He who shall be named …
January 22nd 2012 02:44
Ssshh. If you are going to read this, please don’t tell anyone what I am about to reveal about our new greyhound, Clint.
You see, Clint had a trainer who was a bit sad to see him go off to the Greyhound Adoption Program. We know because when we got Clint from GAP, there amongst the paperwork was the trainer’s name and phone number, along with a note which said the trainer would be “delighted” if the new owner rang for a chat about the dog.
So we did, and the owner told us that he had trained both Clint and his brother, and they were great dogs and he would love to have kept both of them in retirement but he already had six greyhounds as pets.
This bloke needs to be careful, we thought, or he will start giving greyhound trainers a good name.
Clint also had an adoptive homestay for a few weeks, part of the process for all greyhounds going through the adoption program and aimed at transitioning them from the life of an elite athlete to life as a couch potato.
It’s possibly the greatest natural conundrum in the known universe: how can one dog breed be so perfectly adapted to both lifestyles.
Anyway, we met the couple who acted as Clint’s adoptive carers on behalf of GAP, and you could tell they were pretty sad to be saying goodbye. Our good friend Jennie, who has done the adoption thing with about a trillion greyhounds, says the handover day is a happy one because she can drive away knowing she has played a key role in the future happiness of a dog and its new family.
But Jennie’s special. We think less experienced people who love animals enough to do this important work for GAP generally have a tug of regret when the moment comes to say goodbye.
For the couple who had taken care of Clint, you could see it was a major tug, not least because Clint was their first adoptive greyhound. We hope it’s not their last. GAP needs people like them.
And so Clint came to live with us, immediately creating problems for two reasons.
One is that he’s a slightly undersized greyhound who is all black except for a bit of white on his chest. This is a problem because our other greyhound, Daisy, is slightly undersized and all black except for a bit of white on her chest.
After studying the pair under a microscope for a week, we discovered Clint has three white feet and one black, while Daisy has three black feet and one white. Hooray! Now, whenever a dog comes up to say hello, all we have to do is drop to our knees and peer closely at their paws to decide which it is.
Anyway, I’m digressing, trying to delay the difficult part of this post, and the reason I must ask none of you, this blog’s readers, to tell Clint’s former trainer or his adoptive carers what we have done.
What we have done is this: we have changed his name. Clint, the name which rolled so easily off the tongue of trainer and carer, a word which they casually and effortlessly infused with loving affection, didn’t appeal to us.
Neither Little Boss nor I, delving deep into our hearts and hearing, as one does, the mind’s eye looking forward to a long future of calling out “Clint! Dinner!” and “Clint! Stop barking at possums at 3am”, felt comfortable.
So we talked about it, in whispers in case anyone heard, and decided to change his name to Larry.
Allow me, therefore, to introduce Zoomies readers to our new greyhound, Larry. But please don’t tell the kind trainer or the lovely adoptive couple we changed his name. To them, let him always be Clint.
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Comment by TanyaMary
Welcome to our world, Larry. Where there are couches to stretch on, yards to romp in and humans who are always only too happy to give you a good scratch behind the ear.
We were beginning to despair for the announcement of your new name but Chris (Big Boss to you) came through.
We would like to introduce ourselves:
This is Lynx, undefeated Glutton Champion of the
worlduniverse in his natural pose.And this is me, I am such a lady.
Together we make up the world synchronized sleeping championship team. (But more on that another time.)
We, along with our humans welcome you, Larry.
Love and Licks
Beyleigh
Comment by Chris Champion
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That sleeping position would qualify for high marks on the Russian gymnastics team.
Thank you for your welcoming words. If they told racing greyhounds about the existence of sofas, and their presence in the post-retirement world, we'd have a riot on our hounds, er, hands.
I thought I was a pretty good glutton, but every time I boast about it, Big Boss laughs and says, "You never met Scratchy." Your Lynx sounds up there in the Scratchy class.
Anyway, thanks again for the welcome. I look forward to getting to know everyone over time.
