The Out And About With Your Dog Blog

Just thought I’d introduce you to a new member of the family!

An older friend of mine has very sadly just passed away and her 11 year old Dalmatian needed a new home.

We asked around, sent some emails to people I thought might be interested and I even posted about it on the main Out And About With Your Dog website.

But no-one came forward and I didn’t want Portia going back to a rescue centre which was where she’d come from 3 years ago.

So after a long chat with hubby, we walked her in the morning as a pack and then brought her back to our house for a sleep-over. We had to see how Georgie, our 7 year old Golden Retriever, and Jessie, our 5 year old Lab Cross, responded. By the morning we had made up our mind to say we’d take her.

So a week later Portia moved in for good and is settling in nicely.

It’s only Day 9 but she’s getting used to long walks in the woods every morning and meeting lots of new canine and human friends. She’s as good as gold off the lead and keeps a close eye on me as we go round. For the first week I kept to exactly the same route since it was the first time she’d been in those woods. She seems very fit for an 11 year old and certainly has no problem keeping up with us.

Georgie, the Retriever, is definitely Top Dog and we intervene quickly if we see any lip curling or anticipate any barking directed at Portia. It’s mostly been when Portia has come up to the table at meal times. Apparently in her former home she’d been used to cleaning the plate at the end of the meal! She’s stopped doing that now!

Not having had Dalmatians before, we’ve been used to the slow padding around of Labs. Dalmatians are completely different! It’s definitely a skip,a prance, a scuttle rather than a pad!! And I think Georgie and Jessie need to get used to it too!

When we go out, we leave Portia in the kitchen where her bed is and close the dog gate. The other 2 have the rest of the house to settle down in.

Feeding time became a little stressful as Portia was used to barking when the food appeared. This did not go down well with our two! So now we get the next meal ready as they eat their current one. We have 3 cups with their initials on and simply drop the food into their bowls, pour water on it, get them to sit, and dinner begins! Easy! And the barking has stopped!

It’s been a delight having her join our household. I know it’s early days but things are going very well.

Please don’t overlook older dogs if you’re thinking of rehoming. It was not part of our plan to rehome an 11 year old – but your home could be just the right environment to give security and calm to a dog that might be rather bemused by what life has thrown at them.