Gryffenne

I don't have boots for Sammi. What I did do, tho, was save some of my son's socks from when he was younger. They stay in Sammi's first aid kit for covering bandages. I also use them on the sub zero days when she goes out to potty. We don't do walks on those days, so they work to protect her feet from the super cold and I can just throw them in the laundry basket when done.

When Sammi switched to TOTW, she started to inhale even worse. And with those tiny pieces (man I wish they had larger chunks)she would gag herself. I tried the bowl upside down within her bowl and she still inhaled the food. So I just wet it down. She eats slower and no more gagging.

With Sammi, it was my nightshirt I had slept in I'd just drop it on her bed as I was getting ready for work. Then the frozen stuffed Kong would come out of the freezer as I was leaving for work. Also left the TV on for her quietly. Usually the DVD Polar Express (It auto-repeats itself) .. or if a Doctor Who, NCIS or House marathon was on, since I tried to leave on stuff she was used to hearing me watch when I was home. So, potty break before I left for work (made sure she does 1 & 2) my nightshirt that smelled like me, frozen kong to work on, TV... she was golden The only issue we had back then after we had the routine was the ID badge for work. IF she saw it while I was in the shower, she hid it.** If I was wearing it while taking her out to go potty, she refused to potty. So I had to dress "casual" for her bio break ** She actually laid down on her bed once with my Pit Boss jacket under her, since my badge was attached to it. My phone at the time usually was always at max volume and vibrate for it's ringtone. It's amazing how high a greyhound can jump straight up from a sphinx position when you call the cell from the landline and it goes off under their belly

Does AFLAC have pet insurance?

Sammi's command is, "Up, up" She doesn't usually have a problem jumping in, it was getting her to wait that was the issue She gave a friend of mine a bloody nose once We were taking her on a small road trip and using his truck. We were standing there waiting for him as he thoughtfully put a blanket down on his leather backseat in the truck for her. He never asked if she could jump on her own accord "that high" (4x4 F150) so when he backed and turned, she dove up, excited to get going... as he was leaning down to lift her up. Her shoulderblade caught him square in the nose. After that incident, I taught her to wait for her command to get in. It helped in the few cases where she didn't want to get into a vehicle. Command overrode her hesitation.

Would you allow a stranger on the street to be hostile towards your pets? Would you allow their vet? You are their protector. You're right, it does paint her in a negative light. Your sister sounds very young, imo. My only suggestion is that sis needs to respect your things, your pets and your rules while she is in your house. No if's, and's or but's. If she can't handle this, she can stay in her room. That is your house and THEIR house, not hers. Stick to this "golden rule" and I am betting she will be moving before Feb.

I almost posted that too I was thinking that as well. Although in our new area, while I have a feeling that Sammi is the only greyhound here , generally people are either used to seeing skinny breeds or are too polite/shocked/stunned to say anything about her being "too skinny". In turn, I have seen relatively healthy dogs and only a few chunkies.

You could set your watch to Sammi's stomach. What really messes her up is daylight savings time.

Think you need to start training your sister, too. NO ONE is rough with my dog. No one hits her on the butt or yells at her. And tell sis to sit on the other couch next time. So far, no one has been bit by my dog, but then again I don't allow roughness with her either. Sometimes, bites happen, but I do my best to ensure that my dog feels safe even if it upsets the people I am also keeping safe. No one leans over her, but me. No one cuddles with her like I do. No one reaches into her dish or takes high value items from her but me. (Then again, there are multiple kids/adults in this household, not just Sammi's "Pack" -DS & I)

Try waking up between a greyhound (who has their body smashed up to yours, their legs over you and one paw on your face with a talon up your nose) AND a 10 yr old child on the other side (with their foot in your kidney) You are the only one under the covers, the child is under the comforter, but not the top sheet and the grey is on top of everything, effectively straightjacketing you in bed. and you still love them so much you don't dare move and disturb the "moment"... nostril and kidney aside There will be time when they wake up to trim her nails and check to see if his shoes still fit those huge feet that you now have imprints of on you.

I have to agree with Riverhound. You are so freakin' lucky!!!!! Sammi poops (usually) at: 530am (first wake up), 730ish (a bit after breakfast), 5pm (before dinner) & 8pm And definitely not an odd subject! I have never discussed poop as much as I have since joining GT! ANd when my son was born, I was on a new mommies forum! -you'd think new moms would discuss it as in depth as we do here

In this household there is 1 grey and 2 huskies. The huskies definitely "prance" compared to Sammi's long-legged gait. The younger husky cracks me up when she prances along next to her much taller roommate, trying to keep up, when all Sammi is doing is her relaxed walk (imagine a very tall Eeyore). Sammi does take Gluc/Chon, but we aren't in the winter months where she would be walking stiffer yet.

