Maura ~ Friendly, Loving Girl - 2yo Black Greyhound

MAURA

Maura is a 2 year old greyhound girl who didn’t show much interest in racing and so has been handed in to KGC to find her a family home. Maura is a pretty black girl who’s coat is a wee bit dull at the moment, but this should improve with a good quality diet. She is quite a big girl at 25” to the shoulder.



Maura is a sweet girl and enjoys being around people. She loves head rubs and is attentive to you once she gets to know you a bit. She is a new girlie to our kennels so we are still getting to know her, but she will soon be going in to foster care so we will update wit her progress shortly.

Maura has been in general good with our other greyhounds, though has been a bit grumbly with some females. We don’t expect this behaviour to continue outside of kennels, however, as this type of territorial behaviour is most often linked to the high stress environment of kennel life. Maura is in general very good with other dogs, and was very mannerly with a little JRT she met recently. She is not entirely cat friendly, but in the right hands she has the potential to quickly learn to accept them.



Maura has not yet been in a home environment, though will be going in to foster shortly. New owners will need to be a bit patient during the first couple of weeks and allow her time to settle in and learn the home rules. It generally takes 10-14 days for new greyhounds to start to settle down in a home, and really all they need is a bit of time and patience.

Like most greyhounds, Maura will not need a huge amount of exercise. She will be content with two 30min walks a day and perhaps a chance to stretch her legs offlead in a secure area once or twice a week. She walks well on the lead and greatly enjoys the chance to get out of kennels for a while.



In general greyhounds are calm, mannerly dogs that are well used to being handled. They can fit very well in to a wide range of different lifestyles and usually adjust to the home life very quickly. Their soft, easy going nature often makes them ideal to live in a family with children, while their love of lazing around and low exercise requirements can make them perfect for the elderly. Greyhounds also don’t shed as much as other more popular dog breeds and this can make them suitable to live with allergy sufferers.

Maura is currently being kennelled in Co. Kerry, Ireland, and can be transported via Kerry Greyhounds to the UK or Europe if a suitable home offer comes up. This will be organised and paid for by Kerry Greyhounds, and we ask only for a donation to help cover costs. Please note that adopters will need to travel to our nearest collection point to pick her up, and if you are in the UK and wish to meet before adopting her, she will be fostered in the Norfolk area.

Maura is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, de-flea'd and wormed and a homecheck will be required as part of the adoption procedure.

If you are interested in adopting or short-term fostering Maura, please email me on tamakin_84@yahoo.co.uk for our adoption application form and information pack. Emails are usually replied to within 24hrs. Thanks!


~~ KERRY GREYHOUND CONNECTION ~~

Kerry Greyhound Connection is a small voluntary organisation based in County Kerry, Ireland and Norfolk, England. It operates through a network of volunteers spaced over Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe. We can look after approximately 70 greyhounds at any one time, in Ireland and the UK.

Each dog is neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, and given a full veterinary check before being adopted.
We assess the suitability of all home offers, and we have homed greyhounds in Ireland, the UK, Central Europe and the USA.

Our Website: www.kerrygreyhounds.co.uk

If interested in one of our hounds, please EMAIL or PM me for our adoption application form and information pack. Once you have filled in and returned the application form, we will then telephone you to discuss adopting one of our hounds in more detail.

I can be contacted via PM or through the following email:
Email: tamakin_84@yahoo.co.uk
Emails are usually replied to within 24hrs.

Thank you.

**UPDATE: APRIL 2011**

Maura has now travelled across to the UK where she continues the wait to be adopted. She is quickly adjusting the change in surroundings, and is a beautifully affectionate lady. She always has a waggie tail and loves a fuss.

Maura’s reaction to some female dogs is getting much better as she relaxes and realises there’s enough food and cuddles for everyone. She is good with all dogs regardless of size and we hope that her grumbles with some females will vanish once she is in the stability of a home environment.

**UPDATE: APRIL 2011b**

Little Maura is now in a foster home where she is learning all about the sights, sounds and smells of a home environment for the very first time. She is settling in very well so far, but we will update with her progress once she has a bit more time to relax in her surroundings.

**UPDATE: JUNE 2011**

The lovely Maura has been in her foster home for 6 weeks now, and has definitely made herself at home. She is in general a super little madam who is ready and waiting for her forever family to come along.

~ Personality ~
Maura’s fosterers describe her as a friendly and affectionate young dog, who is very lovable and has a bit of a mischievous streak! Maura is a confident, happy girl who can be quite independent and knows what she wants. At just about 2 years old this girl is in adolescence, just starting to enter adulthood, and it shows in her personality. She still has some puppyish traits but is also starting to assert herself as a confident, self assured young lady. She will test boundaries to see what she can get away with, and this is normal behaviour for a dog of her age. With consistent guidelines and boundaries, this girl takes heed and will do very well. Maura loves people and will do just about anything for a cuddle.



