect to see him in the Echo before long !!

progress update: 19th Sep

READY FOR REHOMING !!

Dooley has now been at the Rescue for several months ‘in rehab’.

He has made very good progress and is now no longer the very fearful dog he once was.

We are now looking for a permanent home for Dooley, one that will be able to continue to improve his confidence and recovery.

He is very used to other dogs at the Rescue, but he is still a little eccentric in some of his ways.

We will be looking for an extra special home for him, with someone who understands nervous collies and who has the patience to care for him.

It may be that Dooley is more suited to a home which is not a domestic family situation, since he needs to be worked and active to find a good use for all his nervous energy.

Like his fellow rehab dog Rocco, he needs someone who is prepared to visit him at the Rescue repeatedly until he gets used to them enough to build up a trust.

If you think that you may be able to help Dooley,

please contact Helen

for more details

–

Dooley is a young Collie who has suffered from a stimulus overload.

He is extremely nervous of new people but is gradually losing this fear.

As with a lot of Collies he is driven crazy by the fast motions of cars and feels that they must be herded into a tidy circle.

He will remain in his foster home whilst he is rehabilated.

He now goes for a walk off the lead and we will continue

with training to enable him to learn that his job is not to round up all moving things!

As he is conscientous and like many workoholics it may take him a while to ease up on his work load.

We will be looking for a home who has experience of Collies and where there are not young children.

He would also benefit from living with another dog as despite what we rather vain humans think he will learn far more from another calmer dog who already knows the social niceties!

Dooley showing how much he loves being outside and trying to round up Helen! =)

Dooley’s progress report: April 8th

He is settling in with new dogs much better and is becoming more socialised.

He goes off the lead all the time now and looks to check where I am.

He is far less nervous and gradually becoming more used to a busier household where people come and go.

He still feels he should give a bit of a bark just so not to let the side down and also not to lose face in front of the new dogs.

On Friday he met a lady out with her two dogs and ran up to them all quite keen to say hello.

Next week I will start to sit with him on a busy high street to get him used to traffic.

Dooley’s progress report: 21st April

Dooley’s latest update is that he went for a walk on the recreation

ground where there were more distractions.

He and Spike raced after a ball and Dooley saw a cyclist and ran off to round him up but an

improvement in his behaviour is that he stopped short of the cyclist and came back to me.

A massive step forward for Dooley!

He is also starting to come back to see where I am and today for the first time

came back straight away when I called him and sat to have his lead put on.

He also met two strange dogs and a man up the field and again came

back to my call.

The horses in the next field did too but this is by the way.

He has also given up barking all the way back home and only does this

for half the journey,

I think his association with barking and the car is possibly starting to ease off.

His next step is to get used to bikes

and my intention is to introduce him up close to mine first and then

start to walk him next to it and then to cycle slowly with him.

Dooley is still young and he will in time get over his obsessions.

At the moment after a close call with a newly painted door he is wearing the

latest doggy fashion of one painted ear!

Dooley’s progress report: 30th April

Dooley has improved beyond expectation, he is walked regularly at

places with the distractions of people, runners, bikes and other dogs.

What a star he is, today he ignored and came back when called from two

cyclists and a pair of runners.

A friend of mine Brian who is a behaviourist quoted once to me “If a

dog doesn’t have a job, he will find one himself”

and Dooley had found himself several jobs previously to coming to the rescue.

I have always taken the attitude that if you run the hind legs of an

overactive or problem dog as the first part of training

then and only then are they in a state of mind to learn.

Dooley has since being with us had very long walks and this week he was ready to

take his exercise in more public places.

His new job is to race after a

ball and try to get it before the other dogs do.

He barely looks at

anything else whilst doing this.

He would with more training make a

great agility or flyball dog!

Lily has now been rehomed !

progress update: 7th June 09

Lily looks very happy at her new home !

progress update : 9th June 09

Lily has gone to her new home today !

I am about 2 years old and have been fostering with Jane for two months. I was taken into a pound to be put to sleep so as you can guess I had a lucky escape. Jane says that I am the easiest dog that she has ever fostered, I am good when left in the house, now house trained and I only ever chew my lead when left, never anyone else’s belongings. Jane can even leave a bag of rubbish on the floor and I won’t touch it.

The people at the Rescue thought I was a Boxer Cross but they have been told I am an
American Bulldog. Helen said a dog is a dog and who cares about what breed I am, she has a soft spot for my breed as she once had a dog like me in the rescue called Buster and she would of kept him if she could. He used to foster the puppies and they slept curled up round his neck. Helen told Jane that I have the same temperament as Buster. I love other dogs and when off the lead forget myself when playing with them and Jane has to come and get me when she wants to walk on.

