DocsDoctor

from Ken and me in London!

I am so very sorry for your loss. Run free, dear Ruby - once more young and swift and strong

It could be perfect, but you won't know till you try! Would they allow you to foster with intent, or bring the new dog home on a trial basis?(Our local kennels let you bring the dog home for a weekend or whatever before you sign up.) If so I'd suggest going along and letting her meet the other dog, then bringing him home to see how you all get on!

Happy Birthday - that looks to have been an excellent celebration!

I am so sorry - this is very hard on you, but you did the right thing by Q. And bless you for giving him such a happy last couple of months. to you and your partner and Penguin. Run free dear Q!

Yum yum! Ken knows it as Fishy Friday!

I do Ken's once a day, in the morning, using a child's toothbrush and mint-flavoured dog toothpaste (not enzymatic). He is very good about it! Don't forget to brush the gumline, as well as the teeth. Ken's teeth are actually pretty good but I spotted some gum inflammation and bleeding at the weekend, which seems to have been the result of something getting trapped in an empty socket where a front tooth was taken out years ago. That meant the poor guy has to put up with me poking around there with a tepee brush as well, right now! Fortunately it is now rapidly improving.

I am so very sorry, Robin. Run free, sweet Iker.

Welcome home, pretty girl!

You have been doing the right thing by building up the exercise, and if he is a fit young dog I think he would be fine for six miles by now, but take your point about not wanting to carry him back to the car! Personally I'd do the kind of walk where he can have a brief rest in the middle, while you have coffee or a pub lunch. (Ken loves pub lunches - especially pub sausages!) Or a circular one where it's not too far back to the car, at any point, should he balk and refuse to carry on. That's the likeliest potential problem. There is something nasty called exertional rhabdmyolosis which can affect greyhounds, but it is associated with high-speed running and overheating: https://pets.thenest.com/rhabdomyolysis-greyhounds-6571.html Are you in the UK? The only other thing I will say is, watch out for stiles. Ken usually has to be carried over stiles!

... While Jasper for me is always associated with the old campfire song about wicked Sir Jasper, and his most immoral lady: http://campfire-songbook.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/songbook-43.htm

What a poppet! Welcome home, Maggie!

If you are prepared to extend the boundaries a bit - Jet, Amber (both of vegetable origin).

Personally it'd depend on how much I wanted one or more for myself; I'd try bargaining down to $50, in any case, just because I always do. And any you didn't want would sell on ebay/ at a greyhound rescue auction, I am sure. All 20th century, all produced from moulds. The two central ones are meant to look like Staffordshire, yes. On a first glance I'd thought the one second on the pink cushion might be Victorian and the genuine article, but if Houndtime has one similar marked "made in Japan" that figures. Because they are collectable fakes have long been churned out, at first in Staffordshire using the old moulds and then in the Far East. The second one from the right, also shown in the upside-down photo, definitely isn't Staffordshire - wrong sort of body (i.e. clay) and finish (glaze not glossy enough). They have charm, though!

It's heartwarming to see how well the two of them are settling in!

I am so sorry you are having to go through this. It is always such a hard road to travel, even though it is also the last kind and responsible thing one can do for a beloved companion. I just wanted to let you know, if she is cremated her ashes will only be returned to you if you want them to be. With Doc, I declined this option, not wanting to remember him that way - instead I created a memory box containing his collar, his paw-print in clay, a favourite toy, etc.

:wub: A lovely pair of chaps, who have landed on their feet! Congratulations all round!

No; it will help her gain confidence, and see herself as an integral part of your household. At present, as you indicated yourself, she is anxious at nights, coming and listening outside your closed door. So please, it's time to give this a try. Like I said, it doesn't have to be forever. Just while she settles in and learns to be your dog.

