Princess Beatriz – from the streets of Valencia to idyllic Devon

Always a pleasure to publish a happy rehoming story to illustrate what fabulous pets podencos make. Re-introducing Beatriz, Ellie updates her story.

18 months to two years have passed since I wrote an article about Beatriz the podenco.
Beryl kindly asked me for an update.

Rescued off the street in Valencia on a business trip, I wrote about the perils…and joys of adopting a pod’ (which breed wise I knew next to nothing about at the time).

Having been through the experience, (and gently encouraged by my bank manager to do so), J suggest people do not adopt dogs off the streets in Spain, or directly from a pound, but go to one of the many, and wonderful refuges and rescues, both in Spain and here in the UK. They have podencos and galgos and bodegueros and Spanish Water dogs and everything crossed and in between! They know the dogs, can match you up – lifestyle wise – and offer all the invaluable and essential help you will need when adopting from abroad, or in the UK.

This is very important. It is absolutely essential all Mediterranean diseases are checked for, vaccinations are up to date and rabies injections are done using an APPROVED and accepted EU brand. Transport can be arranged with reputable companies. Beware – there are many who are not. I learnt the hard way.

So how is Beatriz, the pod princess, getting on?

I would be lying if I said its been an easy ride. I knew it wasn’t going to be, but after we got her health back on the sturdy road to recovery, I wasn’t prepared for the amount of mental trauma she had obviously been through. These scars run very deep. She is still fearful of strangers, which manifests itself in aggressive behaviour towards them. I would NEVER leave her alone with a small child as fast gestures and loud noise are not good around Bea, no matter how well meaning the child.

She is fearful of anything new, anything which disrupts her comfy, safe environment. I have never known a dog so wedded to a regular routine, and if you deviate from that routine she is most put out. For example; she ‘likes’ her dinner at night put on a mat in the kitchen by the patio doors…if you put it elsewhere she will slink around the kitchen in a panic until you put it in the right place…. She craves routine and calm – essential ingredients for Bea so she does not feel threatened.

I can cuddle and play with her; she ‘likes’ a cuddle before breakfast, every morning, and will come and ask for it. You don’t just give Bea a biscuit…she ‘likes’ to sit (having been asked), give you her paw, you then reciprocate with the biscuit, and off she goes, smiling and tail wagging. The proper process has been adhered to, all is well in her world.

One of the nicest developments is her interaction with my other dogs. From a fearful, snarling, cowering wreck, she now bounces round the garden, hurling her toys in the air, chasing and playing with the rest of the gang. I would like Beatriz to become more accepting of other people. She lets them in, but VERY VERY slowly and her recall needs work. All training right out the window at the slightest whiff of a pheasant, and boy do I have a lot of pheasants round my farm!

In summary, she is a beautiful, intelligent, sensitive and fiercely loyal dog. My life would be the poorer without her. And as for the rescue process, my bank account would be the healthier and my stress levels lower for going through a rescue – don’t be tempted to go it alone and pick the dog up off the street or a perrera.

I guess my final plea would be that if you want a puppy please adopt, don’t buy. So many desperately need a loving forever home. Check out some of the rescues on Facebook or the ones listed here…good luck.

Any questions – please get in touch. We are here to help x

Pic 1. The pod and the bod.
Pic 2. Meeting the beagle