Finns Tale.

[sandymere 8,263]

Finn is a nice lad, in every day life hes pretty easy to have around and at three years old has become a decent worker, not perfect but does the job. As a greyhound, bull deerhound hybrid hes hard when needed but away from the working arena will go out of his way to avoid trouble. Id admit hes certainly not the prettiest of dogs but he has an ease of movement and depth of chest that coupled with a strong neck and jaw tells of potential in the field rather than show ring. This paints a rosy picture and in truth I had a relaxed winters lamping with him but unfortunately the journey there has not always been an easy one.

 

We took Finn at around 3 months old after he was returned to his breeder from a pet home, it was noted he had a weakness to his rear quarters in comparison to the fore but with pups such things are usually just a developmental stage which levels out as they mature, alas not in this case. Increasing exercise, especially running brought increasing lameness with weakness that centred on the left hip and hind leg. A proper check showed the hip and base of spine was generally tender with pain on extension of the limb. The first impression was of possible hip dysplasia so he was booked in for an x-ray. I prepared for the worse with instructions to the vet to put him to sleep if it was his hips, he offered to keep him himself if that were the case as even at that tender age he was easy to like.

 

The x-ray was revealing, not hip dysplasia but healing bone in the spine, hed suffered a broken back, thankfully it was a stable fracture but there was soft tissue damage to the supporting structures and nerve impingement leading to pain radiating down the leg, similar to sciatica in humans, the cause his lameness. Now I had an answer I could sit down and decide what to do. I took advice from a physio friend before making a decision then went against that advice and kept him. Id take a chance on time and growth coupled with a very strict regime of rehabilitation. At times over the following months I doubted my decision but my better half was ever a supporter of giving him every chance.

 

The physio warned me that the limping was just creating further imbalances and causing more problems so I needed to find a way to build strength in the spine and leg without causing further pain, walking wasnt enough but galloping to much. After a couple of hours consideration I called my two adults lurchers and went for a run along the coast to clear my head. After a mile or so they settled into their usually roles, young Bobby galloped back and forth, now with me, now 50 yards away investigation then back to me. The older Megan trotted by my side, her easy dog trot nicely matching my pace, it struck me that that was the answer. Trotting would build strength without the impact of galloping.

 

I run with my dogs as a matter of course, after all they are the perfect running partners although I didnt normally start a pup as young as Finn but in this case needs must. To begin with it was just a 5 minutes trot, just fast enough to get him to extend his legs and use all four but not enough that he broke into a canter. It took a couple of weeks but he and I finely got the pace, to slow and hed hop/limp to favour his stronger leg, to fast and he cantered again with the hop skip gait, it needed to be just right. Once he was used to holding the trot without altered gait I began to gradually extend the time. Within a couple of months he was striding out well and the legs muscles were developing nicely and more importantly equally. Without galloping the pain seemed to be resolving but if he was to work then he would need to gallop sooner or latter.

 

I judged eight weeks should allow time for the bones to stabilise and any inflammation of the supporting tissues to reduce before thinking about faster paced stuff. Of course any galloping would need to be controlled at first but without it he would never use his joints, muscles and tendons through a full range of movement and so never develop properly. So one Sunday morning after a twenty five minute trot to take some of the puppy vigour out of his legs I took him to a quiet beach. At first he didnt really notice the lead coming off and just pottered about sniffing then suddenly it twigged. Ten circuits later he lay at my feet tongue lolling and chest heaving with every pant. A little worried I put him straight back on the lead, crossed my fingers and headed home.

 

That evening he was defiantly stiff but it was a general stiffness with no localised pain or lameness to be seen. Over the next month or so he got to spend more and more time off lead, occasionally he showed a little temporary lameness but slowly things seemed to settle. This carried on through the first year, past the age I would usually start a youngster on a little work. He was maturing into a strong animal joining the other dogs on our runs and he easily managed five miles free running three or four time a week on beach or across country. For the next stage I gradually added in ball work, again, on the beach, it was the final test to see how he coped with multiple twists, turns and accelerations. He coped admirably and all seemed well, stiffness as one would expect with increased exercise but he held condition and most importantly didnt go lame on his left rear leg.

 

It was beginning to look like my decision not to get him a pet home may have been justified but that meant he needed to face the real test of work. He was a yearling and with spring showing its first buds I had a decision to make, keep on through the summer and try him on the lamp in the autumn or bite the bullet and go for it straight away. Trying now would give an early indication whether he would cope, holding off would give him more time for rehab. I leaned towards waiting but was I just wrapping him in cotton wool. Was putting off the inevitable just wasting time that could be better spent on proper planning and preparation for his final life as pet or worker? Once again it was time to go far a long run along the coast to mull the decision over.

 

After much thought I came to the conclusion that he was as ready as he was ever going to be and holding of for another few months was just putting off the inevitable, it was time to bite the bullet. I have permission on a few small fields away from my other permission that hadnt been lamped for months so counted on it holding a few rabbits still green to the ways of lamp and lurcher. Inexperienced rabbits and soft pasture were just what he would need so one dark night the other dogs stood disappointed as, for the first time, Finn accompanied the lamp rather than they.

 

Usually I take a youngster out to watch an adult lamp as an introduction but having taken a couple of rabbits mooching he wasnt completely clueless and keeping the excitement down seemed sensible. Also giving him all the runs would give him a few more chances. In spite of all the prep it was not without some trepidation that I pulled up at the permission, a slight drizzle falling, and unloaded the lad. After putting on the slip and making the lamp strap a little more comfy we set off.

