GeorgeofNE

That's not prey drive. That's normal canine behavior. She's not used to seeing dogs that are not greyhounds. She's curious. Prey drive is the desire to hunt and kill PREY. Rabbits, squirrels, cats, and yes, in some dogs, smaller dogs. Prey drive has nothing to do with racing ability or skill and desire. Prey drive is inborn, and a dog with a strong prey drive will ALWAYS have a strong prey drive. A dog with a strong prey drive will literally vibrate when seeing something they perceive as game (prey). I won't go into why your dog should remain on leash as I suspect you live in the UK where letting greyhounds run loose is common. All I can say to that is she likely has ZERO recall unless you've been teaching her.

ah, well, if your original post said they were eating the dirt--- I can honestly say that in MY experience, dogs dig because it's fun--but there could be something in the ground they can hear, but if you don't see anything, it's probably just like Chris said. They're eating dirt, well, because they can! My dog is a devoted grass eater. Face it--dogs can be kinda weird!

What makes you think they're digging for something to eat? Dogs like to dig. What else is there to do in a sand filled pen? Sniff each other, do a little running, and dig! Digging is super fun, if you're a dog! Since it's their own space, why not let them enjoy it?

What did your vet say? Surely his/her opinion is more important than ours?

Four meals a day is obviously too many. You can't expect him to regulate his output like a dog who eats twice a day--dogs typically have to poop around an hour after eating. It's very rare for any dog to be happy when asked to sleep alone when his "pack" is sleeping elsewhere. I'm guessing if you put him back on a 2 meal schedule and let him sleep in your room, your problem will solve itself.

There is nothing special about greyhound feet or nails. Cut them like you would any other. I think the long nails you may have seen belong to dogs whose owners cannot cut them for whatever reason, and think that a once a month (or less?) trip to have someone cut them is enough (it's not). Cooling coats are not necessary. Don't go on long walks in high heat or humidity. Problem solved. I could care less how fast my dog eats. I've never known a dog who didn't gobble down his food. Assuming the dog isn't vomiting it all right back up, it's not a problem. It's a DOG. They eat like...dogs! Both of my hounds hated crates. I still own one, but I hope to never use it again. I have cats. Neither of my hounds gave them more than a cursory glance. There are far more hounds that do just fine with indoor cats than don't, although the owners of "cat zappers" seem oddly proud to announce their dogs would kill a cat if they could. Mine sleeps on the couch with MY cat, but would happily catch and maul one outdoors. Every greyhound is different, and the dog you adopt won't be the dog you end up with--they change, some of them a lot, as you have them for a while. Best advice: work with a good group, and let them guide you to the right dog for your situation. Don't fall in love with a picture, a specific color or gender--the right dog is out there, let the experts pick it!

You really should be working with the group you're fostering for since I expect they have methods of doing everything, and you should be doing what they ask so that the eventual adopter will know what has and hasn't been worked on with this dog. I'm guessing you're not in the USA? And also that when you say your dog is "entirely" you mean intact? 1) Please don't change the name of a foster dog. It's unfair to the dog. If she has a name, use it. Let her new family give her any name they want, but that's not for you to do. 2) Feed her what the group told you to feed her. Giving dogs add ins all the time is the easiest way to create a picky eater. 3) "Sleep aggression" is different from growling at a dog who approaches her on her bed. That's more of a space thing, and it's normal. Sleep aggression is when a dog is actual asleep and lunges/snarels/snaps at whoever touches her when she's asleep. Greyhounds can sleep with their eyes open, so it's generally best to never touch a greyhound you don't know very well unless it is obviously awake. 4) Please read "Greyhounds for Dummies" or something similar

I prefer male pets of every variety. There is a reason the term "bitch" has come to mean what it means! You might consider relaxing on your "shopping list." It would appear to me you're looking for a dog who requires no work, and there aren't too many of those available!

