ISSY is an 11mths old collie x retriever. She is spayed, vaccinated and microchipped. From her original pictures, she was thought to be a Leonberger cross but "in real life" is a lot smaller and is, in fact, more female golden retriever size. She is an extremely pretty girl and seems to be quite calm for a youngster. She also seems to get on very well with other dogs and is absolutely great with people.

She is having an overnight stop in Somerset and will then, all being well, be going to be fostered in the Midlands with a family and two other dogs.

FIRST MEETING WITH SIMON

FIRST UPDATE ON ISSY

Simon says, "Issy has been with us for 48 hours now and has settled into family life very quickly. Even on the first evening she took everything in her stride and settled down to sleep overnight in the dog crate which we left in the living room, there were just a couple of whines as I left the room to go to sleep myself. I was awake again at 4am because our son Thomas, who's 18 months old, was screaming to be fed and again she took it all in her stride. Once I'd got Thomas to back sleep I let Issy out for a wee and then risked letting her have the run of downstairs. The following morning I'm pleased to say I found her curled up on the sofa and there were no accidents and nothing destroyed !!"

She is very good natured and has proved to be very tolerant of children to the point where Thomas will grab handfuls of her coat and she doesn't even flinch. Today she also met my neighbours girls Molly and Francessa; Issy has been great around them and has been playing in the garden with them. Although, it did mean the death of one football due to Issy playing a bit too rough with it. However, she is only 11 months old so there's plenty of puppy in her and she can be a handful when she gets over excited.

She seems to have been well looked after and has been house trained although we have had one mistake but I think that was due the excitement of new surroundings. She's okay on a lead but does pull a lot so we need to work on that. She will sit for a treat and seems to be treat oriented. Also, she's getting better with the recall and is starting to come back when you call her name. She gets on fine with my dog Bruno (Staffy cross) and they play quite happily together but Candy (Shih Tzu) is intimidated by her size and gets quite scared when Issy wants to play. Hopefully, this will resolve itself once Issy settles in properly and Candy learns that she's just a big softy.

SECOND UPDATE ON ISSY

Simon says: “Issy has now been with us for two weeks, in that time we have seen her settle in and become part of our family and we shall all miss her very much when she has to leave, especially our children.

She loves playing with toys and the particular favourites are squeaky toys and tug toys. Although when playing tug of war she does cheat by moving her grip further and further up until you have to let go for fear of getting a nip. She’s a fabulous jumper and she can take a toy out of my outstretched arm, so we talking 6 foot plus!!! Also, when playing she can become quite boisterous so on occasions it’s necessary to reprimand her so that she will calm down.

She has been great with all our children and their friends right from Thomas (18 months) all the way up to the eldest, Chris (11 years) and we have not seen any aggressive behaviour or intolerance of their antics. An example of this was earlier in the week where Thomas crawled underneath her rather than going around.

She has been a bit of nightmare on a collar and lead and I’ve found it a real struggle to stop her from pulling whilst we are out walking. This I’m surprised and pleased to say has been cured by purchasing a Halti which has instantly stopped this bad behaviour. She now walks on the lead without pulling at all and will sit and wait to cross the road. Also when meeting other dogs she doesn’t pull any more.

We have left her on a number of occasions and she always been good, the longest we have left her for is four hours. At no time has she fretted and there has never been any damage. At night she has the run of the downstairs and tends to sleep on the sofa. She’s very confident with stairs and would probably prefer to sleep upstairs but we have stopped this by putting up the stairgate.

The one blot in her copybook happened recently when Issy had a go at Candy, our Shih Tzu. She had dug up an old buried treat which was in a horrible state so in order to get that off her I offered her a tripe stick. However, I forgot to give my other dogs Bruno and Candy a treat at the same time so Candy decided that she would see what Issy had got. This caused Issy to become possessive of the treat and she thought that Candy was going to steal it. This was nothing more than a slight scrap which I’m convinced would not have happened if I had given all the dogs treats and so the blame rests with me and not Issy.

To sum up, she’s a great dog with lots of energy that will make a lovely pet and would probably be a natural in agility events.

