Do you remember this dog? Daisy and I travelled down to Elgin to collect Loki in the middle of July.
This is my first photo when we met Loki at Brumley Brae Cattery and Kennels. He was an aloof little thing who was shut down and not listening. He didn’t have much concept of actually wanting to please or be part of the family. Why should he? What had he seen? We will never know.
This is Loki yesterday….
He has a grown a good winter coat, put on 2 kgs, had his bits off and is much better about the cat. Best of all, he has fairly good recall and can be walked off a lead.
I will admit that we have had our ups and downs as well as some discussions about ‘haviour and disappearing. There were a few unmentionables too like attacking Jack but we are putting that behind us now.
We trust Loki far more, but we set him up to succeed rather than take anything for granted. Food is not left out anywhere. Doors are shut. He feels safe in a routine and religiously comes upstairs every morning to have his daily crust from my breakfast of Marmite on toast. He has lovely manners.
It has taken a while for Loki to settle. He adores my OH and asks to go for a walk and then he runs and runs, always keeping OH in sight. He listens (Loki, not OH) if you say no to jumping over fences and knows which ones are ok and which ones are boundaries. He has caught and eaten numerous rabbits, which is what it is all about for a lurcher.
At the beginning, there was a moment when I seriously wondered what I had done but I am quietly confident that Loki is a good dog who is starting to feel like part of our family now.
Unlike Celt, who wobbled at the slightest whiff of Shetland weather, Loki doesn’t notice the cold or rain at all.
(and he has stopped chasing the ponies!)
Lucky, lucky dog has landed in Nirvana…well done Frances xxx
you have done a wonderful job Frances
Well done, can I pop our Cookie in the post for some training?
Just kidding (OBVIOUSLY) but it’s lovely when a formerly aloof animal becomes part of the family.
Lovely to hear !
Sometimes we never know WHY we adopt a critter when everyone else thinks we are batty. But we heard their silent plea for love and a home. And then, after much work and patience, we are given the greatest gift of all, their love and devotion. In my case, an abused female Maine Coon cat went from terrified of all movements to being a lap cat. You did well, Frances, you did well.
My lurcher looks so much like Loki and enjoys the country/hill life in cumbria. My other rescue dog took 2years of hard work and doubts but I would not swop him for the world.