Spanish galgos, like greyhounds, can make wonderful pets and dozens of galgos are rehomed by rescue associations. The associations have to rely on the volunteers working in the Spanish refuges to assess the dog’s character, test it with other dogs, cats, etc. Sometimes they get it wrong.
Whether or not a dog is suitable for rehoming depends to a large extent on the treatment of the dog before it arrived at the refuge. Most of them are rehomed without problems, apart from having to be toilet trained! But some of them need rehabilitation before being suitable for a forever home.
A dog can be ‘normal’ in a refuge, living outside with other dogs, familiar with the volunteers. But put it in a car with strangers, transport it hundreds of kilometres across the border, introduce it to a home with yet more strangers, and it might freak out.
Got to wear a collar, for starters, so that needs scratching off. Wild-eyed and scared, it won’t go near the strangers. Refusing to go through a door – scared of what might be the other side. Not allowing itself to be caught by the strangers, another traumatic situation.
What about indoor sounds? We take them for granted. But for a scared galgo used to being outside, everything is new. The fridge switching on, the telephone ringing, lights going on and off, moving pictures on the television. It all adds to the trauma.
And then there’s still the strangers, trying to catch the dog to take it outside to the toilet, exercise it, introduce it to life in another country, with grass, cows, tractors.
Most of the galgos cope superbly well with all these changes, but the odd one slips through the net. And that is not good, either for the dog or the fosterers/adoptants.
Alpha Dog World is one such centre with the expertise and facilities to work with traumatized galgos. There are websites offering advice to the inexperienced fosterer or adopter, and some offer contact numbers for professional dog behaviour experts.
Check out the site listed below.
cattle dogs are not only dog, they are great companion to people. we should love, care and treat them as part of our family.
Posted by: Poppy Chapman | 15 September 2010 at 01:58 PM
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Bonjour
You are right, dogs are the most fantastic
companions to us humans and everyone should love and respect them.
Thanks for caring and commenting.
Amities
Beryl
Posted by: Beryl Brennan | 15 September 2010 at 08:56 PM
There is a good book on helping shy dogs:
Deborah Wood:
Help for Your Shy Dog: Turning Your Terrified Dog Into a Terrific Pet
http://www.amazon.de/Help-Your-Shy-Dog-Terrified/dp/0876050364/ref=sr_1_26?ie=UTF8&s=books-intl-de&qid=1203277558&sr=8-26
The book is about how to handle shy and traumatized dogs. Deborah Wood had such a dog and she had to learn how to cope with this issue.
The main topics in this book are phobias, fear from humans, urinating when the owner of the dog arrives home etc.
I have the book and I found it very helpful.
Posted by: Tunde | 23 January 2012 at 04:23 PM
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Hi Thanks for the information; hopefully
people will find it a great help as a reference book.
Beryl
Posted by: Beryl Brennan | 23 January 2012 at 04:28 PM
I have the pleasure of owning 2 greyhounds as pets a
And the have beautiful natures. With the right people, and there are many around, all dogs can Learn and be rehabilitated to kitteto live happy full lives and become valuable members of a loving family. PLEASE give them the second chance they deserve.
Posted by: Maryann Russell | 03 February 2013 at 03:15 PM