DocsDoctor

For Ken, it's a Saturday morning treat. I buy goat feet (each one is actually a whole foot + leg chopped off below the knee/hock, so including marrow bone) for him at our local halal butcher, very inexpensively. One goat foot lasts about an hour, and is ecstatically chewed on the lawn while I sit on the patio with a pot of coffee and the newspaper. I'm not sure what we will do come the winter - maybe let him have it on his bed, covered with an old shower curtain to contain any mess! I struggled to find bones locally - neither the supermarkets or the posh independent butchers sold them - until I thought of trying the ethnic stores. Human recipes use the feet in stews, I believe - adds body as well as flavour, like using a pig's trotter.

What a lovely tribute to your girl. Stay strong, knowing you did the right thing by her. And be proud, because you gave her a wonderful life Run free, Misty

My gut feeling on reading your account is that Essie is probably trying to incite the other dogs to play. "Nip [on the back of the neck] and chase" is how greyhounds like to play together. The fact that the whippet was uninjured bears this out. However you can't let her practice this behaviour if it frightens another dog*. Quite apart from it being bad manners, you run the risk that if the other dog panicks and squeals this could arouse her prey drive, and in the blink of an eye lead to tragedy, especially with a small dog. (I once saw my old chap catch a squirrel in the park. He took it by the back of the neck, and shook it. It was dead in an instant.) The other risk is that Essie herself will get hurt. Greyhounds' thin skin tears very easily, so if the other dog retaliates by biting, even just a play-bite, you could end up at the vet's. So yes, keep her on the lead when there are other dogs around. As you get to know each other better, and she settles into domestic life and makes some regular doggie friends you may be able to revisit this but better safe than sorry! I have no experience re cats so will let others help you with that, but note that most greyhounds seem to be able to learn to live with their 'own' cat even if others remain off-limits. *It's worth noting that different breeds of dog play in different ways - jumping up, wrestling, etc. - so plenty of scope for confusion for a greyhound who has most likely not met other breeds of dog before!

What a sweetie! Wishing you much happiness together.

What a pretty girl! Welcome home Ivy!

I would agree with the advice to use a muzzle and I also meant to say that I would walk her in a harness - it's too easy for her to back out of a collar. As others have said this may prove be a hard nut to crack. If you feel it's going to be much of a challenge in your particular circumstances, don't be ashamed to go back to the adoption group and say so. They want their dogs to be happy in their new lives and may well feel another one would be a better fit .

Other more experienced posters will chip in I'm sure, but clearly this is a difficult situation for both of you so I wanted to help if I can. She is clearly getting stressed in those situations and that will impact on her whole day. This article about dogs 'running out of spoons' is a helpful read if you haven't already come across it: http://yourdogsfriend.org/spoon-theory-and-funny-dog-gifs/ I'm seeing something a bit similar though not nearly so severe here as I adopted a new greyhound (my second) last week. He's not experienced a busy urban environment before, and sometimes he gets nervous about e.g. busy roads, police sirens, strange dogs approaching him. I'm managing this by being careful about when and where we walk so as to avoid stressful situations if possible - avoiding the busiest roads in the rush hour, giving yappy/ off leash dogs a wide berth. I also carry treats with me, and will stop and examine all these strange new phenomena from a distance and then reward him for calm behaviour. I won't say I get it right all the time but I can seeing him growing in confidence. I think for you to succeed you are going to need to do something similar. Can you walk her at times/ in places where it is quieter and you don't encounter so many dogs? It doesn't matter if it's a boring back alley rather than a park - boring is better than stressful. Managing her surroundings is key, and will help build her confidence that you are able to look after her. You also need to develop a firm manner for dealing with any dogs that do run up - and their owners. Maybe someone from your adoption group or her previous fosterer can come over and assess the situation and give you some practical guidance? Re the prey drive: Ken doesn't seem to have much of one but my old boy Doc when he first came to me wanted to chase anything and everything that moved - a carrier bag blowing in the wind, even. With him as with most dogs this did wear off to some extent as he settled into domestic life and realised that he was not expected to chase everything any more - though squirrels, cats and foxes always remained fair game!

