The Dogs: Paige

Paige is another little foster who won't be leaving again. Honestly, me and dobes are a doomed combination!

I got an email a few weeks back about a small dobe bitch, chocolate and tan, needing a home due to terminal illness - could I foster? Silly question. Paige - then Xena - landed here on Friday June 18th, after a nice long trip to Chatteris in Cambridgeshire.

Small is right - Paige stands 22.5" to the shoulder (dobe bitches start at 25/26" generally), small in stature and a dinky frame too. She's around 4-6 years old - the owner reckoned 5/6 but her teeth etc suggest a bit younger. When I get the microchip and vet information through I'll be able to work it out with more accuracy.

Paige is an odd little thing: size aside, it's very unusual to see a dobe older than 3 years still with tail intact - the docking ban came into effect in April 2007 and undocked dobes prior to then were very rare.

She also has charming little forward-flopping ears - she resembles a giant Manchester Terrier (see here - http://dogbreedswiki.com/images/dogst/ManchesterTerrier2.jpg)! She's also rather plump at the moment, and needs spaying, but this is all being addressed. SHe's also now tattooed as all my dogs are - she didn't half scream, I do hate having it done but it's all over quickly and is an effective, permanent ID.

She's fitted in beautifully, and is soft as butter - with luck from Monday I'll be starting agility training with her. Just the basics for now; working her on the sidelines to develop her self control around other dogs (at present she has precisely zilch), but later on she'll join the beginner's class, once River has worked through it.

I was also able to pop her onto Remy and Soli's heart scan appointment for this Friday as she's within the age range they are recruiting. Many thanks to the staff at Liverpool Small Animal Teaching Hospital for allowing me to add her on!