Wags,
Larry
Comment by TanyaMary
Is Larry really a big eater or is it just 'cos he's the new hound on the block, that he feels the need to be a bit boastful?
How are you feeling about the new family member? As for the whole getting confused between the two of you, remember, humans don't have the same noses as us.
Michael was reading this book called "In Defense of Dogs" and it was saying that us hounds can smell out our own litter mates, even after years of separation. How about that? Sounds like a book that every human should have.
Love and licks just for you
Beyleigh
Comment by Gracie
I am sooooo happy to see Larry. I don`t think he looks anything like you, though. I have a blog called Really Long Link
It would be greyt to have you guys follow it. Larry Is cute.My owner wants a greyhound really badly. she loves them, and calls them poetry in motion.
love and licks,
Gracie May
Comment by INDIOSDAD
Dis is me Snoopy. Me wants ta say welcome ta this little group of world wide Greyhounds.
We fallers the bloogy thing of yer hooman Chris. We is happy ta has ya here with usns. I tink Larry is a greyt name. They changeded my nane too when I comed here. My name were TEETEE now wht kinda proper nane are that fer a Greyhound Me is now Snoopy cus I puts my nose every where. I just fallers me nose cuz I is blind Hoomans jus dont understand. I lives here in California (has yer hooman shows ya on the GOOGLE thing) with Mr Naboo the Greyhound who looks lots like ya especially on der couch thing. I also has 2 cats as pets Stinkey who realy stinks.and princess meowzers (real original huh) OH and 2 hoomans.So we is happta have yer here and will talk at ya all later
Snoopy
Chris
Welcome back. Congrats on your Wedding. I think that Larry is a great name for a Greyhound look forward to hearing of his adventures there. I would agree about Jeannie and her fostering. It takes a special person to do what she does. We have tried a few times and have been total failures.
Glad to have you back Blooging again
Jerry
Comment by Chris Champion
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Larry is only a boy dog, so your guess is as good as mine as to why he eats the way he does.
Between you and me, he worries me in more ways than one. For starters, I knew immediately that trying to exert dominance wasn't going to work. He might be a fair bit smaller than Scratchy, but Scratchy was a lamb wrapped in wimp's clothing compared to this chap.
I was still wondering what to do when Little Boss took us together for the first time to the park where we are allowed off the lead. And guess what? He's both faster and more agile than me!
That was a shock, I can tell you.
The good thing is he hasn't tried to impose dominance either. I've heard Big Boss and Little Boss telling their friends that Larry and Daisy hit it off immediately, but as usual they don't understand. It's more that ... that ... I don't know ... well, yes, maybe I do ... I know this is shocking but I'm beginning to believe that Larry actually may be as intelligent as me.
Sometimes I even forget he's only a boy dog.
Licks,
Daisy
Comment by Chris Champion
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I've always wanted to meet someone who has seen snow. It never snows here. Must be a law against it in Australia or something. Is it as much fun as it looks?
I'm glad your owner would like a greyhound. My owner looked at your blog and I think he now wants a Gracie May. I'm just a teensy bit jealous, although I can see his point
Sniffs, licks and wags,
Daisy
Comment by Chris Champion
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Pleased to shake your paw. This is a wonderful place, full of friendly new faces. It's enough to make a greyhound's teeth chatter.
Now listen, Snoop, my new mate, you've known Daisy for a while, right? I'm a bit confused about something. For a few weeks there, she clearly wasn't too happy about sharing a sofa with me. That's all right, because there are two sofas in this huge new kennel I'm living in, but, y'know, sometimes it's nice to lie close to another dog.
And then, two nights ago, Daisy strolls into the room, has a squizz at the two sofas, and hops up next to me! Talk about surprised. It was all I could do to stop myself wagging my tail.
So my question is this. D'ya think she like me?
