GeorgeofNE

You're rushing her into more socialization than she's comfortable with. Chill out! If she doesn't enjoy the cafe (my dog would rather die) don't take her. A few weeks is barely a scratch on the surface. Just slow down and I'm sure it'll all be fine in te end!

I'm betting your in Australia since I don't think any other country has laws regarding greyhounds (Australia seems to think they're vicious dogs). It's very unusual to see people walking their dogs with muzzles on in the US. Also very unusual for people to use head halters on them--they don't seem to fit very well--I'm guessing your dog trainer has very little greyhound experience?

Odin sounds awesome! And what a handsome fellow. I think that color is called sable?

You might consider a phone call instead of an email. Just because tone is hard to read. Neither of my greyhounds had dentals before I adopted them. My first hound, in foster care, was handed over to me along with his heartworm pill and Frontline, that the foster girl just "didn't get around to" using on him. So my vet insisted I have a heartworm test done since he'd been at least two months without any preventative. She was supposed to be crating him, and wasn't. She was basically abusing him when he had pee accidents. She SCREAMED at him when he happily hopped on her couch, right in front of me at my visit! I can only imagine what she was doing when no one was around. Needless to say, she was fired from fostering for my group after I contacted the group and relayed all these things, and more. Since this dog isn't the right dog for you because of the cat, I wouldn't make an issue over the dental at this point. It will just make them defensive. Just examine the teeth of the next dog they suggest for you (and they should be willing to take this dog back, and put you back on the list for "needs cat safe" waiting people. Remember: these groups are mostly 100% volunteers. And always strapped for cash. If they promised a dental, yes, you should have gotten one. But since you really can't keep him anyway...just make sure the next one is done!

I'm confused. You got the dog three days ago and you "switched him slowly" to another food? 3 days = six meals. That's not slow! Unless you meant three months? There are two schools of thought regarding changing food. One is to just go ahead and switch, and deal with possibly loose stools for a few days, but then it's all over with. The other is to gradually, over the course of a week or two, change the food. If you just got this dog three days ago, I would consider keeping him on the food he is used to for now. Everything in his life changed. The same food might be a small comfort to him. And yes, keep the Yorkie away from him while he's trying to eat.

My theory is that if a dog is feeling poorly enough not to eat, the antibiotics just might turn things around, so I would be inclined to give them regardless. Years ago my mutt dog Kramer had a bone infection and he was on some serious ABX for months. Fortunately they didn't seem to bother him, but it was towards the life or death end of things when the infection finally flared up (he had a TPLO which did not heal normally, and despite having a top notch board certified orthopedic surgeon, he somehow failed to figure out that the reason my dog wasn't healing wasn't because, as he said, "He's a wimp with an overdeveloped pain response" but that his bone had a festering infection. He spiked a horrible fever nearly a full year after the surgery, and I took him to a different vet who immediately hospitalized him and put him on IV antibiotics, to be followed later with more surgery. A nightmare, to be sure.

Dang. I've been boycotting Petsmart for years and years. I JUST started using Chewy. Well, maybe it's time I let go of my one sided feud? Amazon.com sells Fromm, FYI.

I don't feed raw (too expensive) but I am quite sure it isn't just raw meat. You need to have the right proportions of nutrients. That's why the premade is popular. A Google search for "raw dog food suppliers, Seattle, WA" came up with this: https://www.darwinspet.com/?gclid=CKbO4ZWkhtUCFQtLDQodlW8Ayw You might look into that! Ready made, and they deliver!

Way too handsome a dog to call Turnip...but I suppose you've already decided on that! Good luck, and have fun!

Raised feeders are NOT necessary. If you want one, by all means, buy it. The dogs eat out of buckets at the track and seem to survive just fine!

Obviously, taking her out in the yard "for awhile" isn't enough. I would urge you to get dressed, leash her up, and walk her in the morning. She'll be happier all day for it, and she'll have plenty of chances to drain the old bladder, especially if she's a market! It's good mental stimulation too. Smart adoption groups have figured out that those of us with no yards actually tend to give our dogs much more exercise than you lucky folks who do have yards! Have her checked for a UTI, and if you rule out medical, accept that you are likely not providing her with enough opportunity to relieve herself. She might build to a longer tolerance, but you may be expecting too much too soon.

