Louie

Meet Louie the most recent member of our family. He came to us as a very short term foster at the end of November.

Having nearly always been used to a pair of dogs, since we lost our lovely boy Dylan over two-years-ago we had opted for the easier, cheaper option of sticking with one Dalmatian, our five-year-old girl whom we have had from eight-weeks-old.

I had been sorely tempted a while back, to keep a puppy that we fostered for a month, but sadly my Mum was taken ill around that time and needed a lot of my time devoted to her, so it wasn’t to be. I knew he needed more time than I had to give him. He now has a wonderful home, but oh how it hurt when he left.

No more fosters said I… Hmmm I failed that one too.

Valerie Bayliss BDW re-homing coordinator phoned late one night in desperate need so of course off I went to collect the boy from another volunteer, leaving a very grumpy husband at home as I’d gone back on my word… Oh well!

Louie looked a little bewildered but happily jumped into my car for a fuss and was as quiet as a mouse on the journey home. Daisy has been used to having fosters and friends dogs to stay so wasn’t at all bothered by the baby giraffe that appeared in our back garden that day. As you can see from the photo he’s tall and lanky with extremely long legs. They checked each other over and then Louie checked out the house.

We seemed to pass inspection, as he was very relaxed, to me it seemed he’d always been there. I discovered that evening that if you make eye contact and you are sitting down, before you know how he did it, he’s on your lap. He laid flat against me and put his head under my chin…The rest is history… He was going nowhere…My poor husband didn’t know this for another week… Sorry John

Due to worrying about the responsibility of caring for my ninety-year-old Mum with Dementia, I hadn’t laughed for a very long time. Louie makes me laugh daily. His sad face and kind eyes and those long dangly legs. I feel we are complete again… Dogs playing tug of war up and down the lounge whist you are trying to watch your favourite programme. Playing bitey faces or pawing each other…all so much fun to watch.

It’s not all plain sailing. His previous owners have done a sterling job with his basic training for which I am very grateful. He will sit, wait, down, give paw, wait for his food. His recall is fantastic as long as there are no other dogs in the distance, but we will work on that.He needs to learn that if he nips at Daisy’s neck when they are running free then she will deck him well and truly! At the moment he thinks she’s playing… She’s not… Daisy doesn’t accept bad manners….Dalmatian training never stops my other Dalmatians have only stopped doing training when they got too old. He’s enrolled to in dog training next week!

In conclusion

Yes. One dog is easier… less muddy feet, less dog hair.

It’s more expensive. Twice the food bill, twice the insurance,

But DEFINITELY for me… Twice the fun….I think I got the right dog at the right time …

So Valerie Bayliss… British Dalmatian Welfare re-homing co-coordinator and good friend.

I shall be eternally grateful…

Thank you

Carol and John

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