Having boarded Ellie, our 5 year old dutch house rabbit, at the local pet store whilst we went to a friend’s wedding in Scotland, over a bank holiday weekend last year; you can imagine our surprise when the store owner called us to tell us she had been stolen!!

My husband and I enjoy travelling and have safely left Ellie at the pet store 3-4 times per year where she has her own cage and is well looked after by staff.

The events leading up to when Ellie went missing are not clear but the staff think it happened when they were distracted outside the front of the shop talking about cages.  Ellie had only been with them a few hours.

When we returned from our trip, the shop had put up a £50 reward for finding Ellie.

To find Ellie would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, we knew this but we couldn’t bear to think the worst so we set about trying to find her.  We made up posters containing a picture of Ellie with a description and telephone number and stuck these to lamp posts around the town.  We called up all the local vets listed on the internet and gave them Ellie’s details and we called the RSPCA.

As a last ditch attempt to find Ellie, I called the local paper who ran a story on page two of their paper with input from the store owner.

A week went by when we had no response, then on day 12, I received a call from a lady who said she had seen a notice at her vets where she had taken her dog to been seen to.  She thought she knew where Ellie was; with her friend in the next town.

I called the friend who described the rabbit she had been given on the day Ellie had gone missing.  She explained that she and her family were the Dr Doolittle of the town as they take in stray animals.

My husband and I arranged to go straight around to her house. When we got there, we knew instantly that the rabbit in the front room was Ellie.  Ellie looked relaxed and seemed to have enjoyed her stay with a number of other rabbits, cats and dogs the kind lady was housing.

To this day, we cannot get over the fact that we found Ellie.  She is now 6 and still full of character.

He is the best birthday present ever!

Not a sound and I stayed outside for over half an hour – so glad it was warm & sunny!

I am so happy it does work.  Not just for the test but I just hate to think he howls when I leave him alone.

I won’t be sending Brillo’s Thundershirt back for a refund!!!!

Yep - Great for running with - tick

Product Review – Lighthouse Floating Dog Toy

We trialled the Lighthouse this morning – what a success, she was the envy of the beach! Great toy, easy to throw, easy to spot, though quite heavy

Now this is fun - I can see the Lighthouse when it lands in the sea

I love it with my Lighthouse at Sandbanks

How do I choose?

This is not exactly advice as to how to choose a new dog more of a list of things to consider. There is alot to consider:-

Time: How much time do you have to spend with this dog? How long a walk can you take your dog on? Large breeds need at least 2 hrs exercise per day.

Shedding: If you don’t have the time or the inclination to be constantly clearing up dog hair then you need to choose a breed which is less prone to shedding. Longhaired dogs may appear to shed more, but it is really just the length of their hair that gives that illusion.

Money: The initial purchase price of the dog if you have to pay is just the start of the expense:-

• Purchase price if applicable
• Food
• Accessories – dog bed; collar; lead; bowls; toys
• Football t-shirt - optional
• Dog Training
• Kennels for when you are away
• Vets bills
• Insurance

Space: Of course it is only stating the obvious but it is a factor which requires
consideration, ie, there would be no sense in getting a large breed of dog if
you only have limited space.  This applies to the house and the car and with whom the dog will be sharing the space with.

Adult or Puppy: Many people prefer to get puppies as they love to see the puppy
grow up.  However, this is often a lot of work as you will need to toilet train puppies and teach them basic commands.  Adult dogs are also a great choice as you get to see exactly what their personality is like and how they look physically.

Dog or Bitch:  There are a lot of different opinions when it comes to sexes;  some
swear that bitches are easier to train and tend to be more loving. Others suggest
that females are more independent and aloof. Males are said to be more aggressive, but neutering can dramatically change their nature.

Children: absolutely love puppies and dogs but not all dogs love children.  It is essential that you choose the a breed that is good with children if they are going to be a part of the dogs life.

Life style: As with humans so dogs do get travel sick so it is important to understand and
consider this. Also, if you go to work all day do not consider getting a dog unless prepared to go home at lunch time – you can’t leave a dog for 8 hours & not expect them to go to the loo in the house or get so bored they have chewed the sofa!

Holidays: You need to consider how much time you spend away from home and abroad, you can’t take them to St Lucia with you!

However, after everything is considered owning a dog is very rewarding.  Garry is certainly very happy about it

Thank you to our models – Garry; Molly; Corrie & Moe

Some useful links

• http://www.battersea.org.uk/dogs/
• http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/rehoming

Left him in it a few times over the weekend but just jumped straight in the car as didn’t have time to hang about.

He knows when I get the thundershirt out now.  Just looks at me as if to say NOOOOOOOO but is happy when I get his biscuits.

I will try to do it this week…..just hate sitting outside when it is cold!!!!!

Like I say I really think it is working or a least helping but want to be sure!”

Looking Good

Brillo has had a hair cut and looks absolutely gorgeous and he probably feels so relieved to get all that thick hair off!

I thought I would give the Thundershirt another go as I was so disappointed it didn’t work the first time.

As before, I put the Thundershirt on about 30 minutes before I was due to leave the house and I also left a blanket for him which I had used the night before to keep warm – I had also read that you should leave something for them that has your sent on so they can snuggle up to it.

Just as I was about to go, I gave him a biscuit and then stood outside the house and listened.  Nothing!  I waited for about 5 minutes and there was no sound at all.

I left him again about a week later, did the same things as before and again he was quiet.

I am going to do a proper test soon just to make sure.  Basically pretend I am going out but just sit in the garden for about half an hour just to see if he has changed to howling after 10/15 minutes instead of immediately!

He was his normal self….didn’t mind at all that I had dressed him up again!

Before I left him I gave him a treat which of course he loved & at that point he couldn’t care less where I had gone.

I waited outside the house to see if he made any noise.  Nothing…no sound for a few minutes but then he started howling.  Very disappointed but I am not giving up yet.

Apparently ThunderShirts work with the constant pressure they give around the torso – it has a calming effect on the nervous system.  Brillo really does look like a Brillo pad (very wiry) at the moment so I am wondering/hoping that once he gets a hair cut that will help?

I will also keep trying it out.  It may take a few goes for it to work for him……

The shirt arrived and I thought I better read the directions (never normally do with anything) – it says to get your pet used to it first….offer them a treat when you show it to them….put it on for about 10 minutes at a time to begin with etc but as Brillo has got loads of outfits (Leprechaun for St Patrick’s Day, Reindeer for Christmas & many more) I new he would love it!!

As I imagined, he just stood there and let me wrap him up in it (very easy to put on). I don’t know what I was expecting but he just sat down and looked at me – couldn’t tell if it was I love you look or I hate you look but he didn’t seem bothered at all.

I let him out of the house so he could wander around the garden.  I just wanted to make sure he can move ok in it – he can and he just seemed the same.

Next trial – work.  Brillo comes to the office with me.  He can be a pain sometimes and bark when people come in (not great when you are on the phone to a client).  A few people come in and he didn’t make a sound.  Does it work? – was Brillo having a good day?  

The main test will be leaving him on his own – will keep you posted!