Claire Saxton and Blue (Bouncy Bouncy Blue)
Blue (Bouncy Bouncy Blue) came into the care of Kelpie Welfare in December 2007. I had received a message saying that a beautiful, blue kelpie was due to be PTS in a Welsh pound and could we help. Blue was saved and went into a foster home, but didn't fit in there. He then came to
Soon, Blue had found a home. Great! I dropped him off at his new digs but he came back within a week. He was too bouncy! A kelpie - too bouncy! Imagine that!! Blue then had nowhere to go. He couldn't go back to his fosterer as a new puppy had arrived but luckily I had homed my foster boy, so he came here. Again, another agility home came up and after an exciting meet and greet, Blue headed off to his new home at the other end of the country.
The phone rang and I had to 'urgently' go and collect Blue. He was 'dominant-aggressive' and not suitable. So with the help of a friend who collected him, I found myself driving up the M1 in the middle of the night to fetch him. So here I was with (another) kelpie that nobody wanted. He was so traumatised that all he could do was spin and chase his tail. Something that I am sure he learnt as a pup. He was still only 11 months and his tail was chewed down to the bone. He had just shut down. His fur was falling out under his tummy and he was in a right state. He would go in circles with his head between his back legs, grabbing at his tail.
So you can guess what happened. Blue was technically up for rehoming, but the more work I put into helping his anxiety - teaching him to collect a ball when he felt stressed instead of chewing his tail, teaching him that it was ok to calm down and settle, the more we connected. I took him around shows in the spring of 2008 and although he was much admired, no suitable homes came forward.
As you know, I tragically lost one of my dogs in the April of 2008 and at that time, I had almost decided to keep Blue, but was trying to pluck up the courage to tell my non-agility husband that I had again, failed as a fosterer! With Ruby gone, I threw myself into training Blue. My trainers offered to keep Ruby's place in their classes if I could get Blue up to speed.
So the gauntlet was thrown and Blue was officially staying! After a short while, Blue gained his places in the classes. Agility training definitely helped him with his anxiety. The more I worked him, the better he got. The spinning decreased and the tail chewing was reduced to small periods of sucking, but mostly self-correcting by getting his ball and having a game.
By Aug 2008, Blue was physically fit and in a far better state of mind and I entered him his first show. I don't think I breathed as we negotiated that G3 jumping course! HE WENT CLEAR. To top it all off in the G3 agility, HE WENT CLEAR.
Of course, the journey has not been that simple. Blue has had to over come many fears ranging from men, visitors, domestic living (he was scared of all domestic appliances, resulting in much spinning). He would also launch himself at people's faces and lick them in that puppy-submissive manner. 'Please don't hurt me, I come in peace'.
Licking is still one of Blue's favourite pastimes. He can be very forceful when he wants and is VERY thorough with his tongue! Now it is friendliness instead of worry.
He still has small episodes of anxiety but when no-one is looking - especially in the caravan or more recently in the Travelodge, he will curl up into a small ball on the pillow and rest his head on my neck and sleep. He is totally at ease. Shhh don't tell anyone. I am pleased that he feels that secure with me now.
For the dog that was supposed to be aggressive, he is the most friendly, beautiful, kind, strong, gorgeous, licky dog. He has the kindest soul I have ever seen in a dog and he will faithfully trot alongside me when out on walk.
To top it off, Blue got his first placing in agility at Easter 2009. It is so true that one man's trash is another man's treasure.
Claire x
caravan moment!