Dogs

[Rebel Pebble]

His sweet, hopeful little face. He just wants to be safe and loved and you will give him that in spades. You've done a good thing and it will be wonderful.

[Lily]

Thanks again. Have eaten now. Vet appointment booked for Monday morning which I'm very relieved about. WFH for the next few days, meetings etc cancelled.

Squizz I was actually going to message you to see what I should do the first few days. I have a loooong lead which I got so he can walk around the garden and sniff everything. I feel so guilty about trying to wash him. At least he's following me around so he doesn't hate me.

I just wanted to be all prepared and I'm anything but!

[Lily]

I feel better now I've spoken to you guys and my family. (And have eaten!)

[FiveO'Clock]

What's his history and have you decided on a name?

[Skips]

I was about to ask if you decided on a name.

[Scooter]

Hound! I’m jealous. He looks lovely: congratulations!

Take your time and learn how to be buddies. It’s gonna be great

[Lily]

His foster mum has just said: "Moving is stressful for them like us. Few days and you'll be best friends. He is a sweetheart" which is really lovely to read. She also said he doesn't really know his name (mum was concerned that if it made him feel safe we ought to keep it), so I'd like to call him Bertie after my great great uncle although Douglas was a close second!

He was on the streets until he was taken in by the Mossmania Dog Rescue and spent some time in their kennels before being brought to the UK. He's been at the farm since October. He was £400 and that includes vaccinations, microchip, neutering and his passport.

We're off to bed now, wish us luck! And thank you all again. I feel so much better. And more confident!

(He's snoring so maybe we'll stay up until he wakes up, I don't want to disturb him)

[Luna]

The smell of a dog that’s been kennels is something else so I’m not surprised he whiffs but get him used to you first before tackling too much. Most of it is instinct and you’ll be grand.

Congratulations dog mum !

[rosy]

You have a dog! Congratulations. He looks like a lovely boy.

Lucy is right, work on bonding with him and everything else will fall into place.

[viggy]

Hello Bertie

I have zero dog advice, but I know you’re a thoughtful loving person and will give him a fab life.

[Lily]

I got up to put the kettle on and he woke up. He came looking for me and when he saw me he wagged his tail so at least he doesn't hate me. I shouldn't have tried washing the poor sod, but he was so so good even though he didn't like it. It is making me feel more confident about him being the right dog for me and for the family. I'm talking to him all the time so he gets to know my voice.

Goodnight all, thanks again for your kind words. Let's see what tomorrow brings!

[Disco]

Bertie looks so lovely! I felt like you when I brought Monk home and when I brought GM home. I think it's normal to feel overwhelmed and out of your depth in the early days so take some deep breaths and enjoy getting to know your new best friend.

[sally maclennane]

Aww, he is so lovely! It sounds like an eventful day for you both but you'll settle down.

[olive]

Lily! Bertie is adorable.

My sister cried and had so many doubts after getting her much wanted (and researched!) dog and she was absolutely blind sided by being so upset. Obviously that passed and now she can’t imagine life without him. She’s quite shocked when she looks back at that time.

[cluefree]

He’s beautiful, Lily, and you won’t let him down. You just need time to get used to each other and before you know it you’ll have your own rhythm and routine and you won’t believe that you were ever without each other. I honestly found bringing Maggie home one of the most stressful and worrying times of my life and now I can’t believe I ever felt that way. You will give him a lovely life and you will both be absolutely fine. Just give it all a lot of time and patience and you’ll both adjust. Congratulations, he’s lovely.

[Tits McGee]

Congratulations! Bertie is a lucky boy to have found a home with you.

[Lily]

It is so reassuring to hear that others felt similarly. I had no idea I'd feel like this and I feel so disappointed in myself but it helps hugely to know it's fairly standard!

He slept in his bed in my room and we had a broken night, not for any reason other than I woke up every time he moved and was really worried about everything, money mainly :ella: but that's par for the course. He was very very good, no messing, no barking. He's just itching, and he keeps scratching his poor ear and opens up the wound and he cries which is heartbreaking! but we are booked in with the vet tomorrow. He is on a long lead so he can explore the garden at his will but right now he's sitting on the sofa next to me (he wouldn't come up yesterday so that's an improvement).

Has anyone used Stinky Stuff? His foster mum says she used it on his ear and adds it to his food.

[Margo]

What a gorgeous chap! He looks so relaxed in that last pic

When Bijou arrived from Romania after 4 days in the back of a van in a little cage, she was put into my arms and just kind of collapsed… the poor darling must have been exhausted, scared, a million feelings going through her little fluffy head.

She came indoors and just started racing round, I opened the garden door and she went out, raced around for probably 10 mins, then just sat in the middle of the lawn. It was December, freezing and icy, and she just sat there. I went and sat out on a garden chair and eventually she came over to me (I’d put Mimi upstairs whilst this was happening)… she tentatively sniffed me, and I just let her do what she wanted… she came inside, met Mimi, they had zoomies, then she jumped on the sofa and snuggled with us…

Any dog will need time to decompress after a major event; everything and everyone is now new to them.

I wish you every success with him, and bravo for rescuing a lovely boy x

[purple_dress]

Congratulations, Lily! He's gorgeous x

[Ismee]

He is gorgeous Lily and so lucky to have you.

I hope he gets on okay at the vets, you'll both settle in together soon.