| Archive for Rescue Remedies.myfastforum.org Rescue Remedies Forum |
| MBNAD woman |
Spot Collie 10 yrs + (Furry Friends)I thought that I'd drop you a note to let you know how Spot is getting on since he has been with me for nearly 5 weeks. Spot is a very sprightly about 10 - 12 years old. Before coming to Emma he had a very tough time and when his owner died, he found himself in a rescue where he was set upon by one of the other dogs and arrived with very little hair on his back and massive scars. His cataracts mean that he sees very little but that doesn't stop him at all.When I collected him from Emma, he just cowered by the side of the desk at the kennels but he settled into the car and luckily we were home quickly. Then he had to work out where everything was downstairs. Dinner and a walk were all fine and then he settled on the rug by my chair for the evening. He wasn't sure about the bed in the kitchen and settled for lying by the side of it while I cooked. Short walk before bedtime and then I settled him in the kitchen since he wasn't interested in coming upstairs, for which I was grateful! He woke about 1 am and asked to be let out and then settled back perfectly happily. I left the kitchen door open so that I could hear him if he asked to go out and went back to sleep. When I woke at 7:20, I couldn't hear him but when I got out of bed I had a big surprise : there he was curled up asleep at the top of the stairs :-) So we have learned stairs quickly. He's got a good appetite but is not motivated for reward by food but loves praise and patting - so as we did each step I said "Step" and he felt for the stair and then "Good boy" and a pat when he came down. It took him about 2 hours to work it out! Now, at home, he puts one paw on the edge and feels for the next step and comes down all the way like that. When we're out and he meets steps, we do the same routine and he's brilliant. He is totally amazing - he worked out all the edges of his new world within a couple of days, getting in and out of the car etc. We went to Wales for 10 days over Easter and he adjusted straightaway. Very happy, not clingy or anxious at all. He's very obedient and has great recall (although I wouldn't risk him being off-lead when we're out). In the evening he loves to sit by my side and have a cuddle. I've attached a photo of us out and about last week - you can see that he's full of beans and very alert. The scars are healing on his back. I don't think that he will ever have hair on the scars themselves but the surrounding hair is growing and is beginning to cover them up. I'm used to people stopping and asking what's happened to him (or staring at him and then ME!). Children that we meet are so sad about what happened to him so I tell them how horrible it is to be bullied. We've been out visiting to dog families and have had some visit us and he's been great with all of them. His beating obviously hasn't put him off being with other dogs and he's always very friendly and gentle. Mind, he's obviously been used to being a superior dog and engages in peeing contests when he meets another dog ;-) A perfect gentleman and a big cuddle. He's lovely. Thank you again for letting me take him home! |
| ali12345 |
Lovely to hear about Spot in his new home. I walked him shortly after he arrived - he is a clever boy and makes the most of what senses he does have.
If you have some photos why not post some up - would love to see them. Alison |
| MBNAD woman |
Picture of Spot
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| MBNAD woman |
Spot - trying to look very small and cute!
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| ali12345 |
Lovely - thank you. Looking very relaxed.
Alison |
| EmmaSemple |
Ho looks so happy and relaxed. Just what I was hoping for him. 
Emma |
| Sharonr - Admin |
His life with you sound just perfect for him.
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| MBNAD woman |
Guide Person for a Blind Dog ...An update on Spot since we have just had 11 days in Wales walking and enjoying ourselves.In the morning, if I make a cup of tea and go back to bed for a quick read, he sits by the side of the bed with a deeply cute look. 
He is full of energy and affection. When he arrived, I assumed that we would never be able to walk off-lead. Blind dog might go dashing off to who knows where. But in the house, he is very good with commands and has adapted to the Here and There as if he's been doing it all his life. A few weeks ago out on a walk, I took the plunge and bravely let him off the lead. He loves to run and dashes across the field as if he knows exactly where he's going. You can hear the Chariots of Fire theme tune in the background. When I call him back, he charges back towards me. Heathcliff, Cathy, Heathcliff, Cathy. Crunch. A learning experience for both of us as we pick ourselves up off the ground. So now I know that I have to remind him to come to a stop. He still bounces off me regularly and I can be heard yelling "Head" at him if we walk where there are obstacles. I started off shouting "Mind your head" but sometimes he's going at such a pace that there's not enough time to veer off if I get the whole phrase out. Heaven knows what people think. That I'm shouting for a lavatory or worse ... Perhaps I should try hollering "Mind" instead. 
But there are upsides to being a guide person for a blind dog. 
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| ali12345 |
Sounds like you are both having a wonderful time full of adventures!
Alison |
| EmmaSemple |
This is such a lovely read.
I am so pleased that he found you. He couldn't really be more loved!!! Emma |
| MBNAD woman |
A superior kind of a peeMy lovely neighbours, Lucy and Chris have a super puppy. Harley, a German short haried pointer is just over three months and is full of bounce. When we meet him out on a walk, he can't resist jumping up and down and inviting Spot to play with some lovely play bows.Of course, Spot is a bit out of little Harley's league and puts up with the nonsense for a minute or so and then wants to be off on his walk. This morning, Harley couldn't be dissuaded and before I started to move on, Spot carefully positioned himself very near to Harley, lifted a leg and proceeded to have a good pee. Poor little Harley jumped back to get out of the way of the powerful jet. What can I say? Git! I have also included a link to rescue remedies on my blog: www.madagainblogspot.blogspot.com |
| EmmaSemple |
Love the blog!