Sounds like your son was just trying to save time feeding her twice. How would you like to go 23 3/4 hours between meals? I wouldn't like it much. I'm sorry you lost a dog to bloat, but spending too much time worrying about it isn't helpful to you or the dogs. We also lost a dog to bloat, and we did NOTHING WRONG. It happened, we had him put to sleep because of his age and the severity of the torsion (the vet said IF he survived the surgery it might very well kill him later), but since we did nothing to cause it, we never worried about it happening again. Stick to what you've always done and try to relax!

I'm only on my second greyhound, but neither of them has cared for dogs of breeds other than greyhounds. I don't want a strange dog in my dog's face to begin with (you never know), so it's not an issue for me. I just keep walking and tell folks, "He's not friendly."

It sounds to me as if she knows perfectly well that you're an easy mark! Clearly your husband does NOT feel compelled to give in to her every desire if he doesn't take her out AT ALL during the day but you take her out every four hours! So have you tried the VOG (voice of God) and just telling her to go back to sleep? Sure, if you take her out, she'll go. Doesn't mean she HAS to go out. Means she's awake, and if she makes noise "Mom" will get up and take her out. Have you tried sternly telling her to hush? This behavior is extremely common with newly adopted dogs. It is a big curious that it started now, but until you TRY not giving her what she wants, you won't find out if it's truly urgent or she is just training you very well!

I'd permanently solve this problem by keeping the "aggressive" dog fully contained when you have guests. As to your parents house, even my totally dog crazy parents would have an issue sitting for a dog of mine if there was a chance it might randomly bite someone. Perhaps boarding her would be better? I've not personally had this situation, so I suggest you read what is no doubt a great article Meredith (Turbotaina) suggested. And stop yanking on the leash. You're probably training her to believe that yes, it's dangerous when company comes. I get hurt by my humans every.single.time! (Not that I really believe you're hurting her--but it's just not a helpful response in the situation).

Maybe, maybe not. Some dogs don't care for children, just like some people don't. My Buck is terrified of children. George didn't quite understand them. My mongrel dog was a saint and put up with whatever my nephews threw at him.

How did you get this dog on a plane without a health certificate from a vet? Because that's the only way airlines will transport animals--if there is a CURRENT health certificate from a vet dated within XX days of travel. And why on earth would you even consider taking a puppy that the breeder said might be infected with parvo? Why, in fact, didn't the "breeder" take the puppy to the vet? It's actually illegal to sell a dog that you know is sick. I suppose if they disclosed it, and you took it anyway, that's that. Gaining weight too fast is not healthy. I would just feed him a normal amount and let nature take it's course. He will bulk up with time.

Don't force the issue with the cats. Remember: they were there first. They should not have to be subjected to a frightening experience. You're really rushing things--I get that, I was in a hurry too for everything to be like I imagined it, but you have to work with what you have! One of my cats was 11 years old when I got him. He had recently been terrorized by a small dog, so when he arrived at my place he was pretty darned scared of my hound, who totally ignored him. I didn't force the matter at all. Within about a week, the cat was brave enough to enter the room the dog was in. Now, a few years later, its as if he's lived with dogs his whole life. A newly adopted dog will do well with the longest walk you can possible stand. That will be the #1 most important thing with your alone training--"A tired dog is a happy dog." Or perhaps that should be calm dog?

Are you just assuming it's a piece of bone, or do you know? Buck behaves in much the same way after chewing a raw meaty bone, but with him it seems to be the fat that makes him cough and want to eat grass. I have no idea why, but I do now trim off excess globs of fat. It's almost like he feels like he has something stuck in his gob, but he doesn't (believe me, I have stuck my hand so far down his throat I could see fingers at the other end because I thought he had something stuck). I let him have some grass, and he's usually good to go the next day.

No. No medical concerns, and it is a TOTAL myth that once a dog kills something it becomes a savage blood lusting repeat killer. It's a DOG. Dogs are omnivorous creatures with large teeth. That you've made it through multiple dogs without one of them doing something similar is more amazing to me than the fact that this dog caught a baby bird. Deep breath! It's actually no big deal for anyone but the bird.