Last week Helen came over and took photos and video off me playing with my ball which she will put on the website so watch this space. Someone came to see me this week I would loved to have gone to live with her and she thought I was gorgeous but a little too big for her small garden. Never mind someone will turn up for me.

Lily is a two year-old boxer cross.

She is quite good off the lead but needs a bit more training.

She gets on well with other dogs.

KIP HAS NOW BEEN REHOMED !!

progress update: 29th June 09

KIP IS GOING TO HIS NEW HOME

TONIGHT !!

progress update from Claire: 8th June 09

Hi Helen,
I love this picture. It show’s Kip at his best. We get the privilege
of seeing this alot. Someone just needs to give him a bit of time to
settle in and learn their routine and they will see his wonderful
affectionate, playful side, just like we have. He’s a darling.

He was good as gold while I was at the dog show. Very pleased to see
me when I got back.
We had the most almighty crack of thunder overhead last night. No idea
what time. It woke me with a start. Not a peep from Kip! He did get in
a bit of a state when it rained on our walk today though. He hates the
rain. He was trying to find a dry doorway to shelter in.

Got visitors next week. Hope he finds a home so I don’t have to feel
guilty that he isn’t spending this weekend with us..

See you soon.

Claire

SPECIAL THANKS TO CLAIRE AND SHERYL

for the work and care that they put into Kip

progress update: 1st June 09

Kip appeared in THE ECHO this week  !!

progress update: 28th May 09

I’ve been at Claire’s for the weekend.
She was a bit worried about me when she got me home on friday. I was feeling particularly itchy after my walk, which involved some aggressive stinging nettles. Unlike the other dogs I don’t have much hair on my underside to prevent me getting stung and I wish I’d realised that before I followed them! I was quite blotchy. After a quick text to Helen to find out what I’d been up to, Claire found some cream to put on the bumps. It meant I got extra tummy tickles so I was very good about having it put on. I quite liked the taste of it too but Claire insisted that I shouldn’t be trying to lick it off when it was meant to be making me better.
I’m being so good when I’m at Claire’s, I’m really hoping they will keep me. I know Mark is the one I need to win over as he’s not as much of a dog person as Claire is. Easy peasy! I make a big fuss of him and wag my tail lots. Works like a charm! He loves me the best! Some of the other dogs avoid him because their past lives have made them wary. He doesn’t like that because he wants to be nice to them too. I’m quite happy to let him be nice to me. I’m good like that.

Hasn’t it been warm for dogs this weekend! I didn’t know what to do with myself on Monday. After a little bit of running around with my rag toy, some peering through the fence at the cat (who hissed at me, how rude!), a long drink of water and a snack, I was far too warm for a walk so we waited until after dinner.

I very much like going out in the car. I try to drop hints by standing by the car, and every car we go near. We didn’t go out in the car. Too hot and too much traffic I was told. We had a nice walk though. Claire pointed out some dock leaves and told me I should remember what they look like for future reference in case I get in the nettles again. I eventually got a ride in the car and found we were back at the Rescue. Claire got me to show Helen my tummy which was still itchy but starting to heal up. Clive came and had a look too. He wasn’t very sympathetic. I’ll remember that when his nose gets sunburnt!
> I’m looking forward to seeing Claire and Mark again next weekend unless someone offers me a forever home before then.

I am off to Claire’s again this weekend and next week she will send an update of my adventures with her. I am really looking forward to this I love it at her house.

I have been back at the rescue for a few weeks now, I had a lovely home where I was settled and had made a new friend. This friend was a Cat and even though we got on together very well unfortunately I was allergic to his fur and my skin kept erupting into a very painful rash. It became impossible for me to even look at him without breaking out into something similar to the Bubonic Plague rash so I had to come back. I was very depressed for a while as I loved my home.I am getting used to the idea that it may take a while to find another one. I love my walks and rush to the front door in the hope that I will be taken out again and again. Sheryl also takes me out twice a week which is an extra walk in the day. Clive is amusing but after hearing his jokes repeated endlessly I am desperate to get out.

I am off out with Sheryl for a walk soon,she is training me to walk well on the lead. I am good at this once I get over the excitement of first going out. Sometimes I forget myself and growl at other dogs when I am on the lead but this is only because I am frightened of them and being restrained I think I had better show them I am tough. I don’t like to go too far from my people when off the lead. Helen says that it is all show and off the lead I am fine, I mix with all sorts of dogs at the rescue and am quite willing to share my bed.

