GeorgeofNE

Just an FYI--because a dog's sense of smell is so much keener than ours, I never use fabric softener on my dog's stuff. To me it would be like forcing him to sit next to someone on the bus who had drenched themselves with cologne or perfume, and I know I HATE that!

George had elevated ALT after being given Valerian Root extract to help with SA. The vet had never used it on a dog before. Anyway, she recommended milk thistle--and I ordered it from Amazon.com Probably just stopping the Valerian root did as much as the milk thistle--but within 6 weeks he was back to normal. Sorry, can't remember what dose, but I know she didn't seem to care what variety I ordered.

Just want to clarify that you are letting her out when you come home mid-day? This sounds like a UTI to me.

I think that greyhounds who DON'T have fenced yards, particularly single ones like mine, actually get more regular exercise. Let's face it, many single dogs just don't do much when you open up your back door and let them out.

DAP seemed to help my dog. And no, you don't need to use it forever! Does your camera have two-way audio? When I first got Buck, he had very, very mild SA. When he would start to whine, I would speak to him through my phone via the camera and just start with, "You're OK." If he kept it up I'd say, "That's enough now." If he got loud I'd say, "Knock that off!" Worked really well! After a week, he was sleeping all day, every day. I have the most distressing videotape of George (my first). My former neighbors had complained about him howling, "for hours." I didn't believe them. I set up an old fashioned camcorder pointed at his crate. The second he was finished with his Kong, he tipped back his head and let out the most god awful howling noise. And he went on and on and on and on until the 2 hour tape ran out. That was the last day he spent in his crate!

No offense to the physical therapist, but I wouldn't take his or her word for it being a muscle injury based on physical exam. I'd get x-rays.

Yes, that's classic separation anxiety. You should search this forum for the topic--there are dozens of them, I'm sure, and read up on what you can do. Most important, in my opinion, is sufficient exercise. I assume you go to work during the day--and then you also go out at night? Often, or just on occasions? Dogs are extremely social creatures, and if he's spending much of his time alone, he's bored, he's lonely, and he's probably confused too. I found with my guy who had SA, doubling the amount of time I walked him in the morning helped, and I stuck to a very structured routine so he always knew exactly what was going to happen. He learned that yes, I was going to leave in the morning, but I ALWAYS came back, and then I paid plenty of attention to him in the evening.

My dog basically ignores both cats, but one cat is very enamoured of the dog, so they interact because the cat wants to. The 13 year old ignores the dog and the dog ignores the cat.

You could take canned vegetable for travelling.

Allergies. Seasonal allergies TYPICALLY manifest as itchy armpits, ears, etc. Paw chewing is a classic sign of a food allergy. Having had TWO dogs will allergies, I feel your pain. I just hope Buck remains allergy free, as I could really use a break!

Leash walk him in the yard until he gets the idea. I don't think it's possible to "physically damage himself." When he has to pee badly enough, he'll go. Maybe outside, maybe not! Be patient. He'll figure it out! Susan (who has been getting up at 5 AM for about 17 years now!)

In most parts of the US, you have no legal recourse if you allow your cat outside and it is killed. I personally would not be worried about that aspect. Cats carry nasty bacteria though, so I hope that your vet puts your dog on some serious antibiotics as a precaution. I'm sorry this happened to you. I'm sure it was traumatic. But it's not your fault, and it's not Charlie's fault. I love my cats way too much to put them at risk for something like that happening, and I think people who let their cats roam are just asking for trouble.

I'm wondering why, if he has, as you say, a "keen desire to avoid other dogs" you keep taking him to the park?

Why do you feel you HAVE TO be the "fun police"? If they're not fighting, I'd let them have a good time.

That does sound like a disaster waiting to happen. And with that long grass, heaven only knows what lurks beneath!

She doesn't know her name because it's not uncommon for adoption groups to simply give them a new name from the one they had at the track. And even if they didn't, the kennel keepers might have called her something else, or simply, "hey you" or "cutie pie" or whatever! I got George when he was five He was at the same track his entire career. He did not know his name (Chile) at all! I found his kennel keeper on facebook, and it turns out they called him Chile Cheese Fries! He learned "George" in about three days. If he could do it, any dog can do it! Buck was called Player at the first adoption group he was at. Then he was called Paulie at the second one (I have no idea what his actual call name was--he was at the track for a very short time). Even though he knew Paulie (he was waiting for a home for nine months), I hated that name. I called him Harry for two days, and then changed it to Buck. He seems to like Buck, and he learned it very quickly! Be patient with Rosey. Try luring her out of her crate with a treat rather than physically pulling on her. Same for last outs. She's confused and scared, but she'll come around! Took my George 18 months to finally settle in (he was a hard, hard case!!). Only took Buck three weeks.

Expect it to take MUCH longer than with a "regular" dog. I've been training dogs for over 40 years, and I actually gave up on my first Greyhound he was so completely and throughly disinterested in the entire concept!!! Buck (current hound) is somewhat better. He will sit and lay down and it was actually pretty easy to teach him. But when we're outside he is far too nervous about the world to focus on me. So I just work on safe leash walking (not jumping into the road, etc.) cause that's all he can handle.

I don't think it's a Basset, I think it's an overweight Beagle! All I know about Beagles is they tend to bark/howl a LOT.

One day, and you're impatient? Try to relax! Adopting an adult dog who isn't used to living in a house is basically the same as getting a puppy. You need to act as if this dog is just a baby and knows NOTHING. It's up to you to guide her. But if she's not feeling well, your first step (and I see you've got it planned) is take her to the vet. Good luck. It will get better!

A newly adopted dog should go to the vet anyway. She could easily have parasites or something else going on.

You may or may not know that George had an ongoing pee problem, and many a day I came home to a soggy belly band or carpet. Like your Capri, he ALWAYS went right near the slider (actually lifted his leg and peed on the glass). Instead of always stressing about it, I put down human incontinence pads where he was peeing anyway. Problem solved. I expect this would be a lot easier than convincing her to go in the shower! As long as you have a washer, the pads are very easy to deal with-machine wash, hang dry, but four of them and you always have one handy.

She may or may not like going to daycare, but she may also be confused about where she belongs if she is spending all that time there, basically alone in her "suite." Is that her home? Is your house her home? Just my opinion because I have a semi-spook and I know his most favorite thing of all is to be on HIS couch. When grocery boy comes (he is terrified of men) he lays on his couch, frozen like a rabbit, hoping he is invisible. That's what makes him most comfortable! The stress of being surrounded by other dogs she doesn't want to and cannot interact with would concern ME. George was with the group of GW dogs named after citrus fruits. I think it was just him (Lime) and one other (Lemon, renamed by her family, thank God).

If only one dog is snapping, I don't understand why you'd muzzle them all. Keep her seperated from the other dogs when you're not home, muzzle her when you are. She could be in pain, and reacting to that. She could be senile. Poor vision and perhaps partial hearing loss could be an issue. No dog in my family history, except one English Setter, ever made it to 14 years old. Well done!

George successfully conquered his SA. What worked for him was NO crate, NO confinement of any kind, DAP diffusers, and an extra long walk every morning. He was five when I adopted him. Any change in routine would set him off, but we did get to a point where he was quite all day, and that's all I really needed!

I wonder if she'd be happier if you stopped sending her to daycare? I know that Buck sleeps ALL DAY on his couch while I'm at work. He is happiest inside, at home. I do walk him daily--he's not crazy about it, but I don't have a yard. She doesn't NEED to be at daycare unless you work crazy long hours, and it could be that the entire process is upsetting to her. Just my 2 cents!