It's been a year since we picked Socks, and i have been meaning to post this blog for about a year, i felt with her years anniversary it was time to write.
The question i am mostly asked is why a greyhound, if i am honest (and i hate saying this) i didn't want a greyhound for years i have said no to one, i was told they smell and there big, i wanted a cute fluffy thing or a pug, obviously. However the agreement was if we were getting a dog it was to be a greyhound and Sammy loves them so i felt now he was on board with a dog i may as well go with what he loves. Sam then pulled at my heart strings with the retired, no home, needing love and i was hooked. How could i let a 4yr old dog live in a kennel after being forced to race for the start of her years. So we liked the facebook page and started dog spotting, we knew we wanted to be off when we first got her so knew we had to wait till the October half term. I was so excited, it was actually happening.
We first spotted Socks when we were in Sri Lanka, she popped up on the facebook site and we were in love when we saw her. We contacted the greyhound trust and they informed us they couldn't reserve dogs online, however because Socks was black she wouldn't go quickly. Mad right, the black dogs are the hardest to go as they don't photograph very well. When we got back we arranged the weekend, full of excitement and nerves we decided to take Bow and my rents with us as obviously Socks and Bow would become firm friends.
We headed up to Northumberland Greyhound Rescue out in the wilds of Northumberland and asked to see Socks, we were so pleased to hear she was still there, we walked her and knew she was our girl, we didn't need to meet any of the others, we reserved her and started prepping the nest for her arrival in 2 weeks. We went back a couple of times to see her, it was so hard as we just wanted to take her home however we knew it was best to be off with her so had to endure the wait.
When she came home it was so nice but also really new for us, she was so nervous, she didn't know how to settle and where her place was. Socks had slept in a kennel from being born so therefore being in a house with central heating and cosy beds made no sense to her. There was a lot of leaning going on, her form of cuddling and resting her head on our shoulders, just so you knew you she was there.
Socks didn't make a peep of a noise for around 8wks, she wouldn't go through stiles on country walks and she often kept herself behind us when walking. The stairs were a mindful for her and after a few days of attempted training we give up and thought why does she need to go upstairs. On mornings when we wanted her upstairs Sam would carry her up and she would come for a snuggle.
We were told she may suffer from separation anxiety however we didn't find that, she slept in the kitchen fine and lies in till late, snug on her bed. When we put the fire on she lazes relaxed in front of it, her heart content. The first noise we heard from Socks was her exasperated stretch, we knew she was happy when she did her upside down legs in the air sofa stretch. The first time she barked we got the shock of our life and when she growled we knew she was finding her voice.
I work with traumatised children, they lose their voice due to shock, there shy, timid and don't know what home is. They look for nurture and comfort, safety and security. I felt Socks looked for all this, she was our traumatised pup and with love and comfort she became strong, brave and confident.
Socks has literally changed our world, she is the perfect dog for us and fits into our life so well.
The first few times we took her in the van she wee'd, we assumed this could be because when she was being transported to race she would have been in a van. However when she got used to it, she settled and literally loves time away in it. When were packing she knows it's vanlife time and the first time we saw her run upstairs was when she was so excited her burst of energy just sent her flying up there. When we stayed somewhere with grass and she felt it on her body she went crazy, loving the feel and squirming all over it.
In the morning she heads outside in the garden and then bolts back in, spinning with excitement. Her first trip to the beach she ambled slowly, after that she took to the water and spun crazily round and round with such joy.
People laugh at us, some people don't fully understand, that's fine but for us Socks has filled a void, in a time when it's been hard she has given us something to live for. She isn't a child, we know that, Sam tells me off for that but she is an animal that brings unconditional love and smiles. In my work i always ask if an animal is present in the family, when there is they are normally the child or adults confidant, they can tell them anything and what they get back is love, licks and warmth. That's what Socks gives to me, she brings a smile on a darken day, she makes me go out when i want to nest, when sometimes i feel there is no point she makes me realise how great our unit of 3 is and how without her Sam and I would be lost.