Sheryl has just arrived to walk me so I had better go I wouldn’t like to keep her waiting.

progress update from Claire: 18th May 09
Kane knows the drill now. He can’t wait to get into the cage in the back of the car when we arrive to pick him up.
When we get him home he knows his bed goes in the lounge and he’s straight into it to recover from his long walk.
In the garden he’s taken to peering through the small gap in between the fence panels to see if he can see and stalk next door’s cat. I think he wants to be friends but he should have learnt that cats make him itchy.
The lawn has been a bit of a jungle for him this weekend but he didn’t seem to mind fighting his way through the long grass.
I remember he wasn’t too fussed about going outside in the rain when he was here before, this Sunday morning about 8ish there was a torrential downpour. Kip braved it for a wee but left me standing outside in my dressing gown with an umbrella calling him while he paced back and forth squeaking as he contemplated another quick visit outside or disgracing himself in the house. Let’s just say he really doesn’t like the rain!
He sent himself back to bed and hid is head. I didn’t have to say anything. After cleaning up I decided that if we weren’t going out and as he’d gone back to bed, I could have a lie in too!
Later in the day as I carried his bed into the lounge he grabbed the other end and the blanket to help and hurry me along. He pulled the blanket out so he had to watch and wait for me to put it right. He likes his bed and blankets to be just so for his nap.
He’s a cheeky monkey but we love him!
I feel a bit put out though!
I feed Kip, I refresh his water bowl, I walk him, I’m gentle with him, I settle him at night, I pick up his… well you know what but he’s always more pleased to see Mark than me! Mark definitely gets extra wags of the tail and more fuss. Kip loves Mark giving him a good scratch and a rough fuss. He gets away with anything.
It is a shame we can’t keep him full time but he would be on his own more than he should be and judging by the way he follows me around the house he likes the company.

progress update from Claire: 28th April 09
I had mixed feelings about seeing Kane again this weekend. Pleased to see him again but sad his new life hadn’t quite worked out. We bonded last time he stayed and he cried as I said goodbye, handing him over to Ann, making me feel guilty even though I knew he’d have a wonderful time at Ann’s until he found a home.
When we got him home from Helen’s on Saturday he knew he was back! He was very excited and full of beans. He ran the length of the garden and back into the house over and over again. I gave him a tennis ball and he continued running back and forth carrying the ball. He eventually calmed down and came to us for a fuss. He loves Mark. Even though he’s had irritated skin recently he loves Mark giving him a fuss and a scratch. The reunion was quite heart warming. He really is an affectionate boy! We took him for a walk in the woods, on the extending lead. He would come back to me straight away when called and didn’t pull at all. He was quite adamant that we should remain on the path, he didn’t like me trying to walk him through a rough patch as a short cut even though he could quite easily have managed it.
He squeaks a bit in the back of Mark’s car. He can’t really see out and I think he likes to.
He was quiet during the night and very eager for his walk on Sunday, reminding me where the lead was at regular intervals.
I love his cheeky personality. He has a lovely character. Helen knows I’m fond of him and was testing how much it would take to convince me to keep him when we got back to the Rescue.

progress update from Sheryl: 28th Apr 09

Hi Helen,

What a shame Kip’s new home hasn’t worked out.
I can see he has had some lead training as he walks perfectly on the lead,
so a lot of time and love was obviously invested in him.
Our first walk last week was a brisk walk around the local area as he
was feeling a little unsettled.
He was very good and walked well with me, although I didn’t give him much contact.
He has got to know me now after a few more walks together and is pleased to see he is going to
be taken out for a long walk- he gets quite excited!

Kip is still unsure of people-This is definitely not his usual personality!
He was always very loving and welcoming of affection from people,
but I think with a little more time he will get over his setback.
He has already warmed to me and is happy to let me give him a fuss during our walk.

Last week I took Kip out and my Dad came with us. Kip was great…
He stood on his hind legs and was asking for a fuss from him which is reassuring.
He was very obedient on the lead and enjoyed our company.
Today we walked up to a beautiful area where a lot of people go to
look at the view over Poole.
There were a group of 4 people admiring the harbour when we arrived and they came over and asked if they could stroke Kip. Unfortunately Kip was a bit nervous and was shaking
(understandably…they were all stood staring at him!!) so I told them
his story and they chatted for a while. He responded with a little wag
of his tail when they spoke to him, but I don’t think he is confident
enough for them to fuss him yet.
As we started to walk home, it started to really rain..
Kip’s pace got faster, I don’t think he appreciated getting wet!
He literally pulled the lead out of my hand as we got to the front door-
he must have known it was dinner time!

progress update: 19th Apr 09

Kane ( now a.k.a Kip ) is back at the Rescue as unfortunately he is very allergic to the cat at his new home,

and it has brought his skin up in a rash.

