A Guest Post by Elizabeth

I am delighted that Elizabeth has written this post for the blog.  She has so much experience with the street dogs of Turkey, and if any of you are considering adopting a dog from TAG, you will find her words very reassuring.    If you have any questions to ask Elizabeth, please put them in the Comments box at the end of this post, and she will do her utmost to answer them for you.


Elizabeth's Daily Journey with TAG

As all of you will know we adopted 3 Turkish dogs and a Turkish cat. We have done it over the last couple of years but if anyone is interested in doing this I would thoroughly recommend it, but tell you honestly what we did wrong and what we did right. Hindsight is wonderful. We have another dog on the cards and that will complete our family.

To adopt any dog can be difficult as you are  getting  an animal which may have been abused, starved or beaten. Unfortunately they cannot tell you their story but as you get to know them things become very evident.

To understand what I'm hoping to tell, you will have to read the previous stories about my dogs - Elizabeth's Journey with TAG. ( parts 1-5)

 

Ruby: Ruby survived because she was tough and strong. Now this is good for a street cat , of course, as she can and did chase any other cat away. One look from Ruby and they fled from any dish of food. So we took her home and we have 3 other cats. She is still the toughie she always was, so we have  had to take our time adjusting her to food out all the time and letting the others eat. She is getting better but Ruby Rules OK!

 

This will always be the case now but as long as the rest are reassured there is no problem.

 

Toorki : Toorki ( Ataturk) had huge problems with commitment. How could a dog be anything else when he is so intelligent ?  Toorki was difficult BECAUSE of his intelligence. We didn't understand why he couldn't and wouldn't come to us. We then realised he had a fear of grass and being held by the collar. Every Turkish dog we have had , has had this problem about being held. They are fearful of collar contact- clicker training was needed. Click/touch/tasty food.

 

Toorki had also been shunted from place to place,  landing up in boarding kennels before he came across to the UK. Even when he arrived with us his future was not secure but when we eventually adopted him the real bonding could begin. He always wanted to run- he's a big dog and this would scare me as I can't stand him out of my sight. I did accept though that he would always come home after about ten minutes- a very, long ten minutes for me. I had to train him out of this and did it by walking and walking and walking him.

 

We now have a wonderful dog- I really mean this. Even our vet who sees dogs every day commented, Hasn't he the kindest eyes?  

 

Zorro: Zorro, Zozzie, Zozzicle (all his names) has been an absolute character. It was as though he was waiting for us all his life. When we put him in the van beside me to leave Turgutreis he NEVER looked back. He KNEW he was heading to his new life.

 

He had never had a toy or bone or chew ( and he is at least 10 years old) and when he DID get them he would growl at the others. We noticed this was part of the fun. He could really enjoy having a bone if everyone else wanted it!!!!  He will bury the bone then guard the burial place with great enthusiasm and dedication, refusing to let anyone pass by so all the dogs, to placate him, go for long circuitous routes around him. If he gets the chance to chew the bone Toorki will, at any time, approach, look at him and Zorro immediately gives up his treasure. This is quietly and confidently done by Toorki- no growls or any outward signs to us , yet repeatedly Zorro gives in.

 

As befitting a street dog he is a brilliant bin raker. The swing lids are wonderful  for him and the fuller the bin the better. Once a street dog? Always...............  The times I have forgotten and heard CRASH............ and he's off!!!!! Holding on to any wrapper, paper or egg shell!!!! For an old man he can fairly sprint. 

 

  Because he didn't have a MUM before, he is totally besotted with me. He will guard me with his life and I find the street dogs are very loyal like this. Who can blame them? He IS getting braver about Mum disappearing into the bathroom, but the first time he saw me have a shower was hilarious. He SO wanted to be with me but hey ho..... what was she doing? Cattle also running to the fence as he passes utterly amazes him. He has NO idea what they are. Eyes are on stalks. He is a great joy to us and every day we have him is a good day.

 

Frodo: Frodo was very difficult and I needed help . With hindsight we should NOT have had anyone else into his chalet/ den /cave. He went out there to have a rest after the long European journey and he didn't come out for 4 months. I had a dog trainer come in and she said to sit with him in the room  but NO looking or touching until HE wanted. Extremely difficult. He also must be the most learned of dogs as he had radio 4 on all day in the background. I was also glad of it when I spent time with him as it was a long sit with your coffee. What we did was introduce friends to the chalet and they would sit with him as well. I see now I should have left him with me alone because when he decided to come out he had me and his cave as his safe place and HE then decided who he saw and didn't. NO one else is now allowed into his chalet. He comes out to my husband and is quite happy with him outside  but would  shrink back from him if he went into his cave/ his personal space still. He has come on in leaps and bounds- literally!!!! He boings around like a spring lamb.