So why a Greyhound? Why not, there bloody amazing!
The question i am mostly asked is why a greyhound, if i am honest (and i hate saying this) i didn't want a greyhound for years i have said no to one, i was told they smell and there big, i wanted a cute fluffy thing or a pug, obviously. However the agreement was if we were getting a dog it was to be a greyhound and Sammy loves them so i felt now he was on board with a dog i may as well go with what he loves. Sam then pulled at my heart strings with the retired, no home, needing love and i was hooked. How could i let a 4yr old dog live in a kennel after being forced to race for the start of her years. So we liked the facebook page and started dog spotting, we knew we wanted to be off when we first got her so knew we had to wait till the October half term. I was so excited, it was actually happening.
We first spotted Socks when we were in Sri Lanka, she popped up on the facebook site and we were in love when we saw her. We contacted the greyhound trust and they informed us they couldn't reserve dogs online, however because Socks was black she wouldn't go quickly. Mad right, the black dogs are the hardest to go as they don't photograph very well. When we got back we arranged the weekend, full of excitement and nerves we decided to take Bow and my rents with us as obviously Socks and Bow would become firm friends.
We headed up to Northumberland Greyhound Rescue out in the wilds of Northumberland and asked to see Socks, we were so pleased to hear she was still there, we walked her and knew she was our girl, we didn't need to meet any of the others, we reserved her and started prepping the nest for her arrival in 2 weeks. We went back a couple of times to see her, it was so hard as we just wanted to take her home however we knew it was best to be off with her so had to endure the wait.
When she came home it was so nice but also really new for us, she was so nervous, she didn't know how to settle and where her place was. Socks had slept in a kennel from being born so therefore being in a house with central heating and cosy beds made no sense to her. There was a lot of leaning going on, her form of cuddling and resting her head on our shoulders, just so you knew you she was there.
Socks didn't make a peep of a noise for around 8wks, she wouldn't go through stiles on country walks and she often kept herself behind us when walking. The stairs were a mindful for her and after a few days of attempted training we give up and thought why does she need to go upstairs. On mornings when we wanted her upstairs Sam would carry her up and she would come for a snuggle.
We were told she may suffer from separation anxiety however we didn't find that, she slept in the kitchen fine and lies in till late, snug on her bed. When we put the fire on she lazes relaxed in front of it, her heart content. The first noise we heard from Socks was her exasperated stretch, we knew she was happy when she did her upside down legs in the air sofa stretch. The first time she barked we got the shock of our life and when she growled we knew she was finding her voice.
I work with traumatised children, they lose their voice due to shock, there shy, timid and don't know what home is. They look for nurture and comfort, safety and security. I felt Socks looked for all this, she was our traumatised pup and with love and comfort she became strong, brave and confident.
Socks has literally changed our world, she is the perfect dog for us and fits into our life so well.
The first few times we took her in the van she wee'd, we assumed this could be because when she was being transported to race she would have been in a van. However when she got used to it, she settled and literally loves time away in it. When were packing she knows it's vanlife time and the first time we saw her run upstairs was when she was so excited her burst of energy just sent her flying up there. When we stayed somewhere with grass and she felt it on her body she went crazy, loving the feel and squirming all over it.
In the morning she heads outside in the garden and then bolts back in, spinning with excitement. Her first trip to the beach she ambled slowly, after that she took to the water and spun crazily round and round with such joy.
People laugh at us, some people don't fully understand, that's fine but for us Socks has filled a void, in a time when it's been hard she has given us something to live for. She isn't a child, we know that, Sam tells me off for that but she is an animal that brings unconditional love and smiles. In my work i always ask if an animal is present in the family, when there is they are normally the child or adults confidant, they can tell them anything and what they get back is love, licks and warmth. That's what Socks gives to me, she brings a smile on a darken day, she makes me go out when i want to nest, when sometimes i feel there is no point she makes me realise how great our unit of 3 is and how without her Sam and I would be lost.
So why a Greyhound? Why not, there bloody amazing!
Claire x
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