Sniffs,
Larry
Comment by INDIOSDAD
Dear Larry;
I is sendin a picture thing to ya of the Greyhound named Naboo (his name has sumptin to do with some movie thing called Star Wars dont understand that) Ifn ya looks at the picture he lays on the couch jus like ya does. This cuz he cant get inta cockroach unless he kin lean against the back of the couch. Must be a boy dog thing cuz I kin do it anywheres.
I is thinkin Miss Daisy is being nice to ya. She is a girl dog and we is nice ta all dogs specially new dogs. She will like you if you is a good boy an does what she tells ya ta do. Remember girl dogs rule boy dogs drool. So ifn ya says "YES DAISY" every thing will be OK.
We is lookin to seein lotsa bloogy things about your new adventures there.Big Boss and Little Boss seems like they is OK fer hoomans make sure you get your toast every morning. Dont ferget you is Greyhound and you is in charge hoomans is there to serve.
Paws across the sea
Snoopy
Comment by Chris Champion
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Thanks for the advice. I only turned four a few weeks ago and I only stopped racing a few months ago so it's the old story: I know a lot about fast women but I have little experience with non-racing ones.
Daisy's such a lady. She scares me a bit. I'm just not sure what sort of reaction I'll get in normal, day-to-day situations like walking into a room, getting onto the same sofa or pinching some of her food.
I need to live and learn, I guess, but advice from older, wiser dogs is appreciated.
Larry
PS She didn't like me taking her bone today when she went to visit the pee bush. I'll make a note not to do that again.
Comment by Heidiclyde
Good ter meet'cha mate. I reckons yer must be us smart us paint ef good ol' Daisy reckons yer cluey. You'n Nitro our last foster'ound ud'ged'on real well. I s'pose ol Daisy's sayin sompthin like "but thut Nitro wus ther ages ergo, should'n they'uv don another'un by now?" an shed be right! Y'kow, yer would'n read abaht'ut! we takes Nitro ter'is new home an ther's lots'uv tail waggin an hugs an then a garbla days ufter thut ther Missus goes an takes us ter Charlene's place fer an'oliday she ses, she's havin one too she ses. Geeze, talk abaht'er bull artist!
Ther Boss cums ter get us an there she is lookin like she's abaht ter go belly up. Sum 'oliday! She's bin an'ad'er dickey knee chopped aht an er new prertend'un put in. Dunno abaht'er vet but, seems ter be takin'er plurry long time ter get back on'er feet. Silly Galah spends most uv ther time lyin down or doin exercises, says ut hurts ter stand'er sit fer long so she dun switch ther compooter on.
We goes ter Leigh Creek an Keith with ther boss cos she can't look ufter us on'er'own an Jack gives us walks ut Leigh Creek an ther Missus manages short slow ones ut Keith (Heidi reckons thuts bonza, lots'a time fer sniffin'up ther foxy smells) an ther Boss gives us long walks when'es god'er bidda time. Him'n me gut stung by'er bee but!
We're home now an ther Missus'us on ther improve so's I'm allowed ter go on ther compooter. Tell's yer what though, she's blown ut ova ther way she carries on abaht me bein nuthin but prick an ribs, yer should'uv seen'er! Decent puff uv wind an she'd'a blow away. She dun eat enuf ter feed er dwarf c'nary fer a bit' there.
Dunno when I'll get er'ter switch on ergen, she's lookin er bit green abaht ther gills already so's I'd better hop'ut, an get back ter yer soonish. Ay but lissen mate, bifore I goes, dun led ther sheilas ged'ut yer. Thut Snoop, she'll cum ther raw prawn like er flash ef yer gives'er arf'u'chance, an Daisy'll pull'a swifty on yer quicker'n'er cut cat, bet London ter'u brick she would so youse'jus takes ut easy an there'll be no dramas. Ther ony ones yer godda lissen to us ther Boss an Liddle Boss, them's ther rules. A'cours ef yer ad'u Grey helpin yer in yer foster'ome yer'adda lissen ter'im likes ther foster'ounds as'ter lissen ter me but yer dun thut bit, yer nud'a new chum now, so dun let thut Daisy sling off ut yer, Orr'right Mate?
