Meet Dogs Trust West Calder's UNusual Supects (aka the Collie Collective!)

If you look at our website or drop into a centre you'll find that - while individual dogs vary a great deal in personality - some traits are quite common. The majority of the dogs that we rehome are very much indoor pets, for example. Also, working households often find that they need to arrange 'daycare' for their dog in some form or another, be it a paid professional or a keen friend or relative - we even give advice on working out if you have time for a dog.

Some dogs just like to be different, though! As 2013 kicks off, Dogs Trust West Calder finds itself with a collection of Collies that don't fit the mould - and need an equally individual owner to make their dreams of a home of their own come true.

To offer any of these beauties a loving home, please call 01506 873459 or drop in during opening hours.

Shelley: Home Alone

A hugely affectionate girl who loves a good cuddle or game with her carers, 8 year old Border Collie Shelley is also a bit of a comedian who makes funny faces - sticking her tongue out - when you throw a toy!

Shelley can be nervous with strangers and dogs, but she's obedient, and does enjoy a country walk. Some coverage of vet bills is offered (please speak to staff at the centre to find out more). She needs an adult only home, and would prefer to be the only pet.

Distinguishing Feature: Shelley could easily go to a working household as she will happily pass the time with her toys and enjoying her home comforts when left alone.

Cassie: The Great Outdoors

3 year old Collie Cassie loves her walks; she is a very outdoorsy dog.  She is happiest around water - she splashes in it, digs in it and fishes for stones  She would be great fun for someone who loves long walks in the country side.

Cassie is worried by strangers and dogs but is very obedient and keen to learn new behaviours.  She loves when we play with her but is also happy lazing around most of the day. She needs an adult only home and would prefer to be the only pet.

Distinguishing Feature: Cassie would be happy living outside in a cosy den and she's relaxed about being home alone

Rocco: A River Runs Through It

Rocco, a 5 year old Border Collie is affectionate and loves to play - he will play with any toy that moves!  He is worried by strangers and dogs but has slowly been building up his confidence here at the centre and has met a few dogs that accompany him on his walks.  He would enjoy walks in the countryside.

He needs an adult only home and would prefer to be the only pet and can be left at home alone if his owner works or would also be happy with an outdoor kennel.

Distinguishing Feature: Rocco is a full-on water baby. He has a pool in his kennel in the summer and misses it so much in winter he'll head straight for the shallow river on our grounds whenever we let him.

Buster: Home Alone 2 

Buster is a sweet 8 year old Collie who enjoys playing with his toys on his walks.  He has lots of energy and loves nothing better than chasing after his favourite toy ever: a ball. Still, he'll happily play with any toy, given the chance!.

Distinguishing feature: Having tired himself out on his walk, Buster then enjoys a long lie-in at home, so much so that he’d be happy living with owners who worked all day.

Marty: The Ladies Man

2 year old Border Collie Marty is a youngster who bonds strongly with his carers and enjoys long walks in the countryside.  He loves to chase things, so staff have channelled this desire onto games and Marty is delighted when it is play time especially when it is a squeaky toy.

Marty needs an adult only home but would be happy living with another dog or  keeping someone's working dog company.  Marty can also be left at home alone if the owner worked.

Distinguishing feature: Marty prefers the company of women.

Jock: Sleepy Hollow

Jock, a 4 year old Border Collie would get on fine with a working owner, provided he gets lots of time outside. He's worried by strangers and dogs, but is doing very well learning new skills at the centre.

Distinguishing feature: Jock would be happy in a cosy outdoor den; his carer always fills up his kennel with duvets and he loves retreating there at the end of a busy day for a long snooze.

To offer any of these beauties a loving home, please call 01506 873459 or drop in during opening hours!

Book Review: Who Moved My Job? by Mark Kobayashi-Hillary

Who Moved My Job? is actually a short story about globalisation and the shifting tides of workers and skills around the world. So, what's it doing on a dog blog?

Well, Mark Kobayashi-Hillary has very cleverly taken the idea of Border Collies working on a farm who are supplanted by foreign sheep-herding breeds and used it as a nifty allegory for the issues surrounding globalisation.