 

We also wondered about Frodo's brother- he is coming across at the end of the year but SO glad Frodo was on his own. He is brave by himself and is our young lab's friend and if Stitch had been with him he would always  have been in his shadow, so in that respect we did the right thing. Frodo can now show off to Stitch.

 

To take any rescue dog is a leap of faith that you will have a dog you can train and will accept you and the TAG dogs we have are intelligent, grateful and loyal. ALSO they are healthy as only the tough have survived. Survival of the fittest indeed. Toilet training for them has been a breeze. When you consider they have been in outdoor kennels for most of their lives it amazes me how very clean they are. Frodo was 4 months inside but not once did he do anything anywhere other than the newspapers I gave him for this act. Whenever he came outside that was it- all toilet outside. He did it himself.

 

 No dog or cat asks to come to you. You have chosen your dog or cat and when things are a little difficult , as sometimes they can be, remember that animal has a sensitivity and dignity that I feel a lot of humans have lost. A day spent with humans or my dogs? My dogs win  every time!!!

Elizabeth's Journey with TAG. Part 5 - Frodo

This is the last post  of Elizabeth's journey with TAG, and one which shows such patience and love for these dogs.  I hope you have enjoyed these stories as much as I have.  Thankyou so much Elizabeth for all you do and for taking the time to share with us.



Frodo with Robert at the TAG shelter

Frodo was found with his mother and siblings at a few weeks old. Karen was feeding the mother but when she returned some of the pups had been removed. She decided to take the remaining pups with their mother to the shelter. We met Mum and pups when we visited in February of that year. Mum is a pointer ( and now adopted by Karen's Mum) and there were 3 pups. They were safe now and healthy looking pups.

However that Spring a terrible illness came to the shelter carried by bugs and it attacked the most vulnerable - the puppies. I don't want to dwell on this as it was hard for Karen and supporters. By then we had named Frodo but Karen was losing her pups ( although she had them at home and was caring for them day and night) and the last puppy hanging on was Frodo. When the pups began to pass blood Karen knew the worst was happening and this was happening to him. Mustafa took him to the vet to end his suffering. Karen was exhausted and distraught; we were all in tears and so far away and helpless.

Two days later Karen went to pay the vet and walked in and who should be sitting in a cage but Frodo! Joy of joys. The vet and Mustafa had tried , without Karen's knowledge, to save his life although his heart stopped- he had a cardiac arrest- and not wanting to build up Karen's hopes fruitlessly, decided to keep quiet about him to see what would happen. He was injected into his heart to get it going again. It worked and Karen and all the supporters were overjoyed. I was in tears at home, but now we all felt this was the  turning point - the worst was over.

Frodo became shy , introverted and timid after his ordeal  and lost a lot of trust in men. He loved Karen and Mustafa but he held back from others , skirting round the edge of the shelter when visitors came. He, above all of them, needed one on one now. He did seem to have a sense of humour and would run up to Karen and Mustafa and give them a nip on the bottom and run away or smile- raising his lips to them.

After much discussion with Karen we decided to try to bring him home the following year. We didn't know how it would go but NOW was the time he needed attention before he grew much older.If ever a dog needed his own family , this was the one.

  So at 18 months Karen got him into the van and he arrived in the UK in November 2012 with Zorro and Milas. He was a worry as he was so scared he would not come out of the cage all the way across Europe  and Karen hand fed him to keep his strength up. He was the last one to come out of the van and I man-handled him- not a pretty sight- into our jeep with Zorro and took off quickly so Karen - who was now tired from the journey and very worried about him having a heart attack ( after what he'd been through) could rest. She was in tears leaving her very precious bundle.

We drove up the road and the dogs slept but by Aberdeen Frodo was peeping at cars in the traffic and at one set of traffic lights he had the people behind waving at him as his head would rise and peep then disappear. Unusual , I thought!

 

Robert lifted him into the chalet with Zorro and we let them eat and sleep in peace. If you have read about Zorro he soon left Frodo behind in the chalet and after Frodo came out to the house to look in and Toorki barked at him that was the last we saw of Frodo outside all winter.  He was isolated and I spent as much time as I could with him  but felt I needed more help. Lorna, a neighbour and dog  behaviourist had helped me with Toorki so I asked her over. Frodo was in the chalet's  main room but hiding under a table , leaning against the far wall and as far from us as possible. Lorna told me to go in as much as possible and sit with him but NO eye contact whatsoever. I trusted her and so continued with my time with Frodo but time was passing and he seemed no happier or friendlier.

