Beauty

Beauty is an eight-year-old retired racer and has lived with me for four years. We enjoy walking with Greyhound Walks, and through this became a founder member of the Greyhound Display Team (now retired). Beauty has her Bronze Kennel Club Good Citizen Award and is working towards her Silver. She is a veteran of the Novelty Dog Show and has plenty of rosettes to show for it. She also has the Bronze Good Dog Diploma, as well as the Junior Award, which she passed with Jacob's help, and has been placed twice at my local dog training centre's 'progress tests' for obedience.

She has a very laid back personality, and works wonders with dogs who are shy or anxious around other dogs as she takes no notice of any of their extreme behaviour, which gives them confidence to approach. She loves to pretend to chase squirrels so that she can help me to wear out even the most active dog as they try to keep up with her. She loves to sleep cuddled up in a blanket, and featured in the September/October edition of London Dog Tails.

More photos of Beauty (click to enlarge)

 

Fred

Fred is a three-year-old terrier mix. We know he is Jack Russell, but think there must be some Patterdale in there somewhere. What a mixture! He came to me as a rambunctious foster dog, my first. He was a very anxious dog, and spent a lot of his time pacing about, jumping up and nibbling. He was found a home, only to be returned due to being too boisterous with the resident dog. With no 'viewings' for a few months I decided to take him to training classes to help him to calm down. This really helped me to bond with him, and as my own, my first, my best beloved dog Buster had died, I couldn't bear to let Fred go a second time and adopted him.

It has been a time of very hard work for Fred and me, but two years on, Fred has his Junior (with Jacob) and Silver Good Dog Diplomas, Silver Good Citizen Award (and working towards Gold for both), a huge trophy for 'Most Promising Rescue Dog' (although this has now been returned to the training centre for the next deserving dog), a very long string of rosettes including more than one 'Best in Novelty Show' and 'Best Crossbreed', and even a few for obedience. In 2007 he qualified for Scruffts at Discover Dogs, and he has done some 'modelling' work, leading to features and photographs appearing in two different dog magazines and a book (due to be released in November 2009).

Fred also helps me with dogs that need help socialising with other dogs, or need help with other training. He demonstrates what to do, teaches them that 'small' doesn't equal 'pushover', that they should have some respect and that I am the bringer of all things lovely, and as such so much more interesting than a smelly bush or another dog.

More photos of Fred (click to enlarge)