The three sheepdogs - Winston, Charlie and Blair - are initially cut adrift and in danger of becoming, essentially, extinct. At first they're confused, bewildered and very resistant to any form of change such as finding a home from the centre they've been taken too. In steps Matilda - a wise old Staffordshire Bull Terrier based on Kobayashi-Hillary's dog of the same name and breed - to help push them in the direction of applying their farm skills to city life in a new, exciting and fulfilling way.

There are no trick questions or particularly opaque levels of meaning in the story. The idea is simply to prompt Western society to consider how jobs will develop and move around the world as time moves on. In Kobayashi-Hillary's dog world, those who stay fixed on the past and old use of skills will soon find themselves sidelined but those who examine their abilities and find a new use for them might find that they're in a better position than they started in.

Simple? Yes. Simplistic? Not really. This is the opening question, not the full scale analysis because that latter disection of the issues is what the book is pushing towards in the first place.

This thought provoking and engagingly written piece is well worth the time spent perusing it, and leads to a website from which links to discussions, information about the author and gorgeous pictures of the real Matilda can all be found.

Whether your job is yet to move or you've found yourself on the verge of a shift, take a glance and get involved with the issues.

Dogs Trust Blog Book Review: A Dog Year by Jon Katz

As part of the Ebury Book Club which has begun on DoggySnaps, I was sent a copy each of some of the books that will be offered to our members to review. Here's what I think...

A Dog Year is a book aimed to appeal to anyone who's ever had an intractable pet. Despite the fact that I grew up with cats the marked difference between Jon Katz's docile, well-mannered and lovable Labrador Retrievers and the new, unexpected arrival into the family - troubled two-year-old Border Collie Devon - certainly struck a chord with me as I try to integrate a defensive, semi-feral kitten into my household after ludicrously straightforward experiences with two of the gentlest cats that ever lived.

Katz's autobiography is part-comedy, part-drama, with a hint of pet care manual thrown in. Although Devon is clearly an exceptional case, he bears many of the typical hallmarks of his breed: fierce intelligence, strong attachment to his pack leader, boundless energy and a physical need to be gainfully occupied every waking minute. That this is, in Devon's case, mixed with a severe lack of confidence and chronic separation anxiety is the crux of this alternately heartwarming and heartbreaking book.

I do feel I need to add a warning here, however. While Jon Katz is merely reporting on his own experiences and talks about all he has to learn about training, it is important to remind potential dog - and Border Collie -owners that his methods are not to be followed blindly without research. It's important to see this as a learning curve for both Devon and Katz; not only because I work for Dogs Trust but because I simply don't believe in punishment-based training, I would focus on positive reinforcement from the outset. Katz came to it late, having achieved some success with aversive methods that ultimately didn't really solve the underlying problems but made Devon easier to communicate with. The dominant behaviour strategy is a hot potato in dog training circles, and I'll be interested to see what comes out of the discussion on DoggySnaps (come join us!).

In particular, what makes A Dog Year stand out from similar books of its type is the writing style. Katz's prose is journalistic, swapping tenses and focus to string together a series of vignettes with the different dogs in his life at the centre. It reads far more like a novelised diary than a literary autobiography; in fact, it reads almost like a blog stitched into a book. Perhaps it's for that reason that it's a quick read; before you know it, you're almost finished.

Katz is particularly adept at pulling the emotional heartstrings, and it's clear he deeply loves every dog that's passed through his home. Do I agree with his methods and some of his choices? No. But I cannot fault his writing or his honesty when he owns up to the mistakes he's made, and I find it important to read things that challenge my opinion and open my mind to other possibilities - even if I find out in the end that my mind hasn't been changed. As far as I can tell, Katz is not trying to revolutionise training, however; he's just telling a story.

Snow dogs! O'Mallie the Collie plays in the Glasgow snow

O'Mallie is clearly quite enjoying him time at Dogs Trust Glasgow; at least while he waits for his forever home he can play in the snow (and eat it)! If you think you can offer this bouncy two-year-old a home, contact the centre asap.



