A new harness I ordered for him turned up yesterday. Set me off again. He'd never had one before but I thought it might be nice for him to try. As my daughter said, we'll keep it for the next one.

We lost our beautiful girl Twiggy a week after her 13th Birthday in May. I was so grateful we were able to share one more Birthday with her. But far more important to us was like you we were with her when we had to say goodbye. I miss her so very much and wish I could have her back even if just for a day. We have a lovely lad, Skip and have recently adopted another gorgeous boy, Fletcher...who is very happy and bouncy! He has helped us all smile again...I hope in time you will feel like giving another lovely boy or girl the chance of a great life with you. Xxx

Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate the lovely thoughts. They really do take a piece with you when they go. I so wanted him to reach 13 as it felt like such a huge milestone but he deteriorated so fast there was nothing to be done. My only consolation is that his condition went down once we were at the vets so it wasn't overnight or when we were out. He wasn't alone or like that for hours. Once they get to a certain age that's always my biggest fear - that something catastrophic will happen and we won't know or be there to help. We miss him like crazy.

Feeling so sad to read your heartbreaking news....its so hard to let them go....feels like a part of you goes with them....be rest assured he knew how much you love him...he knew because you wouldn't let him suffer...its the ultimate gift of love...Rip lovely boy...run free.xxx

My heart is aching for your sad loss, these beautiful dogs have such a huge impact on our lives, bring us so much joy, and take a piece of us with them when they leave us, I'm so sorry, please take care xxxxx

I'm so sorry that you have lost your Mottee. I (and many, many more of us) have had to make that difficult decision and know only too well how very hard it is and how your heart just breaks into little pieces. Mottee will never be far away from you. Sending you hugs. Run free Mottee - god bless. xx

so sorry for your sad loss sending huge hugs x

I am so very sad to hear you have had to say Goodbye to your Mottee. Lots of love to you all, God Bless your beautiful lad. Xxx

Hello everyone.

This is a horribly difficult message to write. Almost 5 years ago we rehomed Mottee from Daybreaks - a 7-year-old boy who'd found himself back in rescue for a second time through no fault of his own. Yesterday evening we lost him at the age of 12 (and a half). To say we're all devastated would be an understatement. He was still active right up until yesterday evening and mentally he thought he was still a young dog...daft play bows and spinning excitedly in circles when we came downstairs in the morning. He got along well with everyone and everything, including other breeds, cats and chickens. He adored our daughter and would regularly walk down to collect her from school with me. She's absolutely heartbroken - when we got back from the vets she made him 'invisible dinner' in his bowl as "he's still with us and I don't want him to be hungry at dinnertime." We've had two greys from Daybreaks and each time they've left us the hole has been immense. I hope he knew how loved he was and still is, I hope he knew that it broke me to make the final decision last night, and I hope he didn't mind his head being soaked with my tears while I held him. RIP my Mottee-Moo. We love you fiercely.

Thanks for all the replies everyone :) Glad to hear Mottee's not alone in this bonkers behaviour!

With him it's not even as if he's worrying away at something, not as dogs do if they've got a patch of sore skin or something. Instead he opens his mouth and takes huge great chomps at his thigh and gentleman's parts. Snapping would be a better description, the whole circumference of his thigh in his mouth. I'll have to take a video of it...daft as a brush!

My Emily does it too. It's as though she has a small itch, but then gets totally carried away. If we didn't ask her to stop, she'd 'drive' her bed across the kitchen. She does stop straight away when we say "no" and gets up to give herself a shake and then everything's forgotten, so I put it down to her having a bit of a moment! Why they choose to do it when you've got guests though.......! Mand x

Our Lena also gets herself into quite a frenzy when she cleans her lady-bits. She rolls herself round into what looks like a black furry ball and quite often she does complete somersaults round the room. The noises are horrific for a dog who is so quiet in the house and she seems to be biting at herself. She is wormed regularly and Lola our other one doesn't do this at all, so we have always just put it down to a quirk that we have a dog who gets cross with her bottom! xxx

Thanks for the reply :) He's not itchy and manages to clean all other parts of himself without this palaver...it's only when he cleans his boy bits he goes a bit mental.

Hiya My Lucy does something similar when she's come in after eating her tea and she's settling on her bed .. she grabs at her tum, sides, back legs and tail and almost turns herself over then sort of settles down ...I use a homeopathic vet so avoid chemicals where I can .. after working thro food allergies (she gets very itchy on beef) and wormed her thoroughly and had a wormcount done (Nil worms :) ) we think it's fox mange or mites but a sort of low grade version .. I'm going to rub her down with warm water and Neem dog Mite shampoo then again after 5 days (Mite life cycle is 5 days :( ). May be worth a try with either the Neem shampoo or asking your vet for the right 'spot on' treatment - not all 'spot on' kill fox mites :( J xx

Mottee has been with us for almost 4 months now and is still fab. However he's developed a habit that's gone from a little quirk to something a bit more serious perhaps. Before I plague my vet I thought I'd run it past you guys first - I've not known it in any male dogs I've owned or trained before but he's my first greyhound so...

