Tilly Tea-Leaf Syndrome - with Beverley Farmer of Podenco Friends

Tilly was Bev Farmer's first podenco - from small beginnings come Podenco Friends and the hundreds of podencos Bev and her late partner Warren have rescued, rehabilitated and rehomed.

'Tilly was such a naughty dog this came up in FB memories and made me smile thinking of what she did. Especially chewing the dials off the washing machine so we had no clue what cycle it was on and ended up having to buy a new one.

Tilly Tea-Leaf syndrome - (Liberatio bonorum suorum) is a condition commonly known has the liberation of personal possessions. It was first officially named in 2003 after a Podenco called Tilly. This condition has been reported worldwide and effects all breeds of dogs, some more than others

Symptoms: The stealing of various items and running around the garden showing them off to everyone. In particular shoes, underwear, tea towels, cushions and in extreme cases mobile phones, TV controls and at times destruction of such items.

Treatment: Various training solutions will offer some level of success. In many cases as the dog gets older the symptoms may reduce, however relapses are common. Never punish the dog for doing this, they do not understand these items are valuable and they are much more fun than the expensive dog toys owners buy for them.

Prevention: Ensure you do not leave any treasured or valuable item within reach of your dog. Be vigilant at all times, a moments lapse of concentration could result in the loss of a mobile phone or wallet, ladies any designer bags or shoes lock them away.

We are currently researching this condition and would welcome any other interesting cases.'

Have you any funny stories about the Tilly Tea-Leaf Syndrome with your hounds?

Comments

[Karen Lyons kalmenson]

What a beautiful baby

[Beryl Brennan]

From Maria. Yes , I had three greyhounds and a terrier called Pepe .On the day Ben my aristocratic black greyhound gentleman moved into my home in Scotland . I bought really healthy dog biscuit ingredients , Ben stood in the kitchen watching he was the only dog who loved these biscuits in my home ,as if he knew it was all for him .

A week or so later I had bought similar ingredients from health food store left them in bag of kitchen and went out again .I came home to my brindle greyhound Tina and Ben , who looked so happy with themselves .
Covered in flour and a mound of flour , liniseeds, etc all the biscuit ingredients which had been chewed into a slimy mess .Ben and Tina had the dough all over their faces and body and bits dangling from their mouths , my new ingredients opens and wrecked to !
My first thought was that shopping was expensive and what a mess everywhere on no.

On entering the kitchen I realised who the main culprit was , it was Ben !basically he must have commited all the ingredients I used in his biscuits to memory they had been in different areas and different cupboards , he'd taken exactly those ingredients to make his batch of biscuits .

Ben and Tina had even managed to get the ingredients wet enough to make a weird
Gluey substance ,I had to burst out laughing and tell them they were so clever, if not expensive rascals .

Both are now deceased but your article made me remember these beautiful clever souls , you can only imagine the mess it was dragged from kitchen to one end of living room to the other! While their mixing bowl was the white leather couch which I actually had acquired for Ben .

Even telling you this I can remember their joy that day .After this I designed a bag for dog biscuits , named them Ben's biscuits with a picture of Ben on front and ingredients.

Every time I made them for Ben and others , I would make extra, put them in these dog bags .And drop them off to the dogs best dog friends .Smallish ones for Kissy , the Staff is , giant ones for Tina's friend , the Newfoundland etc .

I see them grinning to this day !