And if you still can't get enough of dogs in the snow, check out these pictures from October last year.

Dog-friendly holidays: Ballachulish Hotel, Scottish Highlands

I've just returned from the freezing and extremely beautiful West Highlands, staying on the banks of Loch Linnhe (about two hours drive north west of Glasgow, or half an hour from Fort William). What struck me - aside from the good food, cheerful residents and positively cinematographic beauty of the place - was how very dog-friendly the hotel I stayed in was, and what a lot of scope for wonderful walks there was.

The Ballachulish Hotel is a pleasantly crumbly place on the banks of the Loch, which does package deals for short breaks that work out decent value due to the good meals included. In their brochure they state that dogs and other pets are welcome by arrangement, and well-behaved pooches can come into the communal (though obviously not eating) areas. We found ourselves sharing afternoon tea time by the fire with a very curious and bouncie Westie (how appropriate!), two curious black Labradors and a bouncy - and huge! - one year old Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Crossing the road to spend a few peaceful moments watching the mist change colour as the sun rose above the hills, I reflected that it was the perfect place for an active dog. Just in that one stretch of ground there was a pebbled shore, a grassy bank, a brook, some muddier patches and of course the water of the Loch - a veritable symphony of sights, smells and textures. As if to prove my point, the Labs came bounding over to investigate our ankles and generally explore.

We encountered another Lab and a Collie on walks in nearby Inchree and Callop (which I'll forever think of as Narnia, thanks to the photo we took, above), so clearly the locals have the right idea. Another hotel we stopped at for lunch in Arisaig while exploring the area by car had a couple of resident pooches of its own, Harris and Lewis; I don't think I've ever met such a docile, friendly and good-natured pair of dogs (except maybe Hubble).

Despite being a cat owner, it seems work comes with you wherever you go - even on honeymoon. As more people choose to stay at home to save travelling costs, I suspect Scotland will become a mecca for dog owners as they find the freedom to enjoy a holiday with their best four-legged friends.

How a DoggySnapper gave a dog the best Christmas present: a forever home

We know from the work we do at Dogs Trust that there are lots of very kind people out there, willing to open their homes to a dog - or indeed more than one. We love that we're able to match people to their new best friends. This time, however, we got to watch the rehoming process from a different perspective. While scanning the forum on DoggySnaps, our community site, we watched a very heartwarming Christmas story unravel.

Regular member John Colby, who has documented the full story on his blog, Sum Space, saw that another 'Snapper was trying to find a home for a dog who was in danger of being put down due to a behavioural issue. Member Susiemoose was horrified by the fact that Max was under threat of destruction because wagging his tail too hard meant that the family felt their three year old might be injured. She turned to her friends online for help in finding the perfect permanent residence for Max as she already has two Border Collies.

Despite not intending to have another dog and also having two dogs - bouncy crossbreeds with "Collie in them somewhere" from Dogs Trust Kenilworth - John and his wife couldn't help calling up to find out more. Without even seeing Max, a Collie cross, who is ten years old and has a mild heart problem, they decided he had to come home with them.

You can read the full story on the blog, and I recommend that you do. I will leave you with a few warm words from it that I found particularly lovely:

Our Christmas preparations, which were ahead of plan last weekend, have now descended into an almighty rush, much as usual. The dust can wait. The dog is more important.

Why have we done it? Still don’t know.

But we could not see a dog put down because its tail wagged too much. We’re very glad to have him.

Thank you John; you've done a great thing, and we were so happy to have watched it happen!

Dogs Trust Darlington puppy chaos: babes of all breeds needing homes

Dogs Trust Darlington has had quite an influx of younguns recently, including 35 taken in during the last weeks of November. They're now very keen to find homes for a whopping eight litters of playful pups.

There are Labrador Crosses, Lurchers, Collie Crosses and Staffordshire Bull Terriers all available at the centre, so if you are thinking of getting a puppy then this might be the centre to start your search at!

