GeorgeofNE

Did you meet this dog before you agreed to adopt him, and is he behaving very differently now? I've had mine for nearly three years. He doesn't play. Period. He enjoys eating, sleeping, taking walks, and following me around. That's kinda what they do! Yes, there are some playful hounds, but most Greyhounds are really, really into sleeping. These dogs are not like retrievers who like to play, play, play. I have learned to accept George for what he is; a wonderful, exceptionally quiet companion. Right this minute he is sound asleep on a dog bed at my feet. His head is on the carpet, and cuddled up to his butt is one of my cats! Give your boy time. Things like pots and pans will stop startling him, but he may never sleep less and play more!

Could be an allergic reaction to something such as new detergent on your laundry (assuming he gets on the bed?), new rug in the house, carpet cleaner, things like that. Food allergies typically start with itchy feet. I'd give Benadryl and a bath with moisturizing shampoo a shot before I took him to the vet. And think really hard if there is ANYTHING new in the house.

Why would you even consider a dog you're not "completely sold on"? I'd wait until there was a dog I was crazy about personally! Little dogs get snapped up from shelters WAY faster than larger dogs, so you don't need to worry about that dog finding a home. If you do take your dogs there, bear in mind that it will be an incredibly stressful environment for the shelter dog, and your hounds may well be extremely stressed out as well. You're not likely to get an accurate assessment of their potential behavior is what I'm trying to say.

Are you completely positive the "curled lip" wasn't him smiling?? If you've never had a dog who did this, it's easily mistaken for something else. I'm just throwin' that out there!

There is nothing submissive about my boy, and he was roaching the day I brought him home! FYI, ALL breeds of dogs "roach." It's only Greyhound people, apparently, who call it something besides sleeping on their backs! We have a photo album full of pictures of assorted dogs laying on their backs through the course of my life. It seems funnier when George does it though, since he's pretty bald and his legs are so skinny.

Do you have a working carbon monoxide detector? Basement room--furnace--piles of snow...first thing that came to mind is that he is hearing or smelling something you cannot.

I'd get another male, personally. Not to say he wouldn't get alone fine with a female, but I think that two males make a great pair of pals!

Exactly what I was thinking--sounds like there is an animal in your yard--apparently a nocturnal one!

Just a bit of a warning and something to ask your vet about: my vet suggested, on the recommendation of a friend of hers who was taking valerian root himself to sleep, that I give it to George. Within a month, his liver enzymes had elevated SIGNIFICANTLY. The only thing I could think of was the valerian root. We stopped giving it to him, and retested in 4 weeks. Levels were back to normal. I will NEVER again give a "natural" remedy and think it's harmless. George had SA when I got him. It was bad. He howled for HOURS on end. I considered returning him, as I live in a condo. My group asked me to please speak to a behavior specialist before I did that. I did. She said, "Honey, if he howls when you put him in the crate, why do you keep doing it?" Well, the answer was that my group TOLD me to. As she said, every dog is different, and groups make recommendations based on what is typical, not what every dog needs. I put the crate away, he never made another peep, never destroyed anything, and when I think of how miserable I made him week after week it really pains me that I didn't just go with my gut--I knew he hated the darn crate! Please know I am NOT anti-crate. I'm just anti one policy fits all dogs!

The idea of medication shouldn't have even entered your mind after just one week of having this dog. Medication is a last resort when alone training has failed. Please do him (and yourself) a favor and get the Patricia McConnell's booklet, "I'll Be Home Soon." Read it, and get started before it becomes an issue. In the grand scheme of things, a week is more like "I just got him." Many hounds take MONTHS to settle in. My dog was with me well over a year before his true personality emerged. If you don't already have one, get yourself a large Kong, and start with that--when you leave the house, give him the Kong with some yummy stuff in it. Do not give it to him at any other time. Don't make a fuss, just give it to him and walk out. LEAVE. Go take a walk. Come back in 5 or 10 minutes. Don't make a fuss. Pick up the Kong, and carry one. Repeat. Many times. Gradually make the "go away" last longer and longer. But you need to actually GO. He'll know if you're just standing outside the door. That's the very general framework for "alone training." But the book is invaluable--I think one should be handed out with every new adoption personally!