~ In the Home ~
Maura is well behaved in the home, and gets on good with her foster family. She has learned and responds to basic commands such as ‘no’, ‘out’ and ‘go lay down’, as well as coming to her name and to a whistle. She also understands boundaries and quickly learned that she was not allowed in the kitchen. She is even starting to retrieve on command!

Maura can have the occasional morning accident as she is still on ‘racing kennel time’, thinking the day starts at 6am. This habit is just that, and will fade with time and consistency – she is already sleeping later. Though Maura greatly enjoys human company, she isn’t an overly clingy girl and is quite content to find her own space and spend time alone. She has no problems being left with her greyhound friend when her foster parents are away.

Maura would thrive in an active home with another calm dog to be her role model. She is currently quite impressionable and learned a lot from the greyhound she shares her foster home with. As she can be like a black tornado when she gets excited, she would be best going to a home with older, dog savvy kids who won’t be bowled over by her antics. She can also jump up and sometimes nip when she is very excited, though this is being worked on in her foster home with good success. She would benefit from some dog training and socialisation classes to continue the work her fosterer’s have done on building her manners, as well as regular long walks to burn off all that energy.



~ Other Animals ~
Maura gets on well with most dogs, though can be a bit intimidated by overly aggressive, bouncy or, for some reason, big black dogs. This insecurity disappears once she knows the dog, and we think that with some repetition and positive socialisation, Maura will get over this small hump. She has bonded well with the greyhound in her foster home, and learned a lot from him when she first came to the home. Once comfortable, Maura is very playful and loves to play chase with other dogs of all sizes. She also loves her toys and simply adores anything that squeaks! She is not cat friendly.

~ Out and About ~
Maura is a good girl when out, and really does live for her walks. The longer the better for this girl! Her recall is a work in progress, but she does respond to her name. As already mentioned, Maura can become a bit agitated and nervy when meeting barking or aggressive dogs on her walks. She also can become quite frightened of large black dogs, though this is something that will fade with time and repetition. She also has the habit of liking to be ‘the leader’ of the walk, and if allowed to do so would pull on the lead. If she is kept to heel, however, she settles down and trots contentedly beside you. This is another example of Maura testing her boundaries, and if her owner keeps firm and consistent, she will settle down beautifully into that model hound. Apart from that, Maura is a star when out and absolutely loves meeting new friends.

Maura’s fosterer says she is one of the nicest dogs she has had the pleasure to meet, and dearly hopes Maura finds a family for her. With a bit of work on teaching her manners and limitations, this girl has the potential to be a fantastic family member – there is very little holding her back.



Maura is currently in foster care in Bacton, UK. She can be homed anywhere in the UK, but please note that you will be required to travel to the foster home to meet and collect her. She is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, de-flea'd and wormed and a homecheck will be required as part of the adoption procedure.

If you are interested in adopting or short-term fostering Maura, please email me on tamakin_84@yahoo.co.uk for our adoption application form and information pack. Emails are usually replied to within 24hrs. Thanks!

The lovely Maura is still waiting for her forever home.

Maura is still looking for her forever home.

If you are interested in adopting Maura, please visit our website’s Adoption Page for information and instructions on our homing procedures.

If you have any further questions or problems, please feel free to email me (Tam) on tamakin_84@yahoo.co.uk. Emails are usually replied to within 24hrs. Thanks!

Tam
KGUK Volunteer

Maura's new profile:
MAURA

**UPDATED: JUNE 2012**

Maura is a 3 year old greyhound girl who didn’t show much interest in racing and so was handed in to KGUK to find her a family home. Maura is a very pretty black girl who’s coat is now beautifully sleek and shiny. It shimmers in the sunshine and she is a picture of health. Maura is quite a big girl at 25” to the shoulder, but can still curl up small on the couch if needed!



~ Personality ~
Maura’s fosterers describe her as a friendly, playful and affectionate hound who is very lovable and has a bit of a mischievous streak! Maura is a confident, happy girl who can be independent at times and is able to think on her feet. This does not mean she is disobedient; rather, she needs to know why you want something to be done. Maura came to her foster home with many issues, the majority of which have since resolved with consistent work and training. She is very clever and interactive, and always has a big smile on her face.



Maura has adapted well to the home life, and has learned about the fun to be had in playing. Her antics with her toys keep her fosterers smiling on a daily basis, and she will often have her mad moments hurtling around the house like a tornado only to flop down and chillax a few minutes later. Maura truly loves people and is always ready to give affection. She will rush up to greet her foster parents when they come home, and will welcome any visitor with a waggy tail and a lick. She even looks a bit disappointed when people walk by her on the street and don’t say hello! Maura has a real lust for life which is rather infectious and a pleasure to be around.