ISSY HAS GONE TO HER FOREVER HOME

Simon says: “Issy has gone to her new home in the New Forest today Thursday 28 August. Diane, her new owner has a really good rapport with Issy. I think she's got a wonderful new home and will be very happy there”.

UPDATE FROM HER FOREVER HOME – 23 SEPT 2008

I collected my darling Issy from Simon and his family in Wolverhampton on 28 August. She was very good on her 3.5 hour journey to my home in the New Forest and I had my 10 year old niece in the back of the car with her to give her lots of cuddles. Her first night was going well – she settled nicely on her new bed and I went upstairs to bed. While I was getting ready I had the feeling I was being watched – when I turned round there was Issy’s sweet little face looking at me round the corner of the door. Well that stair gate was a waste of money!!! (set at 4ft!). Actually she has only jumped the gate a couple of times since – once when my niece and sister left after a 5 day stay and another when I went out for 2 hours. She is obviously very athletic and I am looking forward to eventually trying some agility classes with her.

Issy is an absolute sweetie in the house and garden. She is a very good guard dog and will bark when people come near the house – also when the neighbours dare to go into their own gardens (have to work on that one). Issy also has a funny habit of walking round going “Aaahh, aaahh” - I think she may have been a pirate in a former life.

She always waits for me to go through doors first, roles on her back and smiles when she wants a tummy tickle and goes straight to sit on the towel in the kitchen for a rub down after going for muddy walks. She is VERY nosey and follows me around checking everything I do with her lovely big black nose – particularly my computer keyboard.

Over the last month we have been on lots of outings. She loves her walks in the New Forest although meeting four legged friends has been a challenge. We have met lots of horses with foals, cattle and the other day a sow with 6 little piglets who were having a good wallow in a mud puddle. Issy is still a little excitable when meeting other dogs and is very puppyish and enthusiastic – play, play, play. The new Canny Collar has proved invaluable and she now walks perfectly to heal and doesn’t pull so much when seeing other dogs (not true when she spots a cat!).

Issy has a great appetite and has taken well to her new BARF raw food diet. Her particular favourites are chicken necks and lamb backs. I have found a wonderful organic farm where I can get chicken carcases, lamb bones and beef knuckle bones for free (although they do like you to buy some goods from the shop as well).

We both thoroughly enjoyed our day at the IRR Reunion last Saturday. It was lovely to meet some of the IRR people particularly Pauline who has been so wonderful organising my adoption of Issy and Jackie who first spotted Issy and pushed for her to be rescued. It was also great to meet up again with Issy’s foster family with lots of enthusiastic wiggles, wags and kisses for the whole family and their two dogs. During the day we entered a couple of the novelty classes and were very pleased to receive a 6th rosette in the open most appealing eyes class – not bad when she up against some very cute puppies. I was very proud of Issy as she was so well behaved during the long day. She even had a little play with some of the other rescues and not one growl – a first.

I would like to say a massive thank you to the IRR for allowing me the opportunity of adopting my lovely Issy and a big appreciation for all the long hours the volunteers put in to save so many beautiful dogs.

A THANK YOU MESSAGE

Jackie from Wexfordpethelpers who looked after Issy before she came to the UK, has forwarded this message from Issy’s former owner in Ireland.

"Jackie, thank you so much. We still all think about her and while the link had me in tears it is so reassuring to know she is happy - and she so clearly is. You're a great person to do all you do and we are certainly one family that appreciates it".

Jackie has added her own thanks to IRR and said: “This means an awful lot to all of us and makes all the hard work worthwhile. Again, thanks so much for the update and for all the hard work you do in the UK to help these unfortunate dogs.”

ISSY- 27 FEBRUARY 2009 - 6 MONTH UPDATE
 
Diane said,“I can’t believe it is 6 months since Issy came to live with me.  She is soooo loving and beautiful - a real joy to be with.  Our walks around town take a long time as everyone wants to pat her and ask what bred she is.  She loves to be cuddled and is very gentle with little children who want to hug her.
 