He is therefore now looking for another home

progress update: 28th Feb 09

Kane has gone to his new home today !!

progress update from Ann: 22nd Feb 09

Hi Helen,
Well what can I say about Kane? What a dog!
Not that staffies do anything for me, he is just a great dog,
now asleep in the armchair.
He gets on with all the animals here; cats are not worth a second look, the chickens not bothered about, the horses are a little large for him so keeps well away.
I open the door and just let him out as I would my own dogs he is soon back sat on the step.
Please find a home for him soon,
I DO NOT WANT ANOTHER DOG ( eight is enough!!! )
He is unbelievable, you would think he has been here all his life.
He will be a super dog for a family, loves a cuddle.
Hear from you soon,
Ann

progress update: 18th Feb 09

Kane is staying with Ann at her smallholding.

He is good with all the animals including

her eight other dogs,

and also chickens, turkeys, pigs, horses and cats!

He also loves going out in Ann’s Landrover !

progress update from Claire: 13th Feb 09

Kane

a bit bleary eyed after the anaesthetic …

Just don’t touch the stiches ….

Are you going to share that ?

Hi,
I’ve been taking a few pictures.
He doesn’t like the camera much so the look on his face changes.
He looks more moody in the pictures than he really is.

He was amusing today. Mark and I went out for an hour or so, leaving Kane in the crate.
I sometimes put a blanket over the crate , to keep out any draughts and to make it feel more cosy and secure for the dogs.
Kane must have decided that he wanted the blanket in his bed, because that is where it was when we got home! Four blankets obviously aren’t enough for him.
Mark can’t work out how he did it. Kane must have had fun tugging the whole thing through the narrow gap between the bars! He didn’t rip it or do any damage, just stuffed it in his bed.

I’ve been painting the kitchen, being careful that Kane doesn’t end up with yellow highlights.
This morning he was quite happy to lie in his bed snoring away while I did the first coat.
This afternoon he was a bit more playful and tried, unsuccessfully, to get the brush.
He seemed to like purposely running near the wet paint to get my attention and then running off sniggering to himself.

I recommend that whoever adopts him finds a food that doesn’t give him wind!
I have spent most of the weekend with my nose under my jumper. We could have heated the house on what he’s been giving off!

The little bit of bruising from his op has faded now and he has only paid the area attention to give it a clean.
He has spent quite a lot of time in bed resting.
I was going to take him for a short walk today but he hesitates at the door when it is raining.
It was ages before he braved the weather to go out for a wee so I guessed he wouldn’t be that fussed about a walk.

progress update from Sheryl: 8th Feb 09

What a little ball of energy he is!
We had a really good couple of walks together. Kane started his walks very excited.
He couldnt quite workout which direction he wanted to walk, as he zig zagged in front
of me for about 5 minutes and was quite a challenge to control (He has
selective hearing Im sure!)

With a little guidance from me he settled down and realised I was attached to the other end of the lead! He pulls quite a bit and has his nose to the ground constantly.

After a good 20 mins when some of his excess energy was burnt off with brisk walking, he trotted well by my side.
He definitely likes a faster pace so this worked well for him.
I’m not sure he has had much heal command work in the past as he doesnt seem to even twitch an ear or respond if I speak or use his name.
I think when he really bonds with someone, he will probably be more responsive. Kane has a favourite side to walk-The left!
If I moved to the other side or switched the lead to the other hand-
he immediately wanted to walk back onto the
left!?!
(Maybe he is used to running with someone on a bike?)
He is very nosey! He sniffs every doorway, window and tries to get a sniff
of passers by-We met a big boxer dog yesterday and Kane was eager to
say Hi which he did with very good manners and showed his submission
by letting the boxer sniff him all over while he waited and wagged his
tail-What a good boy!