~ In the Home ~
Maura is a good girl in the home and is well adjusted to the home life as she has been in foster care for a year now. She is friendly and welcoming to anyone who enters her home, be it human or canine. She is fully housetrained and though she greatly enjoys human company, she isn’t an overly clingy girl and is quite content to find her own space and spend time alone. Right now she has a greyhound foster brother who she is left with, but she may be happy to be left completely alone as an only dog too.



The challenge with Maura is getting her to understand why a rule must be obeyed. Once she grasps the why, she is a very good and obedient dog. She has learned and responds to basic commands such as ‘no’, ‘out’ and ‘go lay down’, as well as coming to her name and to a whistle. She also understands boundaries and quickly learned that she was not allowed in the kitchen and not allowed to bark at the neighbours. She doesn’t beg people for food, though her eyes can be bigger than her belly and she will finish up any food in any dog bowl if given the chance. She loves her treats and these have been a great motivational tool for her.



Maura would thrive in an active home with or without another dog. As she can be like a black tornado when she gets excited, she would be best going to a home with older, dog savvy kids who won’t be bowled over by her antics.



~ Other Animals ~
Maura gets on well with most dogs, though can be intimidated by aggressive or overly bouncy dogs, and will grumble at them. She has bonded well with the greyhound in her foster home, and learned a lot from him when she first came to the home. Once comfortable with another dog, Maura is very playful and loves to play chase with other dogs of all sizes. It is only if the dog shows aggression that she will mirror that and show aggression back. This is being worked in with her foster parents and she is learning to stop to a firm ‘no’. She is not cat friendly.



~ Out and About ~
Maura is a generally a good girl when out, and really does live for her walks. The longer the better for this girl! Her lead skills have hugely improved and she will walk to heel now, only pulling occasionally. She does still have her rebellious moments and will at times put the brakes on and refuse to move forward. This is not due to her being spooked by something, rather she is telling you that she wants to go a different way, or absolutely has to sniff a specific grass blade. Her foster parents have been working on this, and she can now be distracted and walked on quicker. It is another example of her testing the boundaries, and is really just a matter of showing her that your say is the way.



Maura does respond to her name and will come to you, though as such an independent thinker she may never be fully reliable offlead. She should therefore only be let off in a completely secure area.



~ Where Can I Live? ~
Maura is a super loving, affectionate and cheeky little dog who enjoys a challenge and likes to use her brain. She may need a rather specific kind of home, one that knows an active mind is not necessarily a bad thing, and who will value a dog who can think for herself. She will need consistent boundaries and will need mental challenge in order to be truly happy. In return she has oodles of love to give, and will be a source of constant entertainment. Maura would do best in a home without young children or overly playful dogs. However, she is quite adaptable, and may be suitable as an only dog provided she gets enough stimulation throughout the day.



Maura’s fosterer says she is one of the nicest dogs she has had the pleasure to meet, and dearly hopes Maura finds a family for her. With a bit of work on teaching her manners and limitations, this girl has the potential to be a fantastic family member – she needs only the right home to be that perfect hound.



~ Where Am I? ~
Maura is currently in foster care in Bacton, UK. She can be homed anywhere in the UK, but please note that you will be required to travel to the foster home to meet and collect her.

~ Want To Adopt Me? ~
Maura is neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, de-flea'd and wormed and a homecheck will be required as part of the adoption procedure.

If you are interested in adopting Maura, please visit our website’s [url=http://s300889640.websitehome.co.uk/uk/adoption.html Adoption Page for information and instructions on our homing procedures. If you have any further questions or problems, please feel free to email me (Tam) on tamakin_84@yahoo.co.uk. Emails are usually replied to within 24 hrs. Thanks!




~~ KERRY GREYHOUNDS UK ~~

Kerry Greyhounds UK is a small voluntary organisation that is based in Norfolk, England. It focuses on rehoming unwanted Irish greyhounds and lurchers, as huge numbers are bred in Ireland each year and homes are few and far between. KGUK operates through a network of volunteers spaced over Ireland and the UK. We can look after approximately 30 dogs at any one time in both kennels and foster homes.

Each dog is neutered, vaccinated, & microchipped before being adopted (unless stated otherwise).
We assess the suitability of all home offers, and we have homed greyhounds in all corners of the UK.

Our Website: [url=http://www.kerrygreyhounds.co.uk]Kerry Greyhounds UK

If interested in one of our hounds, please visit our website’s [url=http://s300889640.websitehome.co.uk/uk/adoption.html Adoption Page for information and instructions on our homing procedures. Once you have filled in and returned the application form, we will then contact you via phone or email to discuss adopting one of our hounds in more detail.

If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. I (Tam) can be contacted through the following email:
Email: tamakin_84@yahoo.co.uk
Emails are usually replied to within 24hrs.

Thank you.
Tam
KGUK Volunteer

Finally, after over a year of searching, Maura has finally found her forever home. Thanks everyone.

Tam
KGUK Volunteer