People And Dogs

Well you never know who you are going to see do you? I've had to see the Doctor three times in the last 10 days and I've been surprised at who was there. As I was coming out from my second visit I walked into Rhiannon, half of the Lledfegin German Shepherd affix, where I got Nikki my foundation bitch from, we chatted briefly and I walked out. By the outside door I saw her X husband and X partner in the affix, Gwyn, again a quick chat before I left for the car. She still has one GSD of showline breeding but he now doesn't have a dog at all. I find that odd, but nowt as queer as folk as they say.

My next visit found me walking straight up to another Gwyn, quite an odd little character but a pleasant chap who adored his dog. He told me that his dog Jerry-lee had died, I told him that I recalled that from years back. He was very chatty and filled me in on his ailments, as well as telling me that he no longer owned a dog but would love another one. I told him about Wil, but he did not want a neutered male that he couldn't show, fair enough. Suddenly I felt a presence looming behind me, OMG Harry, Norvisteg GSD's! Gwyn seemed a little disappointed to lose my attention but in days gone by Harry and I were great friends, and though life has changed I would still class him and Gill his X partner (but now friend), as my friends. With the loss of his last female recently, Harry doesn't have a dog now either. On the drive home I wondered if I should have told Harry about Wil, but I'm really not sure of his circumstances these days. 

Wil is going on for three years old and he doesn't like the other dogs in the home. Before he was neutered he had a retained testicle which could have contributed to his character issues. I have a problem with people giving up on dogs and generally rehoming them, to me they are family, but I also see the big picture, some dogs are better off rehomed. Wil spends most of his day in one room, he can't be around the house or garden when the other dogs are loose, so a three year old dog who should be out walking or running free is confined to one room, and is devoid of human and canine company. Wil did get on with Arya, but from day one has hated Oslo and Tyson, so much so that he attacked and bit Oslo through the kennel bars. Therefore, I completely understand why Wil would benefit from a different life and actually I really feel he should be rehomed asap to improve his quality of life. 

It really is hard letting go, but for the benefit of all the dogs in my care at the time I've had to do it myself. Seffe had taken a disliking to Lia, Lia was unable to develop her personality and was being squashed by Seffe, Seffe had been with me longer and had more show potential. Lia went to live with Frank and Linda and thrived. Then there was Jake from the C litter. Similarly to the previous circumstance, Dexi didn't like Jake and when that blew up I feared what would happen next ... Jake went to live with a friend of a friend who had a BSD and he also thrived. I guess the hardest for us was Danni, Danni was supposed to stay but we had been unable to sell Jezi and I honestly was starting to believe that she was not safe to sell. When the offer of a home became available, it broke our hearts but we both agreed that Danni was the safest to rehome, at least with us Jezi would be safe. From the day Danni left Jezi's personality started to improve, and then when Nico arrived, well her life was complete. For sister Danni and Jezi living together was impossible and sadly later on Jezi did have to be separated from the other bitches. I didn't breed from her or show her much into adulthood, but by then we had the facilities to keep two pack, by then we could make it work. 

I often consider if we did the right thing keeping Zeus. Oh, the boy is happy and I guess that is top of any agenda but from the point of view of the pack here it would have been better if the right home had come along for Zeus. The tension between Zeus and Orin is explosive, I pray they never meet without a wall or gate between them .. I pray there is never human error. Same sex siblings really rarely work. So many people encouraged us to keep him without really realising the implications on everyday life here. Oh don't get me wrong we adore the lad and having bought him into the world it was without doubt my responsibility to look after him, to make sure his future was a safe and happy one, but I do consider it would have been better for all if it had been elsewhere. Through Zeus being here Orin has learned male aggression, and through staying here so has Zeus! Sometimes for the big picture we have to let to, we have to put the pack first. Well it's too late now, but with hindsight, it should have been different, I should have done better!

Photos of Gwyn judging Loki at a companion show, Wil, and Zeus on a rainy day.