Hey,

Just wanted to let everyone know how Rab is settling in. We've called him Bruce and he seems to be really at home now.

He was excited to explore the house when we brought him home and quickly found his big new bed then took over one of the sofas instead. :)

The first day he was full of beans, jumping about and stealing food and pee peeing everywhere where he shouldn't. It was all fun and games and on the first night he came up to bed but tried all night to climb into my bed, that and he also passed wind all night, haha!! It was like having a man in the house all over again lol!!

He seems to be a very quick learner and the second night he only had to be told once that my bed was out of bounds. He now goes up to his bed at bedtime and falls asleep quickly.

He's enjoying his walks (I hope, sometimes he looks at me as if to say not again!!) and meeting new dogs down the park. I still put his muzzle on for walks just as a precaution until I get to know him 100% but we're starting obedience classes on Wed night to continue his training and socialising.

My daughter adores him and for mothers day I got a lovley hand drawn card of me, her and Bruce down the park (I'll keep that forever). She enjoys sharing his sofa and watching tv with him tho he doesn't much play with toys and kind of looks at her puzzled when she tries to play, haha.

Bruce has a fondness to steal food, which I knew he would, but he tries to steal it from your hand or mouth which is something I'm desperatley working on as he nearly caught my daughter by accident one day he was in the kitchen. I now feed her in a seperate room from him to keep her safe till I have trained him not to grab from people who are eating, I don't mind him stealing food thats lying about, I know thats all part of the course with a grey. Any tips and ideas would be helpful on this. At the moment I am eating in front of him and telling him no in order to train him, and I have to say he is again improving ever so slightly, he does leave you alone after a good few tellings but I see this as progress from the first day when he was like a wild animal around human food. When it comes to own food he is very mannerly and waits till I tell him to eat.

I'm enjoying having him around and I know with time and effort he'll be the perfect dog. He's so affectionate and loves having his ears rubbed. He also sleeps alot in weird positions like on his back hanging off the sofa with a big smile on his face and his ears flopped back :D

He's just adorable and everyone has noticed how he's very much "my" dog. He follows me about and It's clear to see I'm his mummy!! He's also getting a lot of compliments about what a handsome boy he is :)

I'm very glad that Celia and Jimmy allowed me to give him a good home. Thank you.

Susan xx

I'm really glad Bruce (Rab) has found a great home. Greys are so affectionate and form strong bonds with their humans.

Michele

Hello Susan and Bruce
I was so glad to hear that Rab had found his forever home. I was very tempted to bring him home to us as he was gorgeous but with two greys we had our hands full! I am glad he has settled in. He looks very similar to our Max...they are handsome dogs eh!! Unfortunately Max also gets wind and I would have to agree with you that it's a bloke thing!! All we need now is for them to change the tv channel when we are trying to watch our soaps!
Hope he continues to settle and good luck
Carole

Hi Susan and Bruce

So glad you've given this lovely lad a home. He's a perfect gent and my perfect training partner. Only tip with training him in the house is consistancy. Make sure he knows the rules and don't be tempted to give into those big eyes!! He'll soon know the do's and don't's.
Give him a big cuddle from me. Sounds like he's landed on his feet.

Fiona

Hi Susan and Bruce

I don't think it's a male prob. - the wind - Zoe passes a bit of wind now and again....it's quite funny!
Bruce seems to have made himself at home - Zoe was very similar with food to start with and I am sure at one point she thought her name was "Zoe No" - she's calmed down a lot and knows where the treats are and whe to expect a treat.
Bruce will probably enjoy playing with toys at some point. We gave Zoe a soft lamb toy and she takes it everywhere with her. Her hiding place is at the foot of my bed where most missing things can be found