Issy has been in fine fettle but I have taken her to a McTimoney chiropractor as she was a little stiff in her back end.  She is currently having a couple of sessions  as she has stiffness in her neck and her pelvis is a little twisted.  She really enjoys her visits and gives Zoe lots of licks afterwards.
 

 
Issy has been a bit of a challenge with her inter-dog social skills.  All dogs on the horizon were fixated on and when approached her enthusiastic greetings initially meant lunging and barking.  I have had lots of help from various behaviourists and with slow introductions and lots of treats Issy is now saying lovely “hellos” to most dogs in the area.  She particularly loves puppies and is very gentle.  She will go into a down and let them climb all over her - bless.
 
The last couple of weeks we have attended an open air recall class which has been fun.  Our last class she did exceptionally well although the other dogs were on leads!! We have also joined an indoor club with Barry and Chrissy Gough who were recommended by IRR behaviourist Gemma.  Our first class was this week and Issy was an absolute angel and did everything perfectly.  Just one hiccup on the double recall as both Issy and the other dog just wanted to play in the middle of the hall.  Never mind early days!

 
With our new found confidence I have been letting Issy off lead but only in areas she knows well and walkable to home (just in case!).  Her inter dog skills are improving  but she still needs to learn dog language especially when the other dog doesn’t want to play.  Getting her attention when she is playing is impossible at the moment but we are working on that one as well.
 
The pictures are:  Christmas at home and at the beach, upside down asking for a tummy tickle, playing in the snow and with a couple of friends - Sooty the Spaniel and Monty the Fox Terrier.  The gentleman in the photo is the owner of Sooty and if I had been quicker with the camera I would have had a great shot of Issy racing towards the other dogs at his side, missing the dogs and taking his legs from right underneath him.  Whoops - slightly winded and surprised but otherwise fine.
 

 
Issy sends lots of kisses and licks to all at IRR.”

UPDATE APRIL 2010

Doesn’t time fly and how quickly our little furry ones grow up. Issy is now two and half and what a fabulous young lady she has turned into. We have had a wonderful year. Issy is now very confident off lead and is thoroughly enjoying her romps in the New Forest twice a day. She has discovered the joys of chasing bunnies (too slow to catch them!), the joy of looking down bunny holes, and digging bunny holes especially the sandy ones. Issy loves to meet new friends and enjoys playing with all shapes and sized dogs.

Issy also loves the water and will wallow in a nice muddy puddle if the fancy takes her. We are only half an hour from the sea and are lucky enough to have a year round dog friendly beach at Hengisbury Head, Christchurch. It took quite a few visits before the normally intrepid Issy would brave the scary waves. A calm sea, a beach ball and my niece swimming in the sea finally got her in.

We have continued with our obedience classes with Issy achieving her Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze standard in April last year, her silver in January this year and recently (very very proud) her Gold.

Last summer we started Agility classes which we attend every Saturday morning – even throughout the winter – what a hardy bunch we are!. Issy is very confident on her jumping and tunnels, she loves the climbing equipment and always races up the A frame and dog walk. She is now very confident on the see-saw after having a couple bumps on the bum getting off. The weave is proving a little more challenging as I still need to lead her through but we are now practicing this in the garden and hope to crack it soon. We may even enter a competition or two this summer if I don’t get too nervous – remembering the course being my biggest obstacle.

We had a fabulous day at the 2009 Reunion. Issy came home with a car full of prizes. Some of her main achievements were 1 st IRR Obedience Bitch, 1 st Fancy dress as a St Trinian’s girl and 1 st Child handler which my 11 year old niece, Ceri, entered. This was particularly impressive as this was the first time Ceri had been allowed to work Issy on a lead outside of the garden. It was a lovely hot September day and a great opportunity to meet up with all the wonderful IRR volunteers. The parade of rescues illustrated how so many dogs have found their happy forever homes through the hard work of all the volunteers.

Issy sends lots of kisses to all her IRR human and furry friends and hopes to see you all at this year’s Reunion on 18 September.

UPDATE SEPT 2010

Here is a very tired Issy after a fun day at the Reunion where she won 1st prize in the Bitch in Best Condition Class.

©2008 Irish Retriever Rescue UK