Polar – in trouble again!
Back in the 1990’s a good friend of mine set up a small home business making dog coats. As I had just taken in a stray greyhound, we designed a warm waterproof coat for her, using crossover straps, in the same style as our horse rugs. In those days the only material was green wax with a sheepskin lining. Years later nylon and man-made fleece took over. In exchange for Wendy having my dogs on the infrequent times we got away on holiday (we also had 3 competition horses!), I cut out the templates for the dog coats, which she finished off. They were beautifully made and especially good for male dogs as the coats did not slip when the dog cocked its leg up to pee and the straps don’t get wet by pee either!
Over the years I’ve used these coats on all my hounds, indoor and outdoor coats and, because they were made by my friend, they were also special. Wendy has now retired and no longer makes the coats but she donated some end of lines for me to take to Spain.
Since I started visiting Spanish refuges several years ago, I’ve taken hundreds of dog coats for the galgos there; a spare one of my own even went on loan to the UK with a foster dog.
Whilst we were away in Spain for Xmas this year, our 5 dogs and cat went to stay in kennels run by friends. Indoor and outdoor coats went with them, with the instructions ‘Please don’t hang dog coats over the top of Polar’s kennel’.
These photos tell the tale! My instructions were ignored!
Bracken’s beautiful grey waterproof fleece-lined dog coat has been chewed and torn including the plastic strap fastenings and straps! (That’s the grey coat worn by chocolate Colate in the above photo, taken in 2008) Polar has also chewed the front of his indoor rug (not made by my friend, I add).
And I’ve just taken all the dog coats down to Spain and am still waiting for the return of the loaned indoor coat from the UK, so no spare dog coats in my house!! More ASBO’s awarded to Polar – he’s now known as ASBO Boy!
As my left arm is in a sling for several weeks after my shoulder op, getting out to buy material to make new coats is on hold, as is making one! (Have to admit I never actually made a coat, only cut out the pieces)
So guess who gets wet when he goes out in the rain, as his coat has been donated to Bracken!
What a naughty puppy!
(For those who don’t know what an ASBO is, it’s an Anti Social Behaviour Order awarded by the UK courts on youngsters for unruly behaviour)
Pepis Dog Refuge, from who we adopted Polar, have now taken in a couple more galgos and a local galguero has asked them to take 3 young ones he no longer wants…the refuge is full so they are hoping he won’t dispose of the dogs in the meantime. If you would like to adopt one of their fabulous dogs, have a look at the dogs for adoption, they have over 70 waiting, including a beautiful male labrador, small pretty dalmation bitch and a male English setter, as well as podencos, some of whom have been there since puppies.
Comments
6 responses to “Galgo puppy Polar’s diary update”
oh you little bugger polo but not your fault the idiots who didnt follow instructions is to blame always the same the humane does wrong the dog carries the can beryl ring that kennel and tell them they should be paying for another coat for polo after all it was their fault i have a spare inside one i could send to you mine dont wear them they just like been covered in them they always have a blow heater on aswell apart from through the night i only have the 2 outside ones cause rey walks on own with me then tess and ebsony together then taz on own got my reasons for this way i did have 3 but gave one bk to jay last year cause mine put weight on and it wouldnt fit any of them and also you need to contact uk addopter for the loan one
oh pepis are having it hard one way or another i have been looking at the old galga paprica i think her name is she is beutiful i prefer the oldies but i have to get tess sorted with her op later this month and see how things go after that cause i then need two dentals one for rey and one for ebony all money it never ends one thing at a time
i did put a donation through yesterday to them wish someone would addopt from them for the sake of the other galgos what the hunter wants rid of he should keep them till they have room oh they really do annoy me
Beryl happy to read from you although typing the news with slowmotion. Hope that Polar has no digesting problems eating things that should not be a dogs diet. But I have learned Galgos rather tough species. I had a galga here that she would chew everything whatever her eyes were focused on. I would put on her coat just before going for walk, not a minute earlier. Pls. let me know about coats, I have ordered waterproof materials should arrive today.
Beryl some sighthounds show this behavoir,galgos when young are very active devils, in some cases, when castrated to young disorder of the thyroid glands could make a dog very active too, but I think he just enjoys his childhood, have you considered working with him seeking objects he should find, devarite his engergy to his brain.
he only did in the kennels out of boredom.
My galga Guzu once chewed my mom’s mobile phone… normally she is not a chewer and she was an adult in that time… but a little bit stressed and a little bit bored and she thought it a good idea to try the mobile phone (unfortunately).
She was with my mom for awhile as we were abroad. But even if she was in our house which is her usual place and was taken good care of by my mom, our absence was nevertheless a little bit stressful for her.