Dogs come in all shapes, sizes, colours and personality types. The team at Forever Hounds Trust know this well as a wide variety of dogs come to them for rehabilitation and rehoming every year.
The charity works with greyhounds and lurchers, and while greyhounds are a particular breed of dog, lurchers are a cross between any type of sighthound and any other breed of dog, which means they can look like and have the personality of almost anything!
But, it also means that there is likely to be a lurcher for everyone! Whether you are after a small dog, large dog, smooth coated, rough coated, dark colour, light colour, snoozy or bouncy and playful, there’s a lurcher that would fit the description!
The staff and volunteers at Forever Hounds Trust really celebrate the differences between the dogs that come into their care, describing some as ‘doers’ and others as ‘dozers’.
Head of Homing, Kennelling and Welfare for the charity, Dr Fiona Cooke, explains: “Our dozers will generally be our older dogs, and often our greyhounds! The gorgeous and gentle creatures are affectionately known as the forty mile per hour couch potatoes! They like nothing better than a comfy sofa or warm bed and although they do like one or two short walks a day some of them can be very lazy indeed if the weather isn’t to their liking! These dogs are particularly well suited to older people or those that want a wonderful companion animal without the demands of a dog that needs a lot of exercise.
“Those dogs we describe as doers are the ones who will really enjoy an active life. Some of the dogs we have found forever homes for are now agility champions! Others are competing in canicross or bikejor with their new owners.”
Both bikejor and canicross – which is cycling or running while connected to your dog on a bungee – are particularly active sports that you can enjoy with your dog, but there are many, many more dogs who just enjoy being out and about with their new families, enjoying long walks or playing games in the garden.
Fiona continues: “At Forever Hounds Trust we provide a matching service for new owners and their dogs, which means that each individual dog finds the right home for them. Those wanting an active dog will be matched with one and those requiring a quieter dog will take home one of our dozers.
“With such a multitude of dog personalities we really do have a dog for everyone, and our matching service helps those coming to us find the right dog for them, whether that’s a doer or a dozer!”
Could you offer a home to one of Forever Hounds Trust’s ‘doing’ or ‘dozing’ hounds? Call them on 03000 111 100 or email enquiries@foreverhoundstrust.org to find out more.
Callie and Pixie are two older dogs currently in the care of Forever Hounds Trust who are described as ‘dozing’ dogs and would like to find a fairly quiet home.
Abbi is one of Forever Hounds Trust’s ‘doing’ dogs and is currently looking for an active home.
Teddie is known as ‘Super Ted’ by the volunteers at Forever Hounds Trust and is currently looking for a fairly active home.
Big Hound Chill Out
Forever Hounds Trust are celebrating the dozing hounds in their care this August by holding a ‘Big Hound Chill Out’, which is a great excuse to relax with your pooch and raise some money to save the lives of hounds in need. To find out how you can join a Chill Out event, or hold your own, click here.
Dylan Dog Blog – pee mails and eggs!