Rijnbeek, in addition to the other measures I suggested I'd now try letting her sleep on her bed in your room at nights. This is something that really will help the dog bond with you both, and reduce her anxiety. It doesn't have to be forever, either - here it is something I did just for the first few weeks, because my bedroom is not that large. Then the dogbed got moved into the back bedroom - here the doors can stay open so Ken and before him Doc can hear me, and come running in when the alarm clock goes off - always a lovely start to the day! If she seems to prefer your husband right now, that may be because in the past she was more used to male caregivers. Make sure you do your fair share of feeding, grooming and walking her to help change that perception. Think of doing those things with her as sharing a language you both understand: Feeding - a basic need, and pleasure Grooming - feels good, and will be the form of individual attention she is most used to as an ex-racer - much more so than petting, which can easily begin to feel threatening. Start grooming her gently every day, even if she doesn't seem to need it. Walking - builds trust that you will look after her, introduces her to a wider world of sights and sounds and sniffs, leaves her pleasantly tired and ready to nap when you go out Playing with toys - not all greyhounds are into these, but do a search on here for "lure poles" to heighten the stakes Hope that helps. I quite understand about not wanting her joining in on hugs (!) but the more you can all find things you can do together, the easier she will find it to fit in. By the sound of it she is a little anxious but also wanting to please, bless her.

As she's not being destructive or eliminating or howling I would not call this severe separation anxiety. At the same time - she is eight weeks in, she has begun to get accustomed to her new way of life, and also to become fond of you. So she misses you when you go out, yes . I worked through this with my previous dog Doc, who initially got very anxious initially when left on his own. I'm glad you're giving her nice time-consuming treats when you go out, this is clearly helpful - if she was really anxious she would leave them untouched.... And the calm greeting when you come home is also encouraging. Try leaving a radio on for her, if you don't already. Here in the UK I used to leave mine tuned to Radio 4 (news/ talk) or Classic FM (soothing musical snippets). Also, can you give her a longer walk and/ or feed her before you go out? A well-exercised greyhound with a full tummy is more likely to want just to sleep. Make sure she has some alone time every day, even at weekends, while she is still getting used to the idea. I work from home, so Doc had to get used to me going out at irregular times - some days if I was busy I would still just go and walk round the block without him, to keep him accustomed to the idea that alone time was part of his new normal. Oh and if you think she might disturb the neighbours it could be worth going and having a pre-emptive word, explaining that she is just settling in and offering biscuits/ bottle of wine maybe!

Ach, Kristen, I am so sorry. Life is handing you such a raw deal at the moment. Please, take care of yourself as best you can, and know that we are here for you. Run free, little Lora, reunited now with your big brother Finn. :gh_run2

I am so sorry - but what a wonderful boy Finn was. Clearly the two of you were always meant to find each other. In time the memory of that will I trust turn from a source of sorrow into one of joy. But - right now I know it is hard.

Where are you? It may be to do with how she was brought up. In Ireland for instance, where most of the UK's racers are bred and reared, that will often be on small farms where the pups remain together until they go into training, and are traditionally given a pretty free life, living in big fields with kennels for shelter. I doubt they'd ever be expected to sleep outside of nights - but maybe if they chose to? Ireland has a pretty mild climate, after all.... Also, once they start training/ racing they are again living in kennels and those won't be as warm as a centrally heated house. So she could be thinking your house feels a little warm for night-time still. I'd say, don't worry - this is all part of the adventure of her learning to be a house dog. She's only three weeks in, after all, so still getting used to lots of new routines. She sounds a bit of a character, bless her! And you did exactly the right thing, getting the lead and encouraging her in that way.

I am so very sorry for your loss. Trevor, you were a fine dog. Run free!

Something that might be helpful incredibletaco is to find a nice local, mixed breed obedience class with a positive, rewards-based trainer. This was what I did when I got my first greyhound, Doc - it was one recommended by our vet. Over 2 or 3 months he got to learn about other breeds in a controlled setting, and I got to learn about doggy body language. And we both had fun!