My dog had a very similar lump on his foot. My vet told me there are a number of things that tend to crop up on the feet that can be bad so she removed it. Honestly, it bothered him more when it was removed than before--and it was completely benign.

Omega fatty acids are GREAT, even for people. I'd start those, but I would NOT by the from the vet. Grizzly Salmon oil is great stuff, and you can get it from lots of places and save yourself a bundle. They recently completed a big study on the effectiveness of glucosamine supplements on humans; let's just say the study recommends you save your money. My VET has suggested them to me despite there being very little in the way of scientific proof they actually do much. She does admit there isn't much in the way of "proof" they work. I had my last dog on them for 18 months. He had a major orthopedic surgery followed by a bone infection followed by another surgery--so I thought I'd give them a try. While they didn't make him sick or have any negative side effects, I don't think they did him any good either. So...you will find plenty of anecdotal evidence that they help--but not a lot of science. It's up to you. Again, no need to purchase these items from the vet. You can buy then from animal supply catalogs for a lot less.

Rescue Remedy (made by Bach of flowers) was totally useless on my dog. It's flower essences and brandy, FYI. I think I had some MINOR success using the D.A.P. plug in diffusers. Are you giving him/her a Kong with something like peanut butter inside to occupy the dog? That helped a LOT. Also, I know it can be hard, but EXERCISE before you have to leave is probably the single most important thing I did for my boy when he was having problems with SA.

Sounds like an x-ray of the lower lumbar region is in order--although the "test" for LS is simple, and any vet should know how to do it. It could be lots of things, but if it hasn't improved using NSAIDs, I'd be inclined to look a little further.

The pictures are fantastic! And your hounds are beautiful!

Did you look into this, or are you just forwarding something? My little 7 pound cat has had several shots of Convenia. I can't imagine why you'd give it to a dog, but have you ever tried to pill a cat for 14 days twice a day? With some cats, it's virtually impossible to do once, never mind 14 times.

Maybe he would be comfortable eating in a crate, since I assume he was in some sort of kennel while he was a donor? Some dogs truly do feel a crate is a "safe space."

I realize before I even suggest it that this idea might not be of interest 'cause clearly you have a yard, and one of the great things about that is that you don't NEED to go out with the dog, but... Every time you call a dog and he doesn't respond and nothing happens, you enforce the idea that the command to come can safely be ignored. If, on a daily basis, this dog only comes in when he is ready, the only way IMHO to start working on this is to stop letting him out loose. I'd take him out on a leash. Start training recall all over, as if he were a puppy. That's normally done with a leash attached 'cause every time you say "come" and the pup doesn't, he's being trained--just not the way you intended! What I'd do is just following him around, let him have as much freedom as the leash allows, and then work on "come" and ever so gently reel him in using the leash, then treat and praise lavishly when he reaches you. You can also work on this in the house using the same method.

George is on Tramadol, and we share my prescription for my own arthritis. I would not use a vet who wouldn't write me a paper prescription to fill anywhere I want.

My mother always hires a sitter to stay at the house. I know that might be expensive, but if she can't go to a kennel, then it's a better option than having her alone all day and all night except walks. Not sure how that's better than being in a kennel? I take George out 4 or 5 times every day.

I'm sorry, but why don't you just close the dog door when you're not home?

I'm so sorry. I"m sure your boy knew how very much he was loved.

They need a "safe zone" they can get to and the dog can't. What's really easy is to put a baby gate across a door, and raise it up off the floor about 8 inches. Most cats hate ANY change in routine, and they can be pretty snotty about it. It could take a while (weeks!) but I'm sure they'll be OK.

I wouldn't worry about it. George makes all KINDS of noise in his sleep. Sleeps with his eyes open. Wags his tail madly without ever waking up. Barks. Yips. He is WAY noisier asleep than he is awake! He may well be whining and thinking, "Dang! I wish I could get down there!" but if he won't do it, he won't!

George has NEVER had a "normal" creatinine level--after about the fifth test, I send his blood/urine to Dr. Couto, who told me they were "perfectly normal for a Greyhound." So I can tell you that I think that one level, at least, is OK!