Natural remedies DO NOT WORK. Even to oft-touted "Skin So Soft." I watched them do a test. And anyone who says it does work is just lucky, cause they guy I saw soak his arm with it and stick it in a box full of mosquitoes was eaten alive! There isn't a single reputable organization that says they do. And as far as I can recall, there are NO popular (common) preventatives that greyhounds (as a group) cannot use. Certain individual dogs may of course have different sensitivities. I do wish new adoption packages would come with this information.

Does she not get walked? If she is just going outside long enough to pee once, she hasn't emptied out. I would start walking her for at least 15 minutes twice a day. Dogs need to pee usually within an hour of a meal, after a long sleep, or even after some extra excitement.

Yes. You should be asking yourself "Why do we really want a dog?" And consider all the answers to that question, pass your answers along to the adoption group, and trust them.

Uhm, pretty much everything! Highly recommend you do some reading. Greyhounds for Dummies is an excellent place to start. You need a bed, food dishes, food, a first aid kit-- Everything you need when you have a dog!

I looked up "vetrophen" and it's not a "pain pill," it's an NSAID. They really are very different, and it's unlikely to cause the side effects you might get from "pain pills" like Tramadol--but anything is possible. Three days of amitriptiline isn't enough to have any much, if any, effect at all. I think I mentioned before it was a bizarre choice for fireworks phobia because it can take weeks or even a month to start working.

There is no way to know without a necropsy-- I lost a six year old Siamese cat in the same horrible, sudden manner. He just made a noise and fell over dead. It was very traumatic. I'm so sorry for your loss.

The expenses you're focusing on are so minor in the grand scheme of things--a plain collar can be had at the pet store for $15 or so (Lupine makes a martingale, although as far as I know, ALL hounds are adopted out with a collar) although pretty ones can run you a lot more. A muzzle? Again, all groups seem to provide, but they're not at all expensive. Most groups seem to have a crate or two around they can loan out so you can see if your dog likes one or not.

This is another things not particulary greyhound specific. You can't just dismiss it either. You need to have the dog seen by an opthamologist.

Sounds like allergies to me--not food allergies, which everyone is so quick to jump on--but what we call "hay fever" in people. My brother had a mixed breed dog who was allergic to grass. Sounds like your dog may be too.

86 degree pool water? That doesn't sound refreshing! First time I bathed my first greyhound, he collapsed in the tub. I thought he was dead. That's when I learned that warm water makes some hounds go limp!! It was the warm water. She was probably not overheated, per se. I don't know why they have that reaction, but I now use cool water for the annual bath!

Fence in the pool. I think you really need to anyway so you don't end up with any neighborhood children falling in. There was a greyhound on GT years back that drowned in the backyard pool when no one was outside watching. It was horrible.

Crazy question, but have you ever had her thyroid checked? Buck's numbers were very questionable, but we tried a very low dose of soloxine since his sire is known to throw pups with thyroid issues. While it did nothing about his BIG fears, it stopped all his fussing over bugs and such. He's currently off it for a break, and I have noticed he is much more anxious.

In seven years, I don't think George barked once. Buck will bark if I ignore him "talking" for too long, but he would never bark at a noise, or a person. He barks at me if I am not paying enough attention. Bark or not, anyone inclined to be intimidated by a large dog would probably be intimidated by a greyhound. So many people have so many ridiculous beliefs about them to start with.

First dog? Oh, yes. I see it is. Well, I'm not sure where you got the idea that adopting a greyhound meant adopting an animal that could POSSIBLY understand what you mean when you say "bed" is actually "leave here and go lie down on that padded thing I bought you." Retired racers know some words, sure, but I guarantee you no one ever taught them that begging is annoying and they need to stay out of the way. I have never met any dog, ever, that wouldn't beg for food while I'm in the kitchen handling it. I don't consider this even a small issue. If they get in my way, the way to TEACH THEM is to show them. I wouldn't use a word like "bed," I'd make it a bit more instructive, such as "go lie down." You teach this by gently leading the dog where you want it to be, showing them what you want them to do, and of course rewarding them with loads of praise when they do it. I don't know how many times your particular hound will need to be shown things like this, but if you expect a dog you've had for two weeks to be jumping to when you give a vague command, you might be expecting a wee bit too much. Strongly suggest you read up on some basic dog training. Because in her former life, mostly what she needed to know was run fast, turn left, don't fall down, and no fighting. As to the morning wake up, ask your roommate to stop feeding her. If you have a schedule you want her to be on, then put her on it. Unless your roommates are extra wanker-ish, they'll understand that it's going to take more than two weeks for your dog to adjust to a totally new life. Your just encouraging it by having someone else who is up earlier than you feed her.