We are the very proud parents of "The Mutley Crew" !

                                                                          Please scroll down page 

These currently make a pack of 9, mostly rescue dogs, ranging in age of 4 yrs to 17 yrs !

They live in Milton Keynes, & are well known, not just for being seen on their walks & shows, but these dogs have played a key role as "the welcoming party" to the very many foster dogs we have had through our doors over the past few years.

They maybe a little noisy at times when they see other dogs on their walks, but when a dog steps through the gates, they put their working hats on & know their job for however long it takes is to make the, often traumatised, scared little newcomer welcome & chill them out before they move onto their new families. 

 

 

Tonka - Silver Poodle

He was so tiny, he would curl up in a bowl !

 

The only dog we have had from a pup, is really our Daughter Tasmin's dog, she was given him for her 10th Birthday! How lucky she is !

Tonka is a wonderful boy, he just loves everyone, & very clever, he is always the first to make friends with the foster dogs & tells them they are safe & will be happy with us.  He is also the one who will tell them about the house rules.

These are the two I have heard him discuss !!

Rule  1) Don't make mum mad, she withholds cuddles when she's mad !

Rule  2) If you feel the need to chase the cat, DON'T, I refer to rule 1.

                                                                                       Keep scrolling down page

Photo's with just 1 or 2 of our many, now happily rehomed dogs we fostered.

 

Now for the rest of "The Mutley Crew"

 

Zac - Chihuahua

  He gives it all the mouth, at the bigger dogs, but if they start to come any closer, he expects Tonka to step in & save him. Tonka's best play mate. He's a real cuddle monster. 

 

 

Dobby - Chihuahua mix

Dobby's a lover, not a fighter ! He was adopted from the Dogs Trust.  He had a bad start to life, & possibly abused, he is so much better now, but still hates loud bangs. He is so full of kisses, that he just has to give them out to us all, his special friend is "Freckles". 

 

 

Freckles - Chihuahua (small - or The Dude!)

Freckles is the "Brains" of the pack, after Tonka, & a shameless flirt, he is blind in one eye, but that doesn't stop him useing the other to eye up a vacant lap, He loves learning new tricks even at 13 yrs old. He's a  real Daddy's boy. 

 

 

Sooty - Chihuahua (small)

Sooty is a real ladies man, or should I say, "a mummys boy" ! In his younger days, Sooty was not a dog to be crossed, & even now at the grand old age of 17 yrs, all the others know not to cross "the boss" as they know if mum hears Sooty mutter the smallest complaint, she will come running to his aid! He may not have a tooth to his name, but he doesn't think twice about giving someone a good chew if they have woken him from his slumber on his heat mat !   I adore this tiny boy, he has stolen a big part of my heart.      Sooty & Freckles were adopted from HULA animal rescue some years ago.

 

 

Lily - Bichon Frise

Sadly Lily had been a breeding dog for the first 5 yrs of her life, serving humans with her constant supply of puppies, we think this poor girl has had little contact with the most basic of environments such as grass, trees, & daylight, & that this has contributed to her becoming allergic to so many things, she has to be bathed with special shampoos & wear a little vest to help her stop scratching. she developed glaucoma so badly that her eyes had to be removed.  I know some dogs do develop these problems anyway, but I believe her start in life certainly didn't help. Luckily, she had already spent a year with us, as we adopted her after first fostering her, before she was blind & so knows the layout of her surroundings & become a central part of the pack. Around the house, we forget she can't see, & if Tonka & Zac start to play a little too loudly, Lily will run after them telling them off. She loves being given this job. On her walks, she knows most of the routes we take, so on the safer places I let her off the lead, but I attach a cats bell (super glued to a peg) to my trainers, so that she knows where I am. She is very much attached to mum & will not go for a walk without me, I call her my beauty girl every day, she is a special babe.

 

 

Holly - Chihuahua

  Holly & Bailey came to us together, sadly their owner had passed away, so a friend looked after them before rehoming them to us.  Holly is a funny little dog, she does everything on her own terms & won't be pushed around. Sadly, she is quite a sickly dog at times & we find ourselves at the vets with her long spells of coughing. Apparently she has had this problem on & off for years. Only recently it was found that she has a problem called a "Tracheal Collapse" & a steriod injection often helps her recover quickly.  She still loves to go into one of the many igloo beds that line the living room & starts to jump on her blankets, barking at them while trying to put them in just the right place, but when she has finished, she has managed to bounce the igloo across the room !. When she looks out, she has such a look of confusion as to why she is now feet away from where she started.! 

 

Bailey - Chihuahua  (or Little Boo!)

 

Bailey, well if you think his picture is cute, then he more than fulfills this title in real life ! He is very shy, & it has taken him a long time to totally take us into his heart, but having dogs like Tonka & Zac as your big brothers has helped with his confidence Big time.  Unfortunately I feel he has really joined the hooligan element of the pack, as when the other 2 run out into the garden to chase the naughty cat (not ours) out of the garden, Bailey is hot on their heels barking happily at what, he has no idea, but he feels part of the gang!

He's not a total angel though, we nick name him the werewolf, early in the morning, if he wants to go out, he will stand by the bed, throw his head back & howl. If I am late getting his tea & am at work on the computer, he will also howl, he is a real nag !  He only has to give me one of his lovely gummy smiles & he's melted my heart, he's always so happy. As with them all, we love them, & they know it !

 

Vida (Spanish for Life) A "Chorkie" Chihuahua x Yorkie

Vida is our latest addition,we learned that she was is quite a bad way & feeling low, her best & only doggy friend had passed away, & all but one member of the family had flown the nest leaving poor Vida alone for periods of time with rotting teeth that were hurting her, we were asked if she could join us, & although with a hefty vets bill accompanying her, we couldn't say No. We are soo pleased to have her, she is a total delight, & we think Vida was probably a good name, as she is now living Life to the full, she loves the company of the other dogs. Tonka & Vida now play constantly, everyone that meets her thinks she's a pup, but she's nearly nine ! seeing her soo happy, now out of pain & having a new lease of life, made me a little sad for all the older dogs out there that are in the same situation as she was in, perhaps been living with another older dog that has now passed away, kids left home, but still having plenty of life left in them, but not being noticed for the grief they could be going through, the loss of company & friendship. Perhaps if you have a dog in that situation, would you consider having another older dog of a similar age that they could have a few more years of company with, giving them both a new lease of life.

Tonka & Vida playing on the bed.

 

They have us totally wrapped round their paws !

I would be panic stricken as I am sure you would to lose any member of your family on your holidays, this is why I developed the hol col,  I have put in all the hard work, so you don't have to.!