K40 Tippy, Feather-tailed Lurchery youngster

[Baglady]

Please welcome Tippy



Tippy is a young and very playful lurcher. He has feather ears and the most magnificent feathery tail. He is simply gorgeous!





Our volunteers and regular visitors to the Home might recognise Tippy. He arrived at the Home a few months ago and was adopted very quickly, butTippy doesn't like being left on his own and his rehomers struggled with his separation anxiety. Tippy will need a home with someone who is around most of the time and who can help him overcome his anxieties when left.He loves the company of other dogs and the staff are looking for a home where Tippy will have dog company.

For more information or if you'd like to meet Tippy please phone the Dogs' Home: 029 2071 1243 or visit Cardiff Dogs' Home, Westpoint Industrial Estate, Penarth Road, open 7 days a week, 10.30 - 4pm.

[katie13]

I heard Tippy's friend, Motty, found a home. I hope Tippy finds his forever home soon since the first time I took the two of them out for a walk, when Motty was still very nervous and had to go to the garden instead, Tippy was so worried about his friend that he seemed far less enthusiastic for his walk. Took them out the other day though and they're such a playful pair. Tippy is such an energetic and striking dog too. I'm not sure what is mixed in altogether but he's so lively for a sighthound that I can't help but wonder if there's a bit of springer in there, would certainly explain those beautiful floppy ears and lovely tail.

[nickie]

Tippy is such a delight to be around! He greeted us prancing up and down like a 3-month old puppy and was so overwhelmed with excitement he tripped over his own feet at the gate leading out to the lane  . He got nicknamed Trippy since. After the initial excitement he did walk to heel mostly apart from the occasions when we'd see other dogs and T(r)ippy wouldn't miss an opportunity to invite for play. He is such a sociable dog!!! It broke everyone's hearts when we had to pull him away and not let him interact. He craves and loves attention from both people and doggies and I can see why he would benefit the most form a home where he won't be left alone often. He would often look up at us for reassurance & comfort. Otherwise he is even smaller than he appears in pictures - very slim and quite short for a lurcher-y boy. Perfect family pet...  Hope he doesn't have to wait much longer!

[neecee]

Tippy is just a delight to walk! He did a few skippy jumps when we started out and then settled into a mostly loose lead walk! A happy, handsome boy with no issues with other dogs we met. A bit of time and patience to get him over his separation anxiety, he's not a quick fix, and you would be rewarded with the best companion. Good luck, lovely boy 🐾🐶🐾😘🐾

[gruffvaughan]

We tried to give Tippy a home a few weeks ago, but unfortunately our schedules and responsibilities meant that we couldn’t give him all the love and attention that he needs. Taking him back to the dogs home was heartbreaking, but we know he’ll find his forever home in no time! We wanted to give as much information as possible about this lovely chap so that he finds the perfect family.

Tippy is without question one of the most well behaved and loving dogs we’ve had the pleasure of spending time with. “So why would you bring him back?!” I hear you cry. Well, unfortunately, Tippy struggles with being left alone—even for short periods of time. As the both of us work, his distress became very difficult to manage. We’re confident that with a few dedicated weeks of training and reassurance, he’ll develop the confidence he needs to be okay on his own! He just needs that commitment from someone with plenty of time and patience. We’ve been told that he doesn’t cry at night in the dogs home because he has the company of other dogs, so a home with a doggy friend or two would be perfect.

When we first met him at the dogs home, he was a little shy and reserved. He avoided eye contact during our first visit, but when we came back a second time to take him on a walk, he warmed to us and his personality started pouring out. He just needs some time to trust you! He’s an incredibly calm fella most of the time, but if he’s encouraged, he’ll get silly and leap into his zoomies! He just needs to know that he’s allowed, bless him. He’s a little uncoordinated—it’s very entertaining watching him stumbling about like a loon!

Tippy didn’t need any training when it came to climbing on sofas etc. We gave him a comfy bed to lie on in the living room, and once he knew that it was where he was expected to lie down, all it took was a simple “lie down!” and a point towards the bed, and he would plod on over. As long as he can see where everyone is, he’s perfectly happy to laze about. He’s not entirely sure how to play with toys, and doesn’t understand the concept of chasing a ball. We managed to get his interest up after a few days—he just needs encouragement! He bloody loves a bone or pigs ear, though…

Tippy seems very nervous about stairs. He will avoid them like the plague (we get the feeling that he’s been beaten in the past for going upstairs). Because of his separation anxiety, we had to bring him upstairs in the night to sleep with us in our bedroom. Leaving him on his own in the kitchen resulted in a few sleepless nights as he wouldn’t stop crying, barking and scratching the door—even with treats to distract him. We decided to let him sleep in our room. It took quite a bit of encouragement to convince him that he was allowed upstairs! Once in our room, though, he would lie quietly on his bed in the corner until we got up in the morning. No attempt to wake us up unless he was desperate for a wee!

Talking of relieving oneself, Tippy is confidently house trained. When he first came home with us, we let him out into the garden and he immediately understood the deal. He’ll sniff around for a good while before finding the right spot to do his business!

He walks really well on the lead and is interested in other dogs, if a little nervous/cautious. If you’re confident around other dogs, Tippy picks up on it and it gives him the encouragement he needs to make friends. He also doesn’t care much for small animals. We had five (yes, five) caged rats in our house, and whilst he gave them a few seconds of sniffs, he wasn’t bothered by them, which is odd for a sighthound. He’s so well-natured!

We let him off the lead in small, enclosed parks to run around like a lunatic. He would always return when called when he wasn’t distracted, but if he’s on a sniff, he gets a bit stubborn. Selective hearing, me thinks! His recall needs a little work before he can be confidently let off the lead. He’ll “sit!” and “lie down!” when your commands are firm, but he needs some work on “stay” commands. Probably linked to his separation anxiety—if you leave the room, he’ll follow you around like a shadow. We sometimes managed to get him to stay for 5-10 minutes when we stood outside the room. Some more training and reassurance and we’re confident he’ll get the hang of it!

Hopefully that’s some useful information for you! Honestly, he’s such a beautiful, intelligent and entertaining dog. If you have the time for him, he’ll make an amazing, loyal and loving companion.

[elliebr]

Anyone who's in the (enviable!) position of adopting gorgeous Tippy, can I recommend the brilliant advice from Lisa Cartwright of Greyhound Gap regarding what to do as soon as you get your dog home - I followed this with my greyhound and, although it gets a bit boring after a while, it really does work! And that's the point, you have to make your coming and going so boring that the dog gets bored of worrying about it You do need maybe a week off work to carry it out though, if you can get it:

So you have your new hound home?

And this one is full of great advice too, if the dog is already showing fully-fledged SA:

Okay, too late, we have separation anxiety