Toe off, same old Sam....

[smudge1901 1]

Have had a real nightmare trying to keep my 6 year old whippet in the garden since we got a new pup about 4 months ago....He has always got out but as we live on a Commom and he was within shouting distance didnt really cause an issue...Once the pup was able to follow the trouble began, his behaviour changed and suddenly he was going much further a field....Seems that once he has a hunting partner he goes much further a field...

 

About a month ago he came back from one of his ventures lame, holding a back leg up..A few days laid up seemed to sort him, but next time out with me for a walk he went lame again...Trip to the vets showed he had arthritus in an outside toe from an old injury which he was now knocking and aggrivating..Only one real solution and that was to have the toe removed,as evertime he knocked it was going to cause him pain..He's not really a worker but a pet first and formost, so any loss in speed is not really an issue for me, rather that than him constantly lame..

 

It doesnt actually look that bad and even though he is still favouing his other foot he is starting to put a bit of force through the foot now...Problem is that he is now eyeing up the gate and is obviously still planning to go off for a wonder,,,Got lots of sheep in lamp near by and whilst he is 100% on stock that does not stop stupid ewes taking off at the sight of a black "wolf" ghosting across the field..

 

Have purchased a large run with a roof but had the wire the inside as he tried to eat his way out...the pup loves it..

 

Just fed up with having to watch him like a hawk everytime i have him in the garden, if we have a good summer he will spend the whole time locked in the house to stop him running off, as he cries in the pen and cant be watched evey moment in a large divided garden, and next thing you know hes out of sight...

 

Cant really go any higher with the fence without making the house look like a building site.....Will try and pen for a while longer, may get better once the warmer weather arrives, but hes not been in it when really cold...

 

I was hoping that his loss of a toe may slow him up a little and make him more likely to stay close by, but "The force" is strong in this one......