Thanks for all your support.
I think we now know that we shouldn't have 2 dogs. We have been so happy as a 1 dog family, but didn't fully appreciate just how easy Buddy is to live with, and how much extra would be involved in trying to have another fit in.
I this particular dog was staying, we would urgently need to get lead walking sorted (for both of them - they are both awful, and worse together!), or we would never all be able to go out together except onto the field. But we really do not have the time to do this properly. And there are lots of other issues which would need to be sorted out (with both dogs, up to a point) which again will take a great deal of time, and 1:1 with each dog. I don't think we can deal with that adequately, and things could slide out of control.
Also, they have not played nicely at all today, but lots of nasty stuff. We are not intervening as so far neither has hurt the other, but it is serious fighting rather than play. Even out on our walk they didn't play, but Salty did go for Buddy when she saw he was nearer to me than she was.
Both are quite unhappy today. Buddy's tail hasn't wagged all morning
. I think that this might just be a step on his way to taking subordinate status to her, but as we now know she's not staying I am getting a bit worried that it might permanantly damage his lovely personality. Do you think it might? Part of me thinks it might also be good for him in some ways, but I don't know.
Salty did have a go at another dog this morning who was getting nearer to me. That's probably just another sign of her insecurity. I do think all of these problems could be ironed out by someone with more experience/time than us. And probably either with her as an only dog, or in an experienced 2 dog family.
We have had some fun in all this. Part of our walk takes us through a sports field, and every morning (until today) Buddy has grabbed the long line trailing from Salty's collar and led her all round the field. She has seemed quite happy with that too. It was lovely to watch, and I wish I'd got a video of it. And they have had some lovely shoulder to shoulder cocker play on the fields. The noise levels don't matter much there!
She is SO LOUD!!!! You know how they sound when you tread on their feet? That's how she sounds when you get ready for a walk, when Buddy and she play, when you go to feed her etc. And still a screech, but slightly different, whenever anyone walks past the house.
Oh, and she chases cats!!!!! And she's much stronger and more determined than Buddy. She nearly pulled me over yesterday (and those of you who have met me will appreciate just how strong that is!)
Anyway we are trying to contact the rescue now and hope to be able to arrange to drive her back to Wales this week if possible. We really want her to be advertised on DP asap, so that she can move on quickly. I would love to offer to keep her as foster carer, but I actually think that might do more harm than good at this stage.
I'm planning to try to get one out without the other later, so that they can have a break from each other. They are a bit like tormented souls at the moment.
I'm still a bit upset, and we will all miss her so much in many ways, but we will all relax too. And we'll be able to get back to being the cuddly family we are