Have just read through about Spot. Lovely pics too! The only problem is that it comes across that I was going to have him put to sleep. It wasn't Furry Friends who were going to put him to sleep, but the Irish rescue because they said that he was unlikely to find a home. He was safe when he got to me.
Any chance of a linky for my website too please? 
http://www.furryfriendsrescue.co.uk/ Emma |
| MBNAD woman |
Done!Link added and I've amended the text of the early posts to make it plain that he has been in 2 rescues and it wasn't you that planned on a swift exit for Spot.In the unlikely event that you have a free evening, you might want to read about Mossie. www.mossiestory.blogspot.com It used to have a big chain of followers but I stopped writing it when he died and most of them have now retired. I keep it open since people still seem to like to come past and add the occasional note. The first posting at the bottom of Mad Again (In praise of the older man) was written as a gift for the rescue in Ireland where Mossie came from. I retained the copyright on it so that I can give it to other rescues, so if you would like to use it, I will send you the copy. |
| MBNAD woman |
A quarter of a yearSpot and I have just celebrated 3 months together. The time has flown by and he is such a happy settled dog. And look, he has a wonderful thick coat. All the bald bits have grown over and it's almost a complete even coat. Give it another month and there will be no sign of the great shaved area.
This photo was taken when he was out visiting and he decided he could stalk the cat of the house. He lay on these steps for ages working out where the cat was and then inched himself up. Of course, the cat was laughing at him all the time and climbed over him, leaving Spot a bit puzzled. 
I have heard that dogs learn to smile from contact with humans. They observe us, live in our social environment and see how we interact. Since they identify with our pack, they imitate us. Whatever. My cocker spaniel, who came to us as a pup, spent a lot of her time smiling and smiling at us. When Mossie arrived, he hadn't had much in the way of home life and didn't smile. But after a few months, he got the hang of it and would come up to you and break into a big smile. Spot arrived smiling. He has all the hallmarks of having been loved and is easy and affectionate with people. But, of course, he is blind. So, he must have spent some of his life, sighted and with people who were happy and kind to him. Now I'm a pretty smiley kind of person but I don't do the sweet, Mona Lisa smile. Mine is a huge toothy smile with about eight of my top teeth glowing as I grin. It probably scares the crap out of a lot of people. About two weeks ago, Spottie Boy appeared at my bedside one morning for an ear stroke (and to remind me that I should get up). Then he put his chin on my bed, puffed out his jowls a bit and then gave me a little toothy smile with a good set of only the front top teeth on show. Since then, I get this smashing grin but it's only for me. Other people just get his normal smile. I am hoping to get a photograph of this since it is so lovely. But my question is: how did he learn to do that since he can't see? Whatever it is, you ain't getting him back!
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| MBNAD woman |
A smiley pictureWhat more can I say?
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| MBNAD woman |
An August updateWhen we go out on our evening walk, Spot goes happily off-lead. Trotting along, exploring with his nose and peeing on every blade of grass. If I call his name, he returns immediately for a check-in, that is about 2 metres away with his ears pricked and head cocked to one side. If I say "Come" he comes straight back to my side and does all the "Sit" and "Stay" things beautifully. He's still a handful on the lead in the first 10 minutes of a walk because he has so much energy.Normally, he just carries on pottering about in his own way, following me but not too closely. Last evening, part way through his walk, without being called, he trotted back to me. Then he leaned his head against my leg and had a big cuddle. And then went off on his own again. Smashing. |
| ali12345 |
what a beautiful boy he is
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| MBNAD woman |
Half a year!Here we are, six months on. I can't remember what life was like without my super Spottie Boy.Here are some photgraphs: If you look carefully, there's a smudge on his nose. That would be custard then. In the bin, fished out the carton and washed it up 
Someone in his past must have liked curry too. He's very good about not raiding bins etc but a takeaway curry a couple of weeks back had him terribly excited. The things that I don't know about this boy's history! This photo was taken from the top of a hill when we were out walking: 
And look at the glossy coat. Not even a hint of the great bald back of 6 months ago. Emma commented that he wasn't much of a looker. When I met him at the kennel, I think that ugly would have been a fair assessment. People stop me to say what a handsome boy he is. Occasionally, they remark that he's a bit wolfy looking. But what a handsome wolf 
He is such a happy confident boy. Always ready to go out for a walk and happy to walk with other dogs. If the youngsters bounce up at him, he'll tell them off but most of the time, they just trot along , cheek by jowl. A couple of weeks ago, I visited friends in Devon. Their labradoodle meandered off into the river - a gentle slope and fairly shallow. Spot was straight in. The other dog headed into a deeper bit and before I could hurl myself in, Spot was happily swimming alongside. He came out, shook himself all over me and then went back for another swim. He is so confident that twice in the last couple of weeks people have told me that he's not really blind. Ha! What would I know, I've only lived with him for 6 months. And the vet has checked him out completely. Maybe some light and dark but nothing else. But he is so well adjusted to coping with his world, he fools most of the people most of the time. My old dog had died 3 months before Spot came to me. It was the most miserable time. Everyday, my life is lit up by the great big collie smile and hugs that I get as soon as he knows I'm there. What could be better? 
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| Zack 'n' Me |
Wonderful So happy for both of you
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| xristine |
Beautiful shots and a lovely story. He sounds amazing!! |