Staff have had to be creative about naming their new charges, so have given each litter a theme, including:

• Contestants on I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here
• Hat types (e.g. Fedora and Beret!)
• Reindeers (e.g. Blitzen and Prancer)
• Characters from The Lion King
• Celebrity offspring (e.g. Cruz and Knox)

At the centre, Supporter Relations Officer Katie Purvis comments:

“Every year we take in puppies that have been bought as Christmas presents and abandoned once the novelty wears off.

Dogs need a lot of time, love and devotion and anyone considering getting a dog should think very seriously before adding a dog to the family. Remember that a dog is for life, not just for Christmas!”

If you are interested in rehoming one of the pups please call the centre on 01325 333 114.

The centre will not rehome from 21st December to 2nd January 2008, but visitors and dog walkers are still welcome and dogs can still be booked during this time.

Dog of the Week: Benji @ Dogs Trust Evesham

Introducing... Benji!

Age: 6

Breed: Collie Crossbreed (Black & White)

Likes: I love being out and about; my Collie half means I love taking long walks and especially playing with toys like my favourite football.

Dislikes: Loud noises and startling handling make me nervous.

Needs: I need a home without children so I can live in a calm environment. I'm good with other dogs, but if I lived with one they'd have to be really relaxed so that they're not affected by my nerves. I could do with socialising with other dogs more so that I can gain confidence.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Evesham on 01386 830613 or see other dogs for rehoming online.

Previous Dogs of the Week: Jake @ Darlington | Connor @ West Calder

Dog of the Week: Poppy @ Dogs Trust Merseyside

Introducing... Poppy!

Breed: Border Collie

Age: 1

Likes: I am a really active girl, typical of my breed. I'm very well-behaved thanks to my previous owner's training, but I do like to keep my owners on their toes by showing my escape artist skills and opening doors. I don't get called "a Houdini" for nothing! I've also been described as the "David Bowie-eyed girl".

Dislikes: I'm really not too keen on kennels as they make me nervous; I'd much rather have a lovely home.

Needs: I'd rather not live with young children - over 14s or adults only for me, please! It would be ideal if my new owners also knew a thing or two about Collie types and how energetic we are...

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Merseyside on 0151 480 0660 or visit Dogs Trust Rehoming online for more information about adopting a dog.

Meet Dogs Trust's Dogs: Sadie

Last week you met Buster Boy; this week it's the turn of the lovely Sadie, the most adorable advertisement for adopting an older dog you could find.

Name: Sadie Sevenoaks

Breed: Collie-Cross

Colour: White and beige, although I prefer the term ‘golden’

Age: 15

Who's your favourite two-legged friend at Dogs Trust? My Mum, Hollie, we’ve been best friends ever since I was a pup! I’m very friendly with everyone here at the office as well of course.

Who's your favourite four-legged friend at Dogs Trust? I have so many dog friends it’s difficult to choose just one! I’m fond of Reuben and Poppy as we’ve been on holiday a few times. I’m also like Charlie, who I share an office with.

What's your favourite toy? I’m a little old for toys…does my bed count?

What's your favourite treat? Anything fishy, I especially love a sprinkle of tuna juice on my dinner.

What do you dream about? I dream about loads of things but I can never remember what I dreamt of by the time I wake up!

Where's the best place to take a walk? As I’m an old lady now I’m not too keen on walking long distances. My Mum bought me a dog buggy from America so that she can push me along the street when I get too tired.

What are you favourite activities? I like to model for Dogs Trust, you may have seen me on various posters and leaflets over the years! I also like to rub my nose on people’s legs, bark at water, and take long naps and going to my hydrotherapy sessions.

What's the one thing you can't stand? Having my coat brushed!

What do your humans like best about you? They always tell me I’m a beautiful looking dog. I always blush when they say this!

How did you meet your humans? My Mum picked me out of a litter of pups when I was 8 weeks old.

Check in next Monday for another doggy profile!

Meet Dogs Trust's Dogs: Buster Boy aka BB

Sometimes the humans at Dogs Trust HQ get a little lonely without their dogs - and who can blame them? Us four-legged creatures are the best, after all. As such we've decided that we ought to get just as much press as the two-legged folk, and you can't be said to have 'met' Dogs Trust if you haven't met us...