See yer rahnd ther traps,
Clyde.
Comment by Chris Champion
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Pleased ter meet ya.
Jeez mate, sounds like yer Missus has been through the wringer and back. If she were a greyhound, we'd be packing her off to GAP for sure.
Anyway, great to find another friendly grey. This place is heaven - so many new cyber bums to sniff.
I'm a bit worried about your Missus not eating enough, though. My advice is to add some chicken skins and other left-overs to her kibble.
Hope that helps.
Yap later,
Larry
Comment by Chris Champion
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I saw that. I am not amused. I'll have you know I do not "pull swifties". I act only for the greater benefit of all living creatures, so long as they treat me right.
Daisy
Comment by Chris Champion
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A replacement knee! Sounds distinctly uncomfortable. How long is the recovery?
Anyway, glad to see you back on deck. Here's to a happy 2012 full of healthy dogs and no further body part replacements.
Chris
Comment by Heidiclyde
At some stage the other knee will have to go but not until it's on its last gasp like the left one was.
It was distinctly uncomfortable, not to mention plurry painful but things are looking a lot better now. Recovery takes from 3 to 6 months, I'm told my scrawny frame is a benefit here because fit skinny people usually take a shorter time. I'm already able to drive the (manual) ute, discarded the walking stick at 4 weeks post op not the expected 6 or 7 weeks and have the flexion expected at 8 weeks at 6 weeks so I suspect I'll be back to pre February 2011 (when things started to go wrong, two arthroscopys before the replacement) by the end of February 2012.
We are all looking forward to the moment when I decide I can manage a three dog house again, hopefully by mid February.
Jennie.
Comment by Heidiclyde
Yer dun pull Swifties? Yeah, an I'm a fat Greyhound too. Tells'yer' what. How's abaht yer pull me other leg an it'll play jingle bells fer'ya.
Ooroo,
Clyde.
Comment by Chris Champion
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Goodness, we'll be reading about you in The Lancet as a scientific marvel. But that's all good to hear. See you at the start line for the 2012 Adelaide Marathon? I think I'll take Larry on my 25km training runs. He has way too much energy.
Best wishes,
Chris
Comment by Chris Champion
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Comment by Heidiclyde
Jennie.
Comment by Heidiclyde
Yer jus tryin ter muddle me with werds an'it dun work, I knows er swifty when I sees ut. Jus dun you go muddlin' up ol Larry, like yer did me mate Scratchy, thut's orl.
Clyde.
Comment by Chris Champion
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So you're saying that for someone no longer in the first flush of life but not yet in the final flush of life, your body has reacted as if it's in the mid flush of life?
Shocking! But we're on your side
Get walking quickly,
Chris
Comment by Chris Champion
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You posses the sweetness that only innocence can create. Come here and let me lick your whiskers.
Daisy
Comment by Heidiclyde
Do you really want to lick the old fool's whiskers?
I wouldn't if I were you, he has oily sort of drops put in his eyes every morning and nasty bitter drops every night, if the Missus gets a bit extravagant the excess runs down his cheeks, not quite to his whiskers but you'd have to be pretty careful not to lick too hard. I suspect though that you achieved your aim. He is now thoroughly confused, he started stuttering then took off outside to dig a hole and calm down, I don't think anyone has ever tried that one on him before.
The Missus and I are still laughing,
Your friend,
Heidi.
Oy, thuts not true yer old dingbat! Me pussy friends thut us'ter sleep with me ut Mick's place where I went racin' frum us'ter lick me whiskers alla time, so there yer dun know evrythin' does yer? I jus wen'aht ter try ter work out ther big words.
Clyde.
Comment by Chris Champion
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Given the medication and the, possibly worse, fact that cats have licked those whiskers in the past, I tend to agree with you. I might pass on this.
Mind you, I'm not overly impressed with Larry and this place right now either. We had guests for dinner last night and not only did they come with no dogs, once here Larry got all the attention because he's the new guy.
I am not accustomed to second best.
