Our Sedative-on-Legs

This is Layla in all her glory. The greyhound people call this legs-in-the-air sleeping "cockroaching".

Layla came to us four years ago as a rescued animal for foster care. She did not know how to be a member of the family. Layla had never used steps before, socialised with other dogs/cats/chooks/horses etc and certainly had not been in a paddock before or dealt with barbed wire. What she could do was eat. She was underweight and always hungry. She also could walk on lead beautifully. A very gentle girl who needed to learn a lot of things.

At first our Cyclone-on-Legs, Roger frightened her but she soon became more comfortable with him. Layla had no dog etiquette/socialisation skills and so was trounced more than once by Roger for breaking the dog rules. Unfortunately greyhounds have very thin skin and so she needed stitches more than once. Apart from Roger there was the barbed wire incidents, and so many vet bills later we were wondering if we had done the right thing by her and us. These lessons were quickly learnt.

Layla once chased the mini horses in play and was kicked so hard in the head that we had to have the vet reconstruct her skull. She has more respect for them now. Another lesson learnt.

Layla has what we like to call stealth mode. While she was still in her state of "must eat, must eat" she stole a lot of grocery items from our pantry. If one were lucky one would see said greyhound quietly but efficiently abscond with say a packet of Weet-Bix, desiccated coconut, noodles, bread crumbs, anything edible really. She never ran, just quietly walked in, picked up grocery item and walked out, no rustle of packet or dropping of contraband.

Her appetite was so acute that she once opened and finished a jar of skin cream (bee product based). Layla shocked us all once by passing poo-shaped cracked corn. Ouch! That must have hurt like hell. Greyhounds are supposed to have sensitive stomachs, obviously not this brindle thief.

Once Layla gained the required weight she did stop the pantry raids but I don't think she will ever forget her hungrier days and cannot be totally trusted with food at head height. She has been known to drink hot chocolate, steal biscuits and take sandwiches from the table. The greyhound people call this "table top surfing".

Layla has never chased the cat, she wanted to chase the chickens but was scolded and can be totally trusted with them now. She still gets excited when the horses run but keeps well clear. The two dogs are the best of friends and play every day. She has never learnt to play with people but is so very loyal to us. She takes big circular sprints in the paddocks until she is puffed (she originally did not like the grass and only walked on the cow tracks).

Everywhere I go in the house or yard, Layla comes to. I once tested it by walking up and down the hallway eight times without speaking or looking at her. She followed me each time without question. You can't ask for a more loyal dog than that.

Adopting a rescued dog is so rewarding. Greyhounds are often mistreated and disposable but when they live with your family they are so gentle, affectionate, clean (they do not have any doggy odour) and low maintenance. They are subject to the wrong reputation as aggressive and needing loads of exercise, none of this is true. Layla is our Sedative-on-Legs, Miss Calm, Cool and Collected, slightly food obsessed girl.