Kirislin Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 (edited) I bred Feather and she was mostly hand raised so perhaps was a bit of a mummys girl, I dont know, but for what ever reason she never really learned how to play with her siblings. In fact she was nearly killed by them when she was only about 6 weeks old! The adorable little darlings were such savage fighters two of her sisters gashed her neck, just missing her jugular vein. I suspect it had a profound affect on her and she's always been rather aloof with most dogs. I've recently got a little Italian Greyhound puppy (Neko) and aside from the usual worries about protecting such a tiny puppy from my whippets I was particularly guarded about Feather. Sure enough, all the other whippets were good with her, I just had to make sure they weren't overly rough and didn't trample her in their mad dashes around the yard, but Feather was different. She wanted nothing to do with Neko and seemed to be confused and afraid of her. Feather would give all the right signals that she wanted Neko to leave her alone, but the puppy ignored them. I was constantly taking Neko away, and rescuing Feather from her advances. Finally it became too much for Feather and she bit Neko on her toe. Much squealing and sooking from Neko and it frightened Feather even more, this strange little creature in her face all the time, and then such a carry on. The weeks went by, Neko was undeterred by being bitten but gradually I started seeing a change in Feather. I've tried to protect Feather and Neko from each other as best I can while still allowing a relationship to develop, it's been quite a juggling act too I can tell you. After about 6 weeks Feather would occasionally interact with Neko, but it was only around dinner time and she looked a little too keen to me, as if she thought Neko might be good to eat, so I had to monitor it carefully. After about 7 weeks they would play but Feathers hackles were up and still she was just a bit too keen. We're almost up to 10 weeks now and it makes me so happy to be able to say, they've become friends. I never thought I'd see the day, Feather is old and grey now, and it must have been a steep learning curve for her, but she now enjoys Nekos company, and even seeks her out to play. She's learnt how to moderate her bite and be gentle and is teaching Neko how be play kindly too, she lets her know if Neko's been too hard. So the old and the young are teaching each other and it makes my heart happy. Edited December 22, 2013 by Kirislin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Beautiful! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazyWal Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 That bought tears to my eyes Kirislin, the photos are just wonderful :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dory the Doted One Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 That bought tears to my eyes Kirislin, the photos are just wonderful :) Definitely. You'd have to have a pretty hard heart not to be warmed by these photos and the story itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisys Mum Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Awwww those photos made my heart melt I love it when they go grey, they look so wise :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ari.g Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Aww that's adorable :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 That bought tears to my eyes Kirislin, the photos are just wonderful :) It brings tears to my eyes too SM just watching them. Feather's never had a playmate. She will be 12 years old in May so this is a huge turnaround for her. I'm so happy that she now knows what it is to have fun with another dog. For the first time in her life, she has a doggy friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazyWal Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 That bought tears to my eyes Kirislin, the photos are just wonderful :) It brings tears to my eyes too SM just watching them. Feather's never had a playmate. She will be 12 years old in May so this is a huge turnaround for her. I'm so happy that she now knows what it is to have fun with another dog. For the first time in her life, she has a doggy friend. Bless Neko was meant to come to you and Feather, a new lease on life for the dear old girl, wishing more happy years to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverStar-Aura Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 What a beautiful story Kirislin; sounds like little Neko has been just what you and Feather needed. Sometimes dogs just click with one another and other times they just don't. Hopefully Neko will give your old girl more fight in her life and keeps her going strong for many more years to come!! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Watch out! My 14 year old has become a senile delinquent since teaming up with former foster pup Pickles... they are so naughty together, getting up to all sorts of mischief! The oldies are great pals for the littlies though, aren't they? Teaching how to play nicely, and being just firm enough when they aren't... T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving my Oldies Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 To see dogs fnally click is just the best thing. Such a lovely story and beautiful beautiful photographs. It has happened here (the clicking that is, sadly not the photographs ): http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/252412-it-has-taken-a-while/page__p__6313276__fromsearch__1#entry6313276 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cannibalgoldfish Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I love it when they go grey, they look so wise That's what I was going to say! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuralPug Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Thank you for sharing. Truly heart warming. Who says an old dog can't learn new tricks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harley Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 What a nice outcome, and gorgeous photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 thanks everyone. Yes DD when they finally realise it can actually be fun, it's the best. :D I thought Feather would go to her grave never knowing what it can be like to just play with another dog. It's such a relief now that they've become buddies as I was concerned for a while that Feather could hurt Neko, but that little puppy has wormed her way into all of our hearts with her charm. When she first came here Feather spent alot of time in her crate, she'd go in there in the hope of avoiding Neko and it's actually where she bit Neko, but now they're cuddled together as I write in an open dog bed by my feet. Feather doesn't feel the need to hide anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwp4me Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Lovely to see it worked out so well for both of them. Do they make their happy little noises, when playing together? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelleva Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Thats just beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 Lovely to see it worked out so well for both of them. Do they make their happy little noises, when playing together? yes they do, those little growly noises that are like music to me after the way Feather's been all her life. I've never heard her make them until now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 That bought tears to my eyes Kirislin, the photos are just wonderful :) It brings tears to my eyes too SM just watching them. Feather's never had a playmate. She will be 12 years old in May so this is a huge turnaround for her. I'm so happy that she now knows what it is to have fun with another dog. For the first time in her life, she has a doggy friend. that makes the heart swell with emotion and brings the tears to the eyes.. It is a little miracle and i believe that an angel named Kirislin had a hand in it too... well done christmas joy Helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpette Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Oh that is a brilliant story and a fantastic out come :D Love the photos. They will be friends for life and their antics will brighten your house each day. Baylee and Dee had a morning game of noisy bitey face and chasey. It sounded like a herd of hephalumps first thing in the morning. There was 6 years difference in age between them and Dee was always the pup who got picked on and was unsure about how to play with the other dogs. She would stand back and watch. Now that Baylee is gone Dee has tried to play the same game with Zeph but he is not sure how to play her game. Enjoy Feather and Neko's game. Take lots of photos. And just sit and watch them play. It is really good for your soul and a great way to start the day. May they have many years of playtime together :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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