Name: Buster Boy, but my friends call me BB

Breed: Lurcher cross

Colour: Tan and white

Age: I think I'm about 12. I was a stray, so no-one knows for sure.

Who's your favourite two-legged friend at Dogs Trust? My mum of course! She's called Jo and that's her giving me a cuddle.

Who's your favourite four-legged friend at Dogs Trust? My best friend is Charlie, a terrier who is also in the office. We go for walks together every lunchtime. Outside work I'm a bit of ladies man; lady dogs find me irresistible, but my favourite girlfriend is Bess, who's a Lurcher like me.

What's your favourite toy? I love anything with a squeak, especially my squeaky sheep. You know I'm really happy when I start throwing it around!

What's your favourite treat? Sausage. Mmmmm.

What do you dream about? Chasing squirrels! Mum says I run and woof to myself in my sleep, so you you know when I'm dreaming.

Where's the best place to take a walk? In London, I like walking by the canal as there are always squirrels to chase.

What are you favourite activities? Showing off how fast I can run, barking at the postman to make him jump, playing in the garden, sleeping and getting my humans to scratch my tummy and ears.
What's the one thing you can't stand? Being left alone. I suffer from chronic separation anxiety, which is one of the reasons I love coming to work with my friends.

What do your humans like best about you? They love my cuddles, my gentleness and that I'm always smiling.

How did you meet your humans? They found me at Dogs Trust Snetterton.

Meet Dogs Trust's Dogs is our new weekly Monday feature - check back next week for more!

George's Diary of a Collie's forever home

When two-and-a-half year old George first arrived at Dogs Trust Harefield (West London), he was such a nervous wreck that he wasn't even available for rehoming for six long months. As staff painstakingly built up his confidence, they began to wonder if a really special family would come forward to work with the timid boy and get him enjoying life.

Step forward Toni and Brian. Having just lost their beloved dog, Bonnie, they were looking for a pet who could help fill the depressingly empty space in the house. Having spotted George, they came back to visit him several times before finally taking him home just eight weeks ago.

In those eight weeks, George has begun to undergo an amazing transformation. He's able to walk off the lead and is mastering basic recall and other commands. Best of all, he's starting to display the confidence and friendliness we all knew he was capable of in the right hands.

Toni and Brian know that it can be a challenge to train a dog who has had a rough start in life. So they've put George online, where 'he' writes a blog explaining his achievements such as the first time he managed to spend a night away from home.

Well done Toni and Brian and most of all well done George. We're proud of you too!

Dog of the Week: Jeff @ Dogs Trust Bridgend

Introducing... Jeff!

Breed: Collie

Age: 8

Likes: I need mental stimulation and a few walks a day, but I'm not extremely energetic. I'm a friendly, housetrained dog.

Dislikes: Sudden movements.

Needs: I'm deaf, and I need to be the only dog in a calm home without children.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Bridgend on 01656 725219 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.

Proof that microchipping pets works: dog reunited with owners within 24 hours!

When a group of students found an adorable Collie cross wandering around Leeds' Hyde Park on her own, they took note of the Dogs Trust collar around her neck and called us. John, the Assistant Manager at Dogs Trust Leeds collected her and, knowing we microchip every dog in our care, scanned her for a microchip.

Amelia, as the dog's name turned out to be, had indeed been adopted from us by a Mrs. Swallow, though in Snetterton, not Leeds! Mrs. Swallow's son had set off to visit his brother in Leeds with Amelia, who escaped from the student house and promptly got lost.

The next morning, when the centre managed to track down Mrs. Swallow, she was already in Leeds frantically searching for the beloved family pet. Thanks to a microchip and the fact that Mrs. Swallow kept the details updated, Amelia was reunited with her overjoyed and relieved family just one day after first going missing.

A great story to celebrate National Microchipping Month, don't you think?

Dog of the Week: Norman @ Dogs Trust Roden

Introducing... Norman!

Breed: Collie Cross

Age: 7

Likes: I am very affectionate and love lots of fuss and cuddles. A good game of fetch is always welcome and it helps me keep in shape because I love my food. I also like other dogs and older children.