Ooh, I missed this! Welcome home, pretty Joy! Many congrats to you and Carol! It's such a happiness watching them find their feet in their new lives, isn't it? And I'm sure Magic would approve!

Such a good boy. I am very sorry for your loss. Run free, Master!

Thank you so much everybody! He is continuing to settle in well, and is now enjoying a nap downstairs, after a morning walk on our local common, and breakfast, and a zoom round with Doc's Sow (a pink plush pig). He is not at all a clingy dog - seems happy to be in another room on his own - which I guess is another mark of his confident personality. We saw quite a few other dogs at a distance this morning, plus one small brown fluffy escapee which came running up close from behind, clattering its retractable lead on the ground . But we stayed cool and moved on - he seems quite happy just observing all these strange new phenomena now. I doubt he'd seen anything like our local rush hour either - I live on a busy road so there's no avoiding all the people and traffic - but again he seemed quite happy trotting along with me and taking it all in. Yes indeed. I have told him that Doc left them for him as a welcome gift, and that we can get him some more once we have worked out his preferences. Meanwhile he is playing with them all enthusiastically, but also gently. Which is also what Doc used to do, so some are very old friends - the teddy in the pic was one he found for himself in a recycling bag outside someone's house, brand new at the time but must be a good nine years old now. . This may stick, I like it! 'The name is Bond - Ken Bond.' I used to tell Doc that he was like Indiana Jones as he was so keen on exploring new places!

I'm thrilled to announce that I have a handsome new greyhound lying beside me on his bed as I type this - not a replacement for Doc of course, but another dog who needed a home and who will hopefully enjoy what's on offer here. Ken turned four last month and is black with a few white markings (hind paws, chest, etc) and a little smaller than Doc was, but still a big boy. And beautifully put together, I must say – he has been recovering from a foot infection but looks fit as a fiddle and has an especially amazing tail, long and very flexible. So far he has been settling in very well. A kind friend drove me down to pick him up from the adoption kennels yesterday morning. For a dog who’s probably never been in a house before he’s been sussing everything out very quickly, mastering the stairs in minutes and remaining totally unfazed by the TV, washing machine etc. He slept in my bedroom last night - it took him a little time to settle, but when I woke and sat up in bed in the night and peered down towards his bed there he was, not only fast asleep but happily roaching! And I am also glad to report that he eats like a horse, walks nicely on the lead, and has very polite about meeting various human neighbours, a lab, and a staffy on our walks round the neighbourhood. Somewhat to my surprise he's also been very good about being left on his own - for a few minutes yesterday and then for half an hour this morning - when I came back in today he'd obviously treated it as an opportunity to run upstairs and crash out on my bed. So far there has only been ‘ohmihgawdwhathaveidone’ moment – that was yesterday afternoon, when he plunged not once but twice into the garden pond AFTER I had given him a bath, presumably his version of a ‘dirty protest’! Photos are obligatory I know – sorry about the quality of these, black dogs are a new challenge for me. Soon after arrival: Playing with one of Doc's old teddies: This morning, on his bed beside my desk and looking a bit more relaxed – note his blingy new house collar, which arrived today courtesy of ebay. Black dogs dress up well! His racing name was Boomtown Ken and like Doc he is Irish by origin, but with some American blood in there too, and a racing career here in the UK: http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=1912115 Clare and Ken xx

I used to use a crumpled-up baby wipe for Doc's ears - they provide a little more cleaning power than plain water, but nothing that could hurt.

That was true for my old chap too - sadly no longer with us, but he did make it to the grand old age of thirteen years seven months. He did a couple of hydrotherapy courses but didn't like them much, so what helped for us longterm was having a veterinary physio do home visits, which he loved. She would massage and manipulate him and finish off with cold laser treatment. She also gave me physio exercises to do with him every day. They only took a few minutes and definitely helped keep his back end muscles going. And both she and the vet were quite clear that it was important to keep going for walks - short ones if need be, several times a day for preference - for the same reason and to help keep life interesting! As well as fish oil supplements do look into turmeric paste, and joint supplements with glucosamin & chondroitin.