This is just a dog thing. Dogs love to dig. Some dogs dig for fun, some because they're bored, some just want a nice cool hole to lay in. Not really greyhound specific at all. Some people have success training their dogs to only did in one place so they don't ruin the entire yard!

My dog has NOTHING wrong with his tummy, and he licks to put himself to sleep. I'm not really sure what you're question is. If you really believe she licks because her stomach is bothering her, and your vet has not helped, I would get another opinion, preferably from someone who works in the specific field (a specialist in other words). A dog who "won't" eat any kibble sounds like a dog who has problem teeth. Have you looked into that at all?

Doesn't sound like there is going to be a problem. I disagree about the dog walker. There are lots and lots of folks who believe (as is their right) that leaving a dog alone for the workday is too long, but there are just as many people, like me, who do it (and have been doing it for 20 years now). My limited experience with the dog walker is that makes it so the dog is "left" twice every day instead of just once. I don't know what your home is like, but if it's a condo, you might well find out that your neighbors do not appreciate one little bit allowing your dog to urinate on the balcony. How do you clean it? Being mindful that if you're hosing it down, then uriney water is pouring down probably on your downstairs neighbor's balcony. Even a die hard dog lover such as myself would not be pleased about that. Sounds like you're on the right track, just keep up the leaving and returning with no big deal, and I bet you she'll be fine. Remember: dogs don't think the same way we do. She won't be waking up on Monday thinking, "Oh man, now I have five days of being left alone all day!" She will take each day as it comes. And probably just sleep all day the way mine have.

Cortisone shots are useful for people like me with a little bit of cartilidge left because it is a super powerful antiinflammatory. If her knee is "bone on bone" (which I think your subject title is intended to say) then there is nothing to shoot the cortisone into. So no, it won't help. The leg bearing the bulk of her weight should not have LOST muscle. That doesn't even make sense. Unless something else is going on. Has she seen an orthopedic specialist?

You're assuming she somehow understands she's supposed to TAKE HERSELF outside. She isn't housebroken. She never has been. You have to take her out on a schedule. After long sleeps. After meals. After play sessions, just like she's a puppy. And turning her out into the yard isn't the same as "taking her out." I'd get her on a leash, take her for a walk, and every time she pees make it seem like the most wonderful thing any dog has ever done! I mean really lay it on thick! You know, put her on the leash, say, "Time to go tinkle!" and take her out. As soon as she goes, praise her with "good tinkle! What a good girl you are!!!" and do that EVERY TIME. Won't take long for her to get the point. Set her up for success and don't let her out of your sight when she is visiting.

I wouldn't rely on general articles on thyroid issues in dogs. We all know greyhounds are not normal when it comes to thyroid issues.

You need to keep her schedule of walks/feeding/water the same regardless of where you are. It seems like you just aren't completely in tune with her signals and her schedule. It's not unusual for us "adult children" to sort of revert back to "child" mode when we go home, and perhaps you're enjoying the whole "I'm home, I'm chilling" and not paying sufficient attention?? And it's also possible she can still smell the urine she's already deposited there and thinking it's OK to go. Make sure they've used enzyme cleaners where she has soiled their carpet.

Your next dog should come from FAO Schwartz. No adjustment period at all! The perfect plug and play dog for the So So busy fellow. Hey, dude? I live alone. I have lived alone through THREE dogs now. No yard, so it's all leash walks, all the time. Rain sleet snow, the whole nine yards, five times a day, for the past 23 years now. I haven't slept past 6 am in 23 years. I have never gone out after work in 23 years. I have never gone on a spontaneous vacation in 23 years. And what have I missed out on? Nothing. Because the trade off is the best companionship for single people you're EVER going to find. Greyhounds are called by some "old souls." They're not spastic retreivers who are going to jump up and play at the drop of a hat, or lick your face. And yes, their personality changes after a while--they've gone from finely tuned professional althetes to pets. That's not easy. Your "research" sounds very sketchy, and you certainly haven't told us, specifically, what you've done to try and aid this dog, so I suggest you return him as soon as possible, and only adopt stuffed dogs in the future.