As others have said, toddler rules (basic) : No playing in the crate, it belongs to the dog, not him. No going over to doggie when the dog is on their bed or even laying down (they can sleep with their eyes slightly open, so that isn't always an indicator they are alert/awake), if your room is the dog's "safe haven", then NO following the dog into that room.No poking or prodding, laying on, hugging or rough housing the grey. THey have no padding, their skin is thin, and frankly, no dog should put up with being a jungle gym. Also, dog's toys are the dog's, toddler's toys are the toddler's. Other than that, 100% supervision and be firm and consistent. Don't scare the toddler about your grey with the rules, but be firm enough and consistent so that they understand the rules are for keeps. At that young of age, expect to have to repeat things and separate them before the dog has to be the one to remind them of the rules.

There is a a HUGE difference between sleeping in the crate at night with the door open (especially if it is your bedroom, so you're in there as well) vs. locked in it and alone in a closed bedroom. With the door open, it is his choice to be in there and doesn't feel trapped in there.

Make note of which times he is going to the bathroom. The "wasted" trips outside can eventually be eliminated. ("wasted" meaning they aren't walks and they aren't potty breaks. They are just when the two of you stand there staring at each other, both waiting for something to happen) Also, if one trip out is #1 or #2 and then right back in... then a short time later, another trip outside produces the other, try keeping him out til both are completed in the same trip. Sometimes, right after a pee break, it takes a bit of walking and sniffing to get #2 moving. And vice versa. In the morning, Sammi is notorious for going #2 and then forgetting she has a full bladder and wants to come in because she knows breakfast awaits. Another quick tour of the yard triggers her memory

Frankly, I've always hated the jumping/licking/climbing on you doggie affection displays. Even before I ever read the article, "He Just Wants to Say, 'Hi!'", I felt it was an untrained/unsocialized behavior. Maybe that is why greyhounds appealed to me so quickly. My roomie's young husky has this habit of showing affection (or a cry for attention since she is an attention wh***) by licking your pants, arm or hand -whatever she can reach. Bugs the heck out of me. She's slowly learning to not use that to get my attention. I prefer Sammi's way of keeping tabs on me without being on me. She is either on the dogbed next to my desk, the loveseat, the chair or the couch. But if I leave the room, I swear she counts to 10, and then follows me. She comes up to me for lovings- petting, scritches, kisses, hugs, to play, etc... and then back to what she was doing. She doesn't lick me to get my attention, tho she sometimes pokes her nose under my hand if I am not paying attention. Standing by her, she's a leaner. If I am on the couch or in bed, she's a snuggler. Sometimes she actually snuggles her body up with me, but most times, as long as she is touching part of me she is fine. Btw, I love messing with her in bed. She will get up on the bed, locate where I am under the covers and then lay down. Soon she sighs and nonchalantly stretches until her foot, nose or tail is resting next to or on my leg. I wait a moment and then I sigh and stretch moving the body part just out of contact. A few seconds later -when she can't take it anymore- she will sigh and stretch again until she makes contact. After a few rounds of this, I hear a groany noise. Looking up, I see that I am receiving The Stink Eye of Doom for my teasings. So I move my foot back, she flops her nose, tail or paw back over it and we go to sleep.

I use a product called Composure for Sammi. Her fear/anxiety is triggered by... well, by anything that happens outside the house. At home she is a total nutbar and lovebug. Going out in public, she is fearful of strangers. A walk in our neighborhood is one thing; but going to the store, being in a parade, at the beach, meet & greets, etc... wherever she may encounter/be outnumbered by strangers makes her shy, wary and nervous. Tho she is totally cool at the dog park because she has the ability to wander away and study the newcomer from a distance or come next to me to eye them up and down. Composure works for her is on an "as needed" basis. I know the events that trigger her nervousness and can prepare for them. I only recently (a year ago) started using it. Before that I did a lot of desensitizing training in the settings that scare her. She has come a long way with the training. It was actually last year's parade that I first used it, since the year before she was so scared by all the strangers at the pre-parade set up that she ended up riding in the car like a pageant queen for the parade instead of walking.

