Meet the boss

 

Thirteen years ago, Hunny came into the world and shortly before her sixth birthday, into ours.

Like so many rescued greyhounds, she arrived with a gentle spirit and sensitive feet. Thin pads, tender toes, and no real tolerance for everyday surfaces that most dogs never think twice about. Grass was fine. Carpet was fine. Anything else was a challenge. Grit, glass and corns found her quickly.

What followed was years of trial and error. We searched everywhere for boots that actually worked for greyhound feet. We bought, tested, adjusted and failed more times than we can count. Nothing truly respected the shape of her foot, the delicacy of her pads, or the way greyhounds move.

So we started experimenting ourselves.

Hunny became our constant reference point. She patiently let us push, prod, tweak and rethink. She taught us about greyhound anatomy and all its peculiarities. Every shape tweak. Every strap change. Every material upgrade. If it did not work for Hunny, it did not make the cut. She was not just the reason Hunnyboots exists, she was and still is the guide behind every decision we make.

Fast forward and because of her, thousands of greyhounds around the world are walking more comfortably. Less pain. More confidence. More time spent doing what they love.

Another year on, Hunny is officially 13.

She moves a little slower now. She chooses the sunny spot before the walk. She prefers flat parks where she can see into the distance. She still loves a car ride, though she waits to be lifted in and out and decides carefully whether the destination is worth the effort. She is polite, well mannered, slightly aloof, and deeply observant of her own physicality. 

She pads around the house without ever bumping or touching what she knows is off limits.

She was never big on cuddles when she was younger. That has changed. These days there is much pawing for more, determined cushion arranging, and long hours upside down on the sofa with daytime TV. Around 9pm she decides it is bedtime and will deliver a pointed look if we do not follow her to her chosen spot.

She still knows exactly when cheese is involved. A slice unwrapping anywhere in the house will bring her upright in seconds.

She sleeps a lot. She stretches every time she rises, front legs first, then shoulders, then rear, finishing with her tail. Her eyes are milky now and her face is white with time, but her gaze is steady and soulful, full of quiet knowing.

Hunny may move more gently these days, but she remains at the centre of everything we do. Every product. Every improvement. Every decision made in her honour.

She is our greyhound. She is our friend. She is our family.