Wags,
Daisy
Comment by Heidiclyde
Geeze girl, yer not second best or whatever y'wants ter call ut. We get's ut all'a time with ther foster'ounds. "So who's this new boy?" "My in't e a sweetie?" "He really likes cuddles dun'e?" An so on an so forth! Ut makes yer wanna spew I c'n tell yer. An then jus' when yer abaht ter chuck'er wobbly ther Boss cums an rubs yer ears or ther Missus gives yer ther Best Dog look, Yer know ther one? Sometimes we wonder if ther Foster'ound us gunna push us out, ther boss an ther Missus really likes sum'uv'em but ut never 'appens, They go an we stay an we gets extra treats when they go.
Larry'll become yer mate like ol Scratch was'n sumtimes he'll gedda bit more rubs'n'that than you an sumtimes ut'll go th'other way rahnd, jes'you wait an see, Larry 'asn't er bolters uv pushin yer'aht. Ut's a dead bird, Guarantee ut!
An yer'cn lick me whiskers anytimes yer likes.
Tail wags t'you too,
Clyde.
Comment by Chris Champion
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My dear, that was a warm and comforting message. Positively avuncular. I just gave Larry a lick and dedicated it to you.
Nuzzles,
D
Comment by Heidiclyde
Thanks fer ther lick an ther nuzzles an all that but whut's ther big word mean? Hope ut's nod'er rude'un. Ther Missus ses yer can't use rude words on ther compooter, dunno abaht thut when Heidi ses I'm er'drongo or summat.
Clyde.
Comment by Chris Champion
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Haha, just kidding. "Avuncular" means "like an uncle", in the nicest, most positive way. You know, all warm and safe and secure, like being carried around as a pup by the scruff of the neck.
Makes me doey-eyed thinking about it.
Comment by Heidiclyde
I've bin called er'lodda things in me time, specially if ther punters thought I wern't tryin, bud'I've neva bin called a'nuncle! Ther kiddley winks likes Nuncle Bruce an Aunty Ange whot lives in France, we sometimes see'em on ther compooter an ther minyas get's all incited. I dunno abaht Nuncle Bruce bein warm an safe an secure but, it's plurry cold ova there, yer should see ther picshures'e sends us.
D'yer think I'orda try ter be more avuncle ter ther foster'ounds? I godda show'em I'm boss but. Ut's me job. D'yer reckon I could be a'vuncle an still do me job?
I gets pretty doey eyed when ther Missus puts me drops in, yer've not got sore eyes like me has yer? Would'n wish ut on'er scumbag led'alone er'bonza'ound like you Daisy.
Cheerio,
Clyde.
Comment by Chris Champion
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One can be avuncular and yet a leader of new friends, young friends and special needs friends, such as humans. It's tricky, though. It's best to be avuncular at times and sternly leaderish when necessary.
When you get it right, you find yourself the leader of the pack. It all came pretty easily to me when Scratchy was around. Now that Larry is here, however, I seem to have lost the knack a little. Am I getting old?
Sighs,
Daisy
Comment by Heidiclyde
Whut's old anyway? Ther Missus ses I'm 10 years old, Heidi's 8 an sum'uv our foster'ounds us 2 sum'uv'em 4 or 5 an sum'uv'em are 6 or 8. An we had one aht'uv ther box whut wus 10. Dun seem'ter make much difference ter whut their like as foster'ounds.
D'ye'reckon ut might be thut Larry dun need yer'ter be thu'leada? Sum'uv ther foster'ounds give me ther'sterks an need a real lot uv'ther stern leaderish stuff, I gives'em whut for an they learns ter lissen ter me an ther Missus. Sum'uv'em but, us real pearlers an yer'dun never need ter stack on an act, yer jus'dus ther avuncle stuff f'them an they settles in real easy.
P'raps all'ya need with Larry us ther avuncle stuff? I dun reckon yer've lost'ut, yer've'jus got yerself er'dif'rent kind'a hound ter ther'ol Scratch.
Licks,
Clyde.