Dylan arrived in a bit of a flurry!  We were all set to pick him up on Sunday, but due to an emergency arrival of one of Diane’s ‘lodgers’, we were asked to take him on the Thursday evening.  We had everything ready for Dylan, so we were happy to oblige.

I had wanted a greyhound for a number of years.  Why?  I find them absolutely stunning dogs.  I had also seen a programme years ago informing us of their post-racing fate.  Up until then I was quite ignorant of their circumstances and therefore made up my mind, if we got another dog, that it must be a greyhound.

So now that all the children, Fiona 10yrs, Scott and Kirsty 6yrs, were at school, I thought this would be the ideal time.  We contacted Diane for more information, visited her home and dogs, passed the home visit and then waited until a suitable dog arrived.  We were quite excited when she phoned to say that she may have a suitable dog for us.  He had spent the last four months in the Dundee dog pound, unknown history, not tattooed, about 1½ yrs old.  So we went to meet him, see how he reacted to us etc.  Everything went well so we agreed on the pick up date.

Now we are told that they are incredible thieves, but I thought, well I’ve had labradors so I know what to expect.  Wrong!  We have learned the hard way that everything edible and drinkable must be out of reach.  The fruit bowl is now on top of the fridge freezer but that initially did not stop Dylan from pinging up and down in an attempt to snaffle some fruit – He is the master of the snatch and run.  One day he disappeared out the back door with his quarry – a bag of onions.  I would have left him to it to teach him a lesson but unfortunately I needed an onion, and the thought of his bowels the next day………………….

My neighbour Janet came to see him shortly after his arrival.  She was very impressed by his behaviour, i.e. stretched out, immobile on the carpet!  I gave her the newsletter to read and there was BoBo, who came to Diane in the same van as Dylan.  Now they are neighbours also here in Banchory.  I should have charged commission.

Dylan is great with the children.  Fiona especially is able to get him to play in the garden and it’s great to see him zooming about.  He has settled into the family routine.  He expects to walk with the children to school each morning and he knows when he is going out with me or staying at home himself.  He has met lots of other dogs of all shapes and sizes and has behaved well.

Dylan is now well established in our family.  We know what to expect from him and he knows what to expect from us – and that includes all yoghurt pots to be licked out when the kids have had enough!

From

The Murray Family