SANDY and her sister CREAMY are aged between 4yrs and 5yrs and are ex-breeding bitches from Wales. They are in foster together and at the moment they are inseparable but we are working towards gradually cutting their ties with each other to allow them to develop their individual personalities. They are doing this in sunny Somerset with the help of Connie and Millie (both IRR rescues themselves) and their mum and dad, Belinda and Terry. After only a few days, they are coming on in leaps and bounds.

FIRST REPORT

Belinda says, "Creamy and Sandy - what little darlings they are. Sandy refused food and water until we took them both out into the garden this afternoon and they ate a good meal (about half what Connie usually has) and both drank lots of water - so progress there. I gently brushed both of them which they enjoyed and moved towards me for more when I stopped. They wag their tails at us now and while Sandy is keen to go into her cage when she comes into the house, Creamy would happily stay out! Haven't shampooed them yet as it seemed rather a drastic action so early on - but hope to do so in the next couple of days. Flower essences seem to be doing their work. Will take some photos of the four of them in the garden and send them to you. Connie and Millie behave as if they have been here all the time. Creamy and Sandy love the little bone biscuit treats and Sandy sat in the garden instead of trying to get behind the garden seat and hide! Creamy gets very agitated when we take Sandy out without her but she is also the one who seems to be more outgoing. Sandy seems to be more withdrawn."

SECOND REPORT FROM BELINDA
Creamy has really begun to come out – this morning she came up to us at the kitchen table and walked past Millie several times, something she has avoided until now as Millie gives her a forbidding look when she comes near us, but this morning Creamy decided that enough was enough and just ignored her. At least the cat is getting a break! Connie just treats them as part of the family! They are both eating well, having their salts and essences and they go off into the garden to do their business and come in when called. As they showed great reluctance to go into their cages last night, we made up their beds on the floor and put the cages in another room and they all slept peacefully together.

Sandy

Millie, Creamy and Sandy

Sandy and Creamy are certainly getting less timid now, but still painfully shy and keep very much to themselves. I'm not sure if they are housetrained or not, we let them out first thing in the morning, last thing at night and after every meal and of course with the weather being fine, they are outside a lot of the time. We have had a couple of accidents with Creamy in the house when she went into the living room and had a wee, but generally they are very good.

Creamy is more outgoing than Sandy and approaches us quite a lot, but gets very upset when our Connie and Millie play together. It is obviously something quite new to her and she barks and backs away, which sets them off barking - poor neighbours!! They have both been very good with children (our grandchildren have been here quite a lot recently) and although Sandy didn't take any notice of our cat, Creamy barked at her. They are both eating well. I don't think they have ever had collars on, we use a slip lead if we need to. Pauline has given them lovely new collars so we are going to put them on every day for a bit to get them used to it.

ABIGAIL HAS FOUND HER FOREVER HOME

The curse of the failed fosterer has struck again as Belinda and Terry have fallen in love with Abigail and have decided to adopt her themselves.

FIRST FOREVER HOME UPDATE

Belinda says: “Abigail is absolutely gorgeous, becoming a bit braver day by day. She now eats next to Millie and Connie but is much slower than them and so far Connie has resisted the temptation to help her finish off her bowl! She is learning the routine of walks, comes to have her collar put on with the others, leaps into the car and travels beautifully.

She gets very excited when we arrive at a familiar walking spot, wagging her tail like mad and bouncing around. I don't think she has ever had a collar and lead before - when we are on the walk with no obstacles about, she walks well, but as soon as there is a noise, we are approaching a gate etc she gets very confused and rushes about all over the place!

She is excellent with other dogs, ignores the cat in the house (thank goodness for that - the cat has put her suitcase away again) and is brilliant with children. What lucky people we are, we now have three of the most wonderful dogs anyone could wish for all very different in character but all lovely together. Thank you IRR.”

©2008 Irish Retriever Rescue UK