Dislikes: Younger children make me a bit nervous but I get on very well with kids over 10.

Needs: Though I'm on the older side, being a Collie type I have bags of energy and am young at heart, healthy and playful. Can you keep up with me?

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Roden on 01952 770 225 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.

Farewell to Oscar the celeb dog (and other doggy news stories)

Flicking through the free London paper Metro this morning, you could have been forgiven for thinking the dog lovers on the editorial staff had taken over (and quite right too!).

The big photo story on page three was devoted to gorgeous GSD Oscar. The beautiful dog belonged to Big Issue seller Dennis Gill, who sells the magazine in London's West End. Many a celebrity fell in love with friendly Oscar, and Dennis snapped the famous folk with his four-legged friend. He reports that George Clooney even took Oscar for a stroll on the lead, and that the only star to ever get growled at was Liam Gallagher, who responded by giving Oscar a kiss on the head and telling him he was "beautiful".

Sadly, 12-year-old Oscar gave in to cancer in his old age and is now playing beyond the Rainbow Bridge. It's a lovely tribute to him to see him in the news.

Dogs are often the closest and dearest friends of people in housing crisis, and it's worth remembering that programmes such as Hope Project exist to help with veterinary care and ensure these close friends can stay together in times of trouble.

In happier news, Metro also featured Dottie the Border Collie and her goalkeeping skills. Collies and Collie types need masses of exercise and stimulation, and seven-year-old owner Grace Field keeps Dottie on her toes by practicing dribbling, scoring and penalty shootouts with her. Grace has now become a star striker in her local (boys'!) football team, and it's all thanks to the fact that Dottie is so talented at batting away goals with her paws and nose that Grace reports she "can never get past her".

Grace's mother Lisa adds: "Dottie loves to play ball in the garden. Not many goals get past her, although sometimes she does run off with the ball."

UK survey reveals pet owner trends

One of the best things about working at Dogs Trust HQ is the chance to meet some of the dogs staff members have adopted. Most mornings, Buster's soulful brown eyes pop up over the edge of my desk; he's accompanied his 'mum', Jo Howard to her job as head of donor development.

Today he yawns and stretches, and we're all reminded of that extra bit of indolent laziness that sets in the morning after a bank holiday. It's easy to see the wonderful relationship that Jo and Buster have, and what they each get out of their companionship. It seems that this is reflected in the rest of the UK; despite the problems of poor ownership and strays, we're still a nation of pet lovers.

Especially dogs! The Pet Food Manufacturers Association has revealed the results of research suggesting that of the 27 million pets in the country, dogs are the most popular. The study, carried out for National Pet Month (which ended yesterday) shows that 43% of all households have some sort of creature companion, 7.3 million of which are canine pals, edging ahead of 7.2 million cats.

In the capital, over a third of Londoners are getting pets for companionship (39%) with almost two thirds of singletons across the UK doing the same (60%), of which a generous chunk use their pet to 'replace' their missing partner (39%)!

Around a fifth of pet owners have, like me, craved furry / feathered / scaly / scuttling friends since childhood (21%), including almost half of people living in the North East.

Congratulations East Midlands: you are the greatest pet lovers in the country, housing 14% of all UK pets, compared to a lowly 4% residing in the whole of Wales - although we're surely they're just as loved!

Finally, the figure that interests Dogs Trust the most. Some 27% of pet owners were bought or adopted from a welfare or rescue centre, compared to 20% from a pet shop. Long may the numbers go up for centres!

So, out of all those dogs, which are the most popular breeds according to the survey?

1. Labrador
2. Border Collie
3. Jack Russell Terrier
4. Yorkshire Terrier
5. German Shepherd
6. Joint = Rottweiler and Dalmatian
7. Bischon Frise
8. Joint = Cocker Spaniel and Shih Tzu
9. Joint = Labradoodle and Golden Retriever
10. Joint = Greyhound (including Whippets) and Chihuahua

Nice to see the oft-maligned Greyhounds making an appearance there, and good to know that dogs are as popular and loved as ever. Now to get on with our daily job of ensuring that they can have happy lives, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.

[via K9]