When he cleans himself he gets a little *ahem* excited...that's entirely his business ;) but quite quickly this excitement moves from his tail wagging like crazy to him biting at his genitals and (oddly) his legs. He hasn't drawn blood or broken the skin but bites quite hard. This is followed by him throwing himself upright into a play bow and having a funny five minutes - he's such a calm dog that the only times we see him being silly like this are if he's 'killing' a soft toy or after cleaning himself.

I've wondered about something irritating him but there're no other symptoms and he's fine in himself. Anyone experienced this?

Merry christmas love cuddles bones and christmas dinner to mottee and so much love and thanks to his new owners xxxxxxxx

What a fab photo of Motte with his feline friend, so good to see that it is possible for a greyhound to be able to live with cats.

I love the new picture of Motte & cat - well done lovely boy. You look like you're enjoying your new home. x

Here's a new pic of Motte with Aslan the cat! He is doing fantastic and is now unmuzzled around the cats :-))))

So pleased for lovely Motte. xxx

We went to pick Mottee up today - after a good sniff around, he's had dinner and settled on his duvet. He's met the cats and my toddler and has been brilliant with both.

To Ruth and Jill - thank you so much for allowing us to become Mottee's new owners. I'll be sending pics through soon.

To Rosie (fosterer) - it was lovely to meet you today. You weren't wrong...he's a nudge monster! Adorable!

To Sally (previous owner) - I can't imagine how hard it must be to surrender your dog(s) to rescue. I hope a little consolation is that Mottee will be very well looked after...spoiled and cherished. He's settled very well already.

Becs
x

Lovely to see him reserved, well done sweetheart x

That's so lovely to see - reserved! Good luck & let's hope your pal Roxy will be just as lucky very soon.xx

Must be a very hard time for Mottee and his previous owners. Lets hope he finds his forever home soon. Kisses Mottee xxxxx You are such a handsome boy

Hello sal - I can't imagine how hard it has been for u, motte is such a gentle and cuddly boy who nudges and nudges at you until you give him some fuss!

He is doing really well here and is very settled. There was a slight argument between him and Milly and poor boy has a slight gouge under his eye but it seems to be healing well. Don't be put off by that - I feel he would actually do best in a home with other greys as he can be quite clingy to me! It was just a typical small disagreement over a treat which happens so often in those situations with multiple dogs.

He has been fine to be left during the day and with training can live with cats. He is a dream dog!!

I did send Ruth a photo which maybe she could upload? Thanks!!

Hi rosierecorder
This is a very hard message for me to write - people have lots of different views here, which i understand...
My name is Sally and I was Mottee's previous owner.
I am soo sooo very pleased to see he is now placed in his foster home. The decision I made was the hardest in my life but for mottee I know it was the right one...
I would really really love to have some photos and know how he has settled - would this be ok??

Thank you and please give him a massive hug and lots of kisses for me -- if you rub his ear he groans - but only one groan a day!!
lots of love
sally
xxx

Oh - and his teeth chatter which is so cute!!!!

Motte has really surprised me with how quickly he has settled in. A bit of panting at first but not at all now and he has just eaten a full bowl of burns and cheese! So far no problems with joey and Milly and not interested in the cats - unless they run - that does make him jump up to his feet but he will learn with time and he seems to understand no!
He looks like he has always been here!

Glad to see he is being fostered hope he isn't missing his little sister too much.

hi motte hope your,e feeling better you seemed so stressed the other day- i,m sure ruth and the gang are looking after you and roxy x

Aw there r lots of returnees at the moment,I love the look of motte if only I could :-( but my collie is having a few issues at the moment so wouldn't be right bringing a new dog in until we have sorted him and I don't think this beautiful boy will b here long

I can't believe you are back Motte! Very sad to read this. I was the person who told the previous owner about Daybreaks and the Greyhound Trust, and was there the day Motte was adopted. He is truly a wonderful grey, really placid and gentle, a lovely addition to any family. I hope you find your forever home soon lovely. My greyhound loved Motte. If I wasn't due to give birth soon I would have re-homed myself. Sending hugs and kisses Motte

Hope theres someone out there looking for two greys it would be lovely to re home them together. They both look really nice dogs xx

You look so sad, I hope you find a new home soon sweetheart x

What a shame x

Bless him, he look soooo sad. Big hugs to both Motte & Roxy xx

oh how terrible for him.hopefully it will not be for long !! x

Poor Motte and Roxy. Hope they find a forever home together.

Poor Motte and Roxy. Hope they find a forever home together.

What a sad situation for the poor lad, sending him lots of love. xxx