Moving with Dogs

[SaddlePsych'D]

Yesterday was main moving day. We're back to old house on Monday for a last clean up and collecting trailing things left behind yesterday.

Ivy settled at my mum's and sounds like has been behaving in her usual way so hopefully she hasn't been too bothered by packing, although was particularly bouncy when we loaded my car.

New place is really lovely. It was definitely helpful to us to not be worried about Ivy. Also meant we could go to our local pub sans dog and not have to sit out the way in a quiet bit. We've never really had a problem leaving her on her own but will do that gradually. I can't remember how we did it after last move!

 

[Thistle]

Pleased it went well, dogs are incredibly adaptable. Enjoy your new home.

 

[splashgirl45]

Just read all of this thread, glad it’s gone well so far… please update once you are settled and pics of Ivy would be nice , I love black dogs and particularly of the greyhound/whippet variety

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Just read all of this thread, glad it’s gone well so far… please update once you are settled and pics of Ivy would be nice , I love black dogs and particularly of the greyhound/whippet variety

I definitely will get some pics.

It doesn't quite feel like home yet without her!

 

[Clodagh]

I definitely will get some pics.

It doesn't quite feel like home yet without her!

I bet, but I hope you come to embrace rural living! Were the locals friendly?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I bet, but I hope you come to embrace rural living! Were the locals friendly?

Yes we met a few of our neighbours and they were all lovely, and in the pub we met the couple who run it who were very friendly and offered to help introduce us to various people. We got chatting to a few others. Wish we could have stayed longer but we were so tired! Also... red Labs everywhere, we asked if they were related but turns out no. I think pitching up with Ivy and her blanket will be quite funny.

Mum has just reported that she and Ivy are having a nice time and planning a 'girls night in' watching Gladiators. So I'll pick Ivy up tomorrow to bring her home. Can't wait!

It is quickly dawning on us 'why did we not do this (rural life) much sooner?!' Might need to calm down a bit and stop going 'ooh cows!' 'big tractor!' 'horse!' every time we see them, maybe rewatch Clarkson's Farm

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Hound is home! A little unsure to begin with and some whining/crying. But dinner has been eaten, water drank, garden and all rooms sniffed, and now slowly settling down on her bed. I can't post pics yet as no WiFi but as soon as we are connected I'll get some nice pics up.

Also we saw a lurcher on our walk and now very excited there might be at least one other noodly hound in the village.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Finally! We are online at home, so I can do a pic update.

A week in for us but Ivy has only been home since Sunday. Mainly going okay; she is loving her walks. Our local green space is just right there, no busy streets to navigate, loads of wildlife/countryside smells to investigate! She's made a fellow noodle hound friend already. She has gone slightly feral (i.e., seems to like being in the garden more than being inside). Eating and drinking okay, and mostly being her happy affectionate self.

We did have a setback on second night, when she started digging at the carpet and was unsettled after we had gone to bed. This took us by surprise as she had appeared settled while we were sitting in the living room with her before going to bed. It's a bungalow so we're not far away from her and anyway she has never liked to sleep in the same room as us given the choice so we were a bit puzzled as to why that upset her so much. She wasn't looking for us, but trying to dig herself right into a corner a bit like she does if there's been a firework. When we first got her, she settled down the first night and we didn't have any unsettled nights at all. Maybe because she didn't know us then, so it didn't matter as much where we were?

By night 4 we figured out to put her crate up and that seems to have made the difference. Fingers crossed that is helping her feel safe enough to fully relax at night and in time she may not need it as much. We are mostly unpacked now too so I also hope that will help her feel things are less changeable. It's been 'go-go-go' for us all week. Having her with my mum for moving day did help but even so it's been a lot for all of us. Next week will be quieter for sure!

Anyway, here's her lovely snoot in a couple of more relaxed moments.

 

[I'm Dun]

She wasn't cold was she? Digging is often because they are cold with my two. She's probably warmer in her crate?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

She wasn't cold was she? Digging is often because they are cold with my two. She's probably warmer in her crate?

She might have been, although the first night she did it the wood burner was still warming the room when we went to bed and she started scratching pretty much straight away. She was also panting in a stressed way.

Better again last night. She's woken us up early but that definitely was her being cold. PJs have gone on and she's straight back to bed!

 

[splashgirl45]

Glad it’s all gone well and sounds like a much better area for you and Ivy

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Glad it’s all gone well and sounds like a much better area for you and Ivy

She is certainly loving the walking that's for sure!

I'm having a bit of an 'oh god will she ever be okay to be left alone again' moment. Might have to trawl back through my old threads to find out what we did the first time round. It's just been a week today she's been home so too early to leave her. I was out all of yesterday and OH has popped out a couple of times today so just starting try one of us going out at a time. She was a little upset when he left but seems settled now.

The crate for night times has been magic and seems to be helping in the daytime too.

 

[I'm Dun]

I just build up, I can usually tell when they will be ok. I try and not leave them for the first 3 days and I have the cameras on, so if they look unsettled I go back. And the first few times they get a long way and extra breakfast so all they want to do is sleep anyway.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I just build up, I can usually tell when they will be ok. I try and not leave them for the first 3 days and I have the cameras on, so if they look unsettled I go back. And the first few times they get a long way and extra breakfast so all they want to do is sleep anyway.

I think we did similar. I have vague memories of Skype-ing myself between my phone and laptop before we got a camera!

We've been offline until just a few days ago so have only just set the camera set up. Perhaps I'll start testing things out mid/late this week and see how she goes.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Here she is scaring the absolute crap out of me at the secure field on Tuesday (watch with sound on). The last second change of direction towards me took me by surprise!

 

[splashgirl45]

A very happy girl

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Okay we have a little progress today. Post-field visit for a run, let her settle down while I pottered around then went and sat in the car to monitor on dog cam. A bit of crying but she calmed down quickly. As soon as she lay down I went back in as I thought that will do for a first go; I want to build her confidence.

She was an excellent pub dog yesterday. Very proud of her. One of the pubs is very 'free range' with dogs, which I'm reluctant to take Ivy into. But the other seems a bit easier. We met another Whippet so that's two noodle friends in the village, and I'm informed there's another Greyhound somewhere and a Lurcher. Which is nice because lots of the non-noodles here seem to bark at her.

We met this thing yesterday... it came right low overhead. She did well to hold herself together (with some comforting and an extra hand holding on her collar just in case!)



And we keep meeting various obstacles on footpaths... (no she didn't make it over). I'm sure the sight of OH and I handing her over various styles is quite comical. I refuse to do unfamiliar routes without him just in case!