Run free, sweet girl - run with your mother again. :gh_run2

Hugs. No medical advice, but I am wondering if light massage or something like the T-Touch system is also worth trying? That would be something you could learn to do yourselves, and might prove reassuring for her. Look into thundershirts, too.

Others have already given you lots of good advice, and it sounds as if he is beginning to settle in. As well as being patient with him I would try getting some really tasty treats, little ones you can put into a small pot or bag to carry around on walks or in the garden. Then as well as telling him what a good boy he is when he does a wee or a poo, or whatever, you can slip him a treat too!. Those doggy salami sticks broken up into little bits are good, or tiny cubes of cheddar cheese were always popular with Doc.

I am so sorry. Run free, Sallie dear.

Such a lovely beach for a last run. Rest peacefully, Frisby

Run free, Anita dear!

Run free, dear Magic! I think you have a lot in common with my Doc, who left us the same day. If you see him, see if he can help you send a sign to your mom that you are happy and well, now that you are up there in the stars for good and all. I think from her comment on one of my threads about him that she would appreciate it. Carol, I am very sorry for your loss. It's no easy thing to do, is it? Even when you know in your heart it's the right thing. I hope you will find comfort in the short poem below. It's by Leo Marks and is usually associated with a brave woman - it's said to have been the code poem used by Violette Szabo, the WW2 British agent - but has also always seemed to me to describe beautifully our dogs' trust in us, and the responsibility that brings): The life that I have Is all that I have And the life that I have Is yours. The love that I have Of the life that I have Is yours and yours and yours. A sleep I shall have A rest I shall have Yet death will be but a pause. For the peace of my years In the long green grass Will be yours and yours and yours.

Such touching stories, one and all. Thank you, everybody.

Oh, those are both lovely! Thank you Cindy.

It's three days since Doc had to leave me and I've been of course. Here's his thread: http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/312974-goodbye-doc-barefoot-doctor-20082001-15042015/ Still two things happened this morning which made me , and which I would rather share with all of you than my friends in real life, who might well . First of all on the pavement on the top of the hill on my way to get a newspaper I found a tangle of pink and yellow ribbon, woven with a pattern of paw prints and the words 'Good Earth' with a little star/sun/flower. (And also 'Gum Drops', it has to be said.) And then when I started up the computer the words 'Magic Doctor' flashed up briefly in the task bar at the bottom of the screen. (It's one of the startup programmes, I think.) Thank you Doc - not just a Barefoot Doctor now, but a Magic Doctor! What a clever boy! And thank you Mother Nature for letting him get through. The ribbon went in with the rest of my washing and is now drying nicely on the line And now I'd love to hear some similarly consoling stories from the rest of you .

Thank you so much everybody. Your kindness and your understanding really are a big help to me at this sad time.

I’m sorry to say that I had to let my dear old chap go yesterday. His back legs had been getting weaker and weaker, and then last weekend his digestion started playing up. I could see he was beginning to go downhill fast, even though he remained his usual smiley self, and the vet agreed with me that it was much better to take action before he began to feel miserable or we had a real emergency. So yesterday he enjoyed two very wobbly little walks, a sardine lunch, a tripe stick and some time in the sunshine on the lawn. Then the vet came and put him gently to sleep on his own bed, with his head pillowed on his favourite teddy bear and me stroking him. He left us very peacefully, even contentedly. ************************ Doc (Barefoot Doctor) 20 August 2001 – 15 April 2015 ‘The Best Greyhound In The World’ The house feels very empty today, but I know I did the right thing. Somehow I have never felt consoled by the idea of a Rainbow Bridge - instead we had developed a more matriarchal theory, as you can see below. The collar mentioned is the one he's wearing in the photo - now tucked away inside my desk. Sun and Moon and Stars (Doc's last collar) Sun and Moon and Stars That's what I gave you Every day you wore them Hanging round your neck. "The Lady up there loves all animals," I would tell you sometimes. 'Especially the greyhounds. They are Hers. You are Hers. So some day you can go to Her: I will be there to see you off, I promise. Then slip off this collar, to keep as my memento." So run to Her now, dear. Run to join Her pack. Join them as they chase past the moon and then the sun and through the stars Barking and joyful and free.