 

Lorna kept saying IT WILL HAPPEN  and when it does he will be amazing. I asked friends in to visit and we'd bring our coffee with us and chat - never looking at him. Milas arrived in February and went in with him. She is nosey so would jump on the table to look out of the window. One morning the table was knocked over so I took the chance to remove it. No roof now on his cave. He toileted on paper and always ate his food heartily but when I took Milas out he began to try to follow but only as far as the room door. He had now been 3 months inside and I worried about his muscles wasting but what could I do? Some people said Just make him! But I couldn't - it had to be done with love and patience.

 

Willie- our young lab, had always been a friend to him. Totally confident he had charged in , Hi Frodo , want to play ? And gradually he got him playing. I thought this could be a wonderful opportunity so when Willie was beside him I sat at the other side and patted Willie and gradually my hand touched Frodo and he thought it was Willie. More and more I did this daily until I could touch him and he began to like it. He then wanted to move and follow Willie and one day when I left he came and peeped out of the door. This is now March.  Every time he came to the door I'd turn my back on him and gradually he came out. By April he would come out for  20 seconds then run in. We called it recharging his bravery batteries.

 

Then , quite unexpectedly he began to look for me and come to me - and just as Lorna said- love me. I was totally unprepared for the avalanche of love when he saw me - throwing himself on me and wiggling and wriggling under my hands. He SO wanted contact with me and I would rub and rub his back , grooming him with my hands. From May on he has improved so much. With the better weather his door is open and he has trained himself to be clean, runs out if he hears me and sometimes even comes out if I'm sitting outside with someone else.

 

Now he is out with me all the time, still playing with Willie and running as if his life depends on it. He is SO happy - I have never seen such a happy dog. I feel I should wear armour in the morning as he meets me and putting on his collar takes ages while I try to hold him still enough to get it over his head. He laughs - teeth bared in a smile- while the body is twisted and turned and he bangs himself on his sides with his tail. As I walk his head is in my hand, nudging and pushing. He always has a road clear so he can , at any time, run for shelter to his cave. If people are around he still needs his bravery batteries recharged but Willie and he run and play and wrestle.

 

His whole demeanour has changed. He was a tiny bundle , cowering in a corner and all legs but now he sits upright, leaps over everything in his way, his head is held high and he has muscled up beautifully.

 

We have a long way to go but he has added such joy to our lives. Yes, I say us as he has gradually accepted Robert is part of the family too - but will never be like Mum!  I'll see Lorna again and see about clicker training as it worked so well with Toorki. He makes me laugh- he can be SO daft and silly and loveable. I want everyone to see the Frodo I see and I want him to be brave and know humans are friends.

..........................................

If you feel you are someone who can give a  loving home to one of the dogs rescued from the streets of Turkey, please contact us.   Thankyou

Elizabeth's Journey with TAG...Part 2 Toorki

Toorki's story.

 

 

Toorki arrived with Princess Ruby and was called Peanut. He was to stay with us a few weeks- a big, quiet, Anatolian cross who loved to run. Thankfully we have fencing round our croft -built a few years before to keep my Mum and her little dog safe  as she walked him as she suffered from dementia.

 

Toorki was initially aloof, didn't like anyone touching his neck/collar and stayed back from showing  emotion. He had been boarded in kennels in Bulgaria and would walk on concrete but not grass. What we initially thought was disobedience was actually him being scared of the feel of grass under his feet.

 

The adoptive couple never saw Toorki -or Peanut-as he was still called- as the whole adopting process fell through and Karen called one Saturday to ask if we'd take him for our own. We had been standing back , knowing he was to go soon, so now we could set about getting his training on course and love him. We clicker trained him with tasty morsels of chicken so that we could touch/hold his neck easily  and he'd come to us. He was highly intelligent and very easily trained. He gave me a few scares though when he jumped the fence before he trusted us completely.

 

He had been picked up by Karen as the villagers where he was, had been going to shoot him for  chasing hens. He had been tried at another home in Turkey but that lasted only 24 hours .  Toorki ( Ataturk is his Sunday name) was ours now and knowing he was going nowhere else turned this quiet , unemotional , standoffish dog into the long-legged, loving, obedient, loyal friend he is today.

 

  Everyone loves him and he has been a wonderful teacher to our young  labrador Willie, letting him climb over him, pull him and play with him- he has SO much patience and a quiet dignity and quite a regal bearing. A wonderful dog.


Toorki with Jenny

Toorki with Robert


 



Toorki, Zorro, Frodo and Milas