After 40 mins or so, we stopped to have a rest
and some fuss-Kane definately loves this! The minute I sat on the
bench his front paws were up on my lap and he was nudging my hand as
if to say-I like this! He is hooked on love and attention. We got back
to the rescue after a good hour walk and although he walked better
than at the start-He still seemed to have a lot of energy left! Maybe
his little “man op” will calm him a little more. Kane seems to be a
loving, inquisitive dog, and once he gets into the swing of it-He is a
pleasure to walk :)

progress update: 6th Feb 09

progress update from Claire: 4th Feb 09

Hi Helen,

Kane is an excitable little chap isn’t he?
I didn’t get many pictures because he doesn’t stay still very long unless he is asleep.
I think he’s been watching too much Strictly Come Dancing because he spends most of his time on his back legs trying to dance with me.
He loves non-stop affection but he has started to recognise my ‘enough now’ voice and will settle in his bed for a few short periods before he comes back for more.
He has been good on his walks and is very friendly towards other dogs.
He doesn’t mind the crate but he wasn’t too happy about being left downstairs on his own at night.
He makes funny grunty noises until I put the radio on for him!

Claire

Saemus has now found a home!!

progress update: 24th June 09

Ssemus has now gone to live with Sarah from Collie Rescue !!

Good with other dogs but not good with cats !

These pups are now successfully rehomed !!

progress update on Riley: 17th June 09

Hi Helen,

This is Riley with a quick update from my new forever home. I am
learning all kinds of things here and everyone says that i am a smart
dog. I go to puppy classes every week and last Saturday i won 2nd
prize in a competition walking to heel. My Mum says I have to learn to
do this when we go for walks, but everything is too new and
exciting….I just wish she could learn to keep up!!

Last week I went to a place where there were lots of dogs, but they
all seemed really sad… a man whose name was “The Vet” gave me an
injection and told me that Puppies shouldn’t eat
snails….or….mud….or twigs….and especially not cat poo!! The
injection made me feel better and now I trying really hard to “Leave
It” …sometimes it is really difficult, but if I am good I get
something much nicer to eat  and everyone says that I am a good boy
:-)

Thank you for finding me a Forever Home, I really like it here and my
Mum says she can’t remember ever being without me…..she also says I
am better than Weightwatchers…. hehe

Lots of Love and sloppy kisses

Riley xxxx

progress update on Happy: 25th May 09

Dear Helen,

Enclosed is a picture of our gorgeous Happy, taken today…..
He just loves to sunbathe!!!

I can’t tell you how much pleasure he gives us, he is never sad.

His tail wags always and never stops.

He and Hugo love each other so much and we never seem to stop.

He is very good but still naughty at night with the wees and poos….we will
get there….

Anyway, sorry to have not been in touch sooner….I do see Deb quite a bit
and Jane Ferguson……so am in touch with all the other doggies.

Many thanks again Helen…..you are marvellous at what you do!!

Lots of love from Sacha and Paul Stevens

progress update: 29th Apr 09

All the pups have now been rehomed !

progress update from Becky: 26th Apr 09

Hi,
How’s things? Good I hope.
I got some dogs toys today for the pups and for any other dogs or pups I have.
As soon as I got home I gave them to the pups and Frankie of course,
within 10 mins one of the pups had destroyed one of the toys,
it was so funny to see he had it in his mouth and most of the inside of the toy was all over him.
I tried to get a pic but he moved too quick as he wanted to play,
it was funny and made me laugh, that’s just typical of a pup I should have know
better Ha Ha.
The pups are doing well with being house trained.
Its not that often they do their wee on the newspapers, maybe when I go
out, or during the night but most of the time they wait till they go outside.
Considering there are 4 pups to train they are doing so well with it,
and the trainer spray helped a lot I sprayed it outside the
first few days they were here.

Becky

progress update: 20th Apr 09

CLICK HERE FOR ANOTHER SHORT VIDEO CLIP OF THE PUPS!!

progress update: 19th Apr 09

The pups arrived at the Rescue yesterday, more details and photos soon!

progress update: 7th Apr 09

Hi Helen

I’ve attached a very small You Tube link that I put up last night of the 4 collies that I’m fostering, which are due with you on the 18th I believe.
I thought you might like to see just how gorgeous they all are!
When they arrived with mum a couple of weeks ago they were skinny, smelly and incredibly nervous little things who’d crawl on their bellies when you called them as they were so scared.
Now just look at them!
They’re all fat, happy and very loving little pups who will make absolutely gorgeous pets.
They’re very good with cats (I have four, all rescues of course!) and they’re very good with any new
dogs (mum often brings hers round).
The two black and whites are girls and the other two are boys and I can’t recommend them highly
enough.
I believe I have another litter arriving shortly after these leave so I’ll keep you updated.
I saw the update on ‘Pebbles’ – what a lovely home she has, thank you
so much. I’m looking forward to seeing updates on the others.

Take care, Catherine

New pups coming in after Easter,

There will be four eight week old collie pups; two girls,two boys

All needing homes !