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On September 4, Sura will have been with us for one year. She came join our dog team, made up of Soleil, a Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen, already more than 13 years old, who shares her life with us and Marre, another Spanish beauty, from Barcelona, who we have had for about four years when we gave her a forever home.
We saw Sura, who was then still called Madeleine, last year around July / August on the ACE website. Actually we very quickly fell in love with her, but initially Madeleine had been reserved by other people. After some time ACE reported that they had heard nothing more from these people and if we wanted her we could still reserve. We did that and then it all happened very quickly and we told she would land at Rotterdam / The Hague Airport on 4 September.
This is our 3rd dog from abroad, the predecessor of Marre came from Athens and this was the first time we were to pick up the dog straight from the airport. There were more dogs arriving at the same time. Madeleine was with another small dog in a cage and was obviously, like all the other dogs that arrived quite timid when she first put her paws on Dutch soil.
We had put a nice basket in the back of the car; the other two dogs had stayed at home as it seems easier for them to meet each other on their home ground. We had decided to change her name from Madeleine to Sura. Surabaya is my hometown and because the dog was a birthday present I could choose her name. Sura was well behaved right away, curled up comfortably on her blanket and we have not heard a peep from her during the journey home.
At home it was natural that a new place would take some getting used to for such a new little pipsqueak. Everything felt a little weird and she was very shy. But because we often have other dogs in the house, Soleil and Marre did not have any difficulties with her. On the contrary, actually ... our other Spanish dog Marre took to her quickly and acted a bit like her surrogate mother and guardian From the beginning these two are always together in the basket and on the couch.
Sura, now exactly a year with us, has turned out to be a cheerful, sturdy dog that day after day, hour after hour takes pleasure in life. When she got to our house, she immediately started with a big exploration. We have a pond in the garden and which exerts an enormous attraction to her. She can circle it for hours, distressing the frogs who thought they couls get in some peaceful hunting. The rest of the garden is still regularly inspected. Some shrubs are like a jungle for her, she can totally disappear there and go on adventures.
The first few months she was looking to us for protection quite often. She would crawl onto your lap, her head buried under your arm and then she felt safe. That is happening less. Though she obviously still regularly gladly curls up in your lap, just to enjoy the closeness. She still eats her food really quickly and greedily. Once the chunks are in her bowl two minutes later she's gulped it down. The other dogs leave them alone if they are eating.
She doesn't often play with balls and stick, but sometimes, suddenly, she grabs one of the soft toys in the dog basket and goes wild with rage. She doesn't play for long but she has a huge amount of fun. Kimo's grandson was with her in her training class. That went well and in September they will go again together. Transportation is not a problem for Sura. She enjoys traveling in the car, wears her safety belt and finds that no problem.
On May 21 I was at the Greyhounds Protest Day in The Hague. I traveled by train from Nijmegen to The Hague and Sura loved the trip in the train. And all those great Greyhounds around didn't scare her and she walked bravely to the Spanish Embassy. In July / August we went on a cycling holiday. Our elderly dog stayed at home and Marre and Sura each had access to a dog cart and took part in the cycling adventure. That was very nice, the whole day outdoors and then in the evening at the hotel and of course when we went to eat they could stay together in the hotel room.
It is remarkable that since we have had this adventure Sura became more sure of herself. This is particularly evident from the fact that since then she can run loose. She observes ... sometimes remains some way behind, but when she is called comes quickly running up, her eyes saying 'I'm with you and really want to stay with you. Well…. that's mutual. We are in our element with this dog. Choosing her to give her her golden basket was also for us a golden opportunity.
Here are some videos of Sura.
Sura has just arrived ... sniff the vegetation.
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Sura at home? Yes .. Sura is our dog? Yes!
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Sura can now roam freely!
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