Posted on 20 August 2008 by Alison Glennon
Back from two weeks away in Spain, I thought I would say a bit about one of the animals that shares my home.
Dylan is a 3 year old ex-rescue white boxer – he’s a big lad! He came to us from the RSPCA at South Bucks at 8 months old with pretty good manners inside the home (at least, he was house trained and didn’t eat the place) but no social skills outside. In fact he still thinks the best form of meet ‘n’ greet for a potential canine friend is to jump on top them – and his looks belie the fact that he has not an ounce of aggression in his body. We have to make sure that any introductions are controlled, but he does now have a number of very good doggy friends, who have learned that he is not as scary as he looks.
The last two-and-a-half years have been spent gradually trying to temper his enthusiasms – which have led us, through a number of trials and tribulations, to a great training class which he still goes to, and to find out that he really loves (in his own Dylan style) agility!
The picture is taken in Ireland not that long after we had him – he loves to go there for his holidays with us (the human elements of the family being my husband, son aged 16 and twin 14 year old daughters). However, we thought Spain was a trip too far for him (and he would have failed the Ryanair baggage allowance) – he does not enjoy the heat. But the PETS scheme meant that there were a number of British on longer breaks where we visited in Spain, who were able to bring their dogs – and very pleased they were too!
Dylan had his own summer break – two weeks in kennels from which he returned yesterday, very well but exhausted from the constant excitement of being surrounded by other dogs. Just like my children, he took to his bed and only emerged in the evening to eat! This morning he is up and ready for my husband (who works at home) to take him to see what’s new in our local park.