It sounds like you're getting him on a good solid schedule. The "some other times when it seems appropriate" how long between these ones? Greys thrive on schedules~ With my Sammi, you could set your watch by her meals and if you're even 5 minutes late, somehow she can tell time and will be bugging you incessantly until dinner is served. (Daylight savings screws her up tho) And 30 minutes after each meal, if you aren't watching the clock, she is. She knows that my morning alarm going off is a false alarm the first time (snooze button), but the next one, she is up and ready to roll. And a single paw holding all 78 pounds on your kidneys does give you the motivation to get out of bed. Anyways.... How much of the house is closed off atm? When we first adopted Sammi, she had run of the living room first, then LR+ my bedroom, then LR BR + Dining Room, and so on. We gradually opened up her "den" as she became accustomed to each part of the house being still the same den/home and to treat it as such. New home + a lot of space to figure out + new people/animals (might) = nerves. Another thought~ He's only been home a week. Have you been to the vet yet for his wellness check up? Might want to have them check for a UTI or bladder infection. That can also cause unable to hold it and frequent peeing. ETA~ yes, their signals can range from obvious to frustratingly subtle. As I said above, they thrive on schedules! Don't wait for a new grey to tell you they have to go out to potty. They were raised on schedules and never had to tell someone they had to go. Once you get a schedule down, signals/signs will emerge. Sammi's is pretty easy (5 years later) to interpret. If she is standing practically on me (or anyone in the household that has taken her out before) all I/they have to do is ask her, "Do you have to go potty?" and her tail starts winding up like a propeller. A glance at the clock tells me that yes, this is the "potty time-frame". Usually, tho, I just walk over to her leash within the time-frame and she will come up to me. As for treats when they go, a word of advice, only give the treats WHEN they have actually produced something outside. Sammi had a period of time where she would act like she was going to BURST at the seams if we didnt get outside NOW. She was going to explode. Rush her outside.... and nothing. Then come in and she would statue in front of the treat shelf expectantly. She even tried changing it up to actually squatting like she was going, I dubbed it the "ghost squat". She finally caught on that she wasn't fooling anyone and actually had to produce something outside to get the treat inside.

This is Rachel's photo essay about a dogs life before you adopted. You will see the cool down procedure. Dick Love the photo essay!! Gorgeous pics of gorgeous greys (tho I will admit I was hoping to see the famous one-foot-on-the-ground pic )

My dad and Sammi take the same amount. A couple years ago, my dad bought wafers, not capsules and gave them to me. Sammi loves them and crunches them up either as a "cookie" or in her food. So I get those now. He also clued me into the trick of watching the pharmacies (Rite Aid, Walgreens, etc..) and stocking up when they do their BOGO deals on them.

: I read that as "or slightly artsy" Maybe you could sell her "art" on EBay or ETSY?

Didn't realize that was the impossible combo I should have made it clear that we already doubt that there would be a food for both together, but even separate foods since while they are both the same age, they will have different needs? I don't really want to have the only suggestion being the inevitable Hills Science Diet that all vets carry at gouging prices and nearly all vets recommend only. I have already been looking at something different for Sammi for a while now, even before the bad bag scare. What she is on has worked great so far (except for that one bag) but I know that I do have to be looking at *gulp* senior food soon for my young-at-heart Diva.

Same thing I was going to say. RAW bones and pop them in the freezer for later. ETA~ I, myself, can take anything from Sammi or add anything to her food dish. I can take a treat from her even without trading up immediately (But I have been her human for over 5 years and she knows the trade out is comming, I may not just have had the time/hands to have it with me). Now the "young upstart" (aka Bella, or Hells Bells- the young husky) well... for the first time in my life, I have seen a dog miss when intending to bite. She had you-know-whats made of titanium to try this, but she snatched a treat out of Sammi's mouth. They were sitting side by side, alphas first getting their treat, then Bella. Bella decided she wanted to try taking Sammi's treat and not wait for hers. The speed at which Sammi reacted was astounding, and if Bella was "greyhound height" she probably would have lost her face. I took off after her and got the treat back, gave it to Sammi and gave the 2 older ladies their treats again, with Bella sitting farther away. THEN Bella got hers. (She never tried it again, btw. That was her one and only time trying to pull rank or order. Although startling, once things calmed down, we did find humor at the guts she had to try that.)

As others have said, in pain/serious whines will be different, just like how a parent can tell if a baby is fussing itself to sleep or if it is something more serious. As for the GSOD, Sammi is a drama queen of the highest royalty. When we fell down icy steps and landed in a heap together on the sidewalk... not a peep, even tho her nail was ripped from the nail-bed. I come near her feet with the clippers and I get a GSOD in the ear.

Might want to also check your local farm store as well, note the price so that when you find an online one (and add in the S&H) you will know if it is a good deal or not.