 

Slipping through the gate I flicked the lamp on. There it was, the first rabbit sitting up in the beam 40 yards away, it dropped down and hopped across in front of us. As I felt Finns neck settled into the lead making me confident he had seen I let go the slips end. There was no hesitation as he powered away towards his target, which hearing his approach also accelerated. It was almost perfect as he connected with his prey without even a turn. I even heard the brush as they made glancing contact. Alas glancing was all it was and with a few well timed jinks the rabbit eluded a couple more frantic lunges to make it home.

 

Finn stood at the hedge for a moment or two in hesitation so once I was sure he wasnt about to pull the bunny from the hedge I gave a gentle whistle to remind him of the hours wed had spent training and he returned directly the lamp was switched off. I gave him a quick check over before flicking the beam further out into the night. Once more I got a gleam, another lopped towards the hedge unfazed by our presence, but as the beam settled it hesitated then picked up the pace. After a quick calculation as to speed and likely outcome I slipped the dog. I judged their paths would intersect about twenty yards from the hedge and an angled run which often gave the dog a bit of an edge.

 

This time the bunny took the initiative before the dog got close turning away from Finn and running parallel to the hedge. This gave him opportunity to show his speed as he made up the ground with ease, defiantly no slouch. As he got close the rabbit jinked, first back, then right straight for the hedge, Finn straining for grip against momentum skewed round to cut the corner pushing his target back out into the field. Suddenly the run had gained an inevitability as with a desperate jink the rabbit again tried to gain the safety of the hedge, Finn stretched out and this time made no mistake.

 

He stood holding his prize, his breath, mist like, blowing from nose and fur filled mouth then with jaunty step he did a little victory dance out into the field. I waited until he turned to check where I was, only then did I give another gentle whistle. Once in he got a good fuss, still holding his prize, then with a quiet but firm give he released the rabbit. Once in the bag another fuss and quick check had us sorted and heading for the gate into the next field.

 

The second field showed a couple making for the hedge at pace but further out a slight lump in the grass help promise, a squatter? With a whispered heel I released the slip and set off to check. As we approached my guess proved correct, a youngish rabbit showed clearer in the grass. We got within a few feet of the crouching prize and still no movement, Finn unaware what the lamp showed gazed off into the night. Taking a pebble from my pocket I flicked it by the squatter bringing a flinch from the bunny and awareness from Finn, as he stepped forward the rabbit launched itself into a vertical leap.

 

The manoeuvre served its purpose as it caused a missed strike so giving a few yards head start but again Finn showed his pace making up the lost ground to push the rabbit off its line. It dashed into a small bramble by the gate and the dog lunged in forcing it to slip into the hedge bottom. Alas hard against the sheep wire hedge bank held little security, Finn stood for as second to place the moving target then with a quick lunge pulled his prize from its sanctuary.

 

Two fields and three runs later brought us to the end of the land with one more in the bag, it was with some relief I loaded a sound dog into the car and headed home to await the morn when the pain masking adrenaline had worn off. The next day I held my breath as Finn got up from his bed and had a little panic as he limped slightly but it was his forefoot giving trouble, a quick check showed just a bruised pad, otherwise he was sound! With a wide grin I leaded up for morning exercise already planning the next outing.

[bird 9,969]

hope he stays sound for you, nice and steady seems the trick

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Heartwarming tale,...all the best for the future..

[foresterj 1,096]

Cracking write up, love the pebble trick, glad your perseverance has paid off and hope you both go from strength to strength.

[trenchfoot 4,243]

I wish more people had that patience and resolve. Well done that man and dog

[TOMO 26,505]

Good read that,,

[Bosun11 537]

Your instincts paid off well Sandy, a great tale, very well told.

 

May the years bring more good hunting to you and Finn.

[mighty celt 996]

took me nearly 10 months to get my own bitch shoulder and tendons right so i no were your comeing from,its a great feeling getting a dog right when others have said your better off putting the dog to sleep.great wright up really enjoyed it,and well done for sticking with the dog.

[davey 310]

Enjoyed that read write a book sandy

[sandymere 8,263]

Thanks for all the positive comments. I wrote this last Autumn after he had finished his first full season on the lamp so it's a little behind time, he's already doing well again this season without any problems so fingers crossed he carries on for a few years yet.

 

[Maximus Ferret 2,063]

I've always liked the look of your dog but never guessed at his history. Well done and well written. Wonder what caused his injury.

Edited October 16, 2013 by Maximus Ferret

[skycat 6,173]

Read bits about him in some of your previous posts: good to hear the full story.

[beast 1,884]

i remember reading some of this story in the past, but its nice to hear the whole tale. well done sandy and best of luck to young finn

[sandymere 8,263]

Thank you for the comments, as said I have written bits about him before but thought I'd wait until I was more confident of his recovery before doing a full piece so I left it until after he had completed full season on the lamp. It was split into two installments for the countryman’s but they just wanted a 1000 words and it seemed to lose something when cut in half so it's been in my documents for a while.

I'm sure Finn will suffer with problems later in life, the inevitable arthritis will set into the joints, but for the next few years, fingers crossed, he will be out doing what lurcher should do.

Regards sandy