Just testing to see if I can get a picture through.

[Saskia]

This is Jessie one of our rescue dogs.

[jayjay57]

Hi yes I can see your picture, she is lovely

Regards Jay

[anbuma]

yes can see the pic,shes beautiful;rescue dogs make the best pets!

[TheAuthor]

Hi Saskia

She is so beautiful

Ken x

[Ginsing]

One of mine was called Jessie looked quite similar to mine lovely well done xxx

[Saskia]

Thanks all. Foggy gave me instructions!!!!! Jessie is a daddy's girl! We got her from the RSPCA when she was 4 and a quarter. She had been badly beaten for the 1st year of her life and then she went to a lady who became very ill with cancer. Sadly, when she was told she hadn't got long to live she handed her in to the RSPCA. It was very obvious that the lady hadn't been well enough to train Jessie, either on or off the lead, or socialise her, so she is very nervous of lots of things. She will be 9 in March. She has hip dysplasia, but she has acupuncture every 5 weeks which has made a huge difference to her life. Thankfully, I can claim some of the cost of this on the insurance. She is actually more energetic than our other rescue dog, Marley, who we adopted last year at the age of 10 months. I'll try to post a picture of Marley later on. Hope you are all feeing reasonably relaxed after your Christmas celebrations, however busy or quiet they were. Ian and I were very quiet but I am still wiped out!! Gentle hugs Saskia XX

[Fibrofoggiest in reply to Saskia]

Hi Saskia :-). You did it :-). Hoorah, and what a lovely dog Jessie is, and how lucky she is to have you as such caring owners and I much look forward to seeing a piccie of Marley too :-). Glad my instructions were good enough to help you, I'm a bit of a numpty most of the time, but there are a few things I have a vague grasp of ! Well done you

Foggy x

[Saskia in reply to Fibrofoggiest]

Thanks Foggy! Your instructions made perfect sense. Hope you are having a reasonably good day. It is miserable here. Has been pouring with rain all night so the woods will be even more slippery but I shall have my trusty stick with me! Hugs Saskia X

[Shazzzy]

How beautiful

[Saskia in reply to Shazzzy]

Thanks Shazzzy. Hugs Saskia XX

[Gramma]

She's gorgeous. I am in the process of moving and I would so like another dog. (I lost my Barney a few years ago). I just worry that I can't exercise a dog enough as I can't walk very far. Any suggestions?

Jenni.

[Saskia in reply to Gramma]

I understand exactly how you feel Jenni. My OH drives and we go to the woods where we can let them off the lead so they can run around. I hobble along very slowly with a stick. My OH is 70 so he isn't all that energetic. However, we give the dogs a good life to the best of our ability and we just hope that as we age and get more decrepit that the doggies will slow down with us! I was told to walk every day to try to keep as mobile as poss. ( I have osteoarthritis as well quite extensively ) so having the doggies gives us a purpose to our everyday walk. I wonder if you could maybe foster an older doggie or adopt an older doggie who might not need too much exercise. I have heard that greyhounds are couch potatoes and only need a limited amount of exercise. I believe the greyhound rescue centres state that they just need a gentle 20-30 mins walk a day with maybe one longer one once a week. When we se people with ex racing greyhounds they are usually on a lead. They are very gentle dogs. I think if you do some research on the internet you may find a solution. Of course, with fostering, you might feel you wouldn't want to give the dog up. I would probably feel like that. Also I think ex service dogs come up for adoption and they will have been beautifully trained. We used to meet a chap who volunteered for the guide dogs association. He and his wife used to have the puppies until they were ready to be fully trained. As they got older they couldn't do this any more but they took on a guide dog who'd had an unfortunate accident with his owner which spooked him so he couldn't work any more, so this chap adopted him. He was beautifully behaved. That's all I can think of at the moment. I wish you well whatever you decide and I'd be very interested to hear what you end up doing so please keep me posted. We have 2 cats as well and I do think that pets are so important. I couldn't be without mine. Good luck with your move, too. Gentle hugs, Saskia XX

[Gramma in reply to Saskia]

Thanks Saskia, that was a lovely reply. I'm sure there are dogs out there just needing a loving home and some TLC! I do drive, so yes, that is an option. Anyway I've got to concentrate on my move first. I'll keep you posted.

Jenni. X.

[kittyfisher in reply to Gramma]

Hi Gramma

I too worried about how I would give a dog exercise if I got one as like yourself I cant walk far. I got a toy yorkshire terrier whose now 6 months old. It doesn't take much to tire him out as hes very small. Hes called Jack hes a brilliant companion and if I can't walk him then he has a good run round the garden then hes asleep for hours. If I'm having a bad day hes at my side and wont leave me. He keeps me going mentally and I definitely recommend one. I love him to bits and dont know what I'd do without him. Hes so friendly and has the best nature, he only barks if he hears someone coming into the drive or at night if he hears something. All the best with your move and let me know if you get a dog.

kittyfisher xx

[Hidden]

Aw what a beauty! My rescue boy is very nervous when out of our house as he was never lead trained or socialised. we love him to bits though!

[Saskia in reply to Hidden]

Hi Mary, rescue animals are certainly rewarding but it does make it so difficult to walk nervous dogs where other people and dogs are doesn't it? Ours would never hurt another dog but poor old Jessie barks nervously with her ball in her mouth and her tail wagging and we have had adverse comments from people who think she is being aggressive. Marley loves other dogs and always wants to play, which doesn't always go down too well with some owners, so I am always a bit on edge. He is very suspicious of anyone walking in the woods who hasn't got a dog and will tend to go up and bark at them, almost as though he is making a citizen's arrest, which is really embarrassing. I'll always put them on the lead to avert any problems if I can see other people about, but the trouble is in the woods people tend to creep on you. When the weather is dreadful like it has been lately only the stalwart dog walkers are in the woods which is a good thing from my point of view and I am much more relaxed. We are going to have the help of a dog trainer in the New Year to help us with a few issues. We spent a fortune on 3 dog behaviourists and didn't really get anywhere so have been advised to get the help of a dog trainer this time. I am hoping that as he gets a bit older and more mature he will naturally calm down anyway. Like you, my OH and I love the dogs to bits and I get really upset if we have any problems when we are out with them, as I don't want them to cause problems for other people or their dogs. Some dog owners are just so snooty and unfriendly and act as though they are the only ones with perfect dogs, whilst other people are so nice. Luckily we sometimes meet up with a chap who has a young black labrador, who is really boisterous, and he and Marley get on really well together and wear each other out. Even dear old Jessie, who has never really learnt to play with other dogs, joins in with their games of chase now which is really nice to see. Hope you are having a good day. Hugs Saskia XX

[Saskia]

Thanks, jayjay, anbuma, Ken and gins for your kind comments. Hugs Saskia XX