GeorgeofNE

I'd love to know what group you got your dog from--clearly one that believes the kennel life racers do so well in is somehow unkind... Retired racers don't need "crate training." They come already crate trained. Some of them do very well in their pet homes continuing with the crate (particularly useful until they're housebroken), and some of them hate it. If he isn't soiling in the house, or destroying things, I wouldn't bother with a crate at this point. What's more difficult is expecting him to just fit in and settle in without having any kind of established routine. You should try and work up a schedule that gets him out and walked at least 5 times a day, and he should get as much exercise (leash walking is great for that with a new dog) as possible. A tired dog is more inclined to peacefully snooze while you're gone. Since you'll be the dog's primary caregiver, it's going to be up to you to set the schedule. I'd pretend that the boyfriend isn't there, and try and get the dog in a routine that will work once he's gone. It will be very hard on the dog to get used to a schedule of having someone home all day, and then suddenly be alone all day.

If I were in your shoes, I would not get a kitten for many reasons--but if you feel your children are responsible enough to understand that letting the cat outside is unacceptable, I might consider adopting an adult cat, preferably one who had lived with a dog before. Until such time as your children can be trusted not to let the cat "escape" (I've had cats for years, and never once has one of them gotten out--it's not THAT hard to prevent), I would not get a cat at all.

I have what I call a "cautious" dog. I only work on training indoors, except recall (on leash only) outside. He has come miles and miles with his fears through walking with me, a confident protector figure. It's important, I believe, that you really project a confident self when walking a nervous type. Don't let the leash out very far--keep the dog close, be ready to grab the leash near the collar if the dog spooks/jumps, and keep up the cheerful "let's go, it's OK" chatter. Buck was just terrified at first, but now he actually enjoys our walks--granted they are in the wee hours of the morning and there aren't a lot of challenges for him! But I do also walk him on weekends during the day, and things that formerly terrified him (a rock painted white, a flappy flag, etc.) no longer bother him at all. Last night he finally did a nice "sit" without me having to touch his hind end to remind him what I was expecting. I was so proud!

I agree with Nancy. It's not the foot. I would guess ACL. I know that tears are rare in Greyhounds, but my old dog, Kramer, ruptured his ACL and he would not use his leg at all. If she tweaked it, I can imagine that's how she'd walk. The vet will check for the "drawer" sign, I'm sure. If her lower leg can move in a certain manner in the wrong direction at the "knee" that will point strongly to the ACL.

He really needs to sleep IN your room. Sounds like he's one of those dogs that has to be taken out after eating. ALWAYS. Here is what my day is like (going into year #20): 5:30 AM, alarm. Throw on pants and shoes, take dog out for tinkle break Inside, feed dog (and cats). Have coffee, check the news. 6:15 AM, 30 minute walk with dog. 7 AM, leave for work 4:20 PM, return from work. IMMEDIATELY take dog outside. Feed animals again. 5:30 PM, short walk around the property 8:30 PM, last tinkle break (and only this early because of see step #1). My current dog doesn't really require the 5:30 PM, but if it's decent out, I'll take him. My first greyhound would literally tinkle on the carpet if he wasn't walked after every meal and also any time I left him and returned--even if it was only 30 minutes. Neither of my Greyhounds has drunk a lot, so don't worry too much if yours doesn't either.

Buck has 10 "nibbles," which I think is more than normal for a boy... Again, has nothing to do with your post, but there it is!

As counter intuitive as it may be, the BEST thing for arthritis is--to keep exercising! You don't want to over due it, but regular exercise is critical as you dog ages. As well as keeping him slim and trim.

As an arthritis sufferer, I would like to point out that if he has pain from inflammation, you'd want to apply ICE, not heat. You aren't supposed to even use a heating pad on elderly people, because of the risk. I don't think I'd put it on my dog, personally.

Lots of hounds seem to get to a point where they say "enough" with crating. It's possible that 1) she picked up a bug at the kennel, or 2) she's telling you in the best way she knows how she doesn't want to be crated any longer.

Ditto what everyone has already said. I wouldn't spend a lot of money investigating a heart problem. Just don't bath her again (and for what it's worth, being new to you, taken to a strange place, and bathed by a total stranger probably didn't help) and it's kind of a non-issue.

Get some human hospital type incontinence pads, as they are durable and washable, and just place them where she likes to sleep,and carry on! She can't help it.

I'll add this: don't bother with "large breed" formulas. Typically the only difference is a larger kibble size, and really, the dogs don't care!

Sorry I didn't answer sooner--George had bloodwork every six months, but he was an older dog. My Kramer took Rimadyl for years (he was a mongrel) and he only got tested annually at first, then as he got old, every six months. It's not a particularly expensive test. Also, I always buy my Deramaxx from 1-800-PetMeds because my vet charged a fortune for it.

Ducky, I know you're an experienced dog owner--but every dog I've ever had would eat any time, night or day. Last night I was eating some cheesecake from the company party, and the CAT was so determined to get it I had to lock him in the bedroom. Meanwhile, Buck was on the other side, and he most certainly did look as if he would die if he did not get to eat cheesecake too. Maybe he's just a food lover, and not actually hungry? You indicate he's overweight. How many times do we (people) eat when we have the chance, hungry or not?

Not meaning to insult you or anything--but the vet who is considered by most as the foremost Greyhound expert in the country (if not the world) regular gives speeches, and when I heard him, he said he assumes that any Greyhound who breaks a bone doing relatively routine things has osteo until he proves otherwise. Oh, it's Guillermo Couto, the vet several people mentioned, above. Your vet is probably (I hope) aware of the very high incidence of bone cancer in NGA Greyhounds, and frankly it is rather shocking to me and probably a lot of us that you seem determined not to even consider the possibility, and that your vet is just brushing off the whole "disappearing bone" thing. It's a fairly classic sign of osteo.

If it were my dog, I'd ask Dr. Couto to review the films. Something like 40% of osteo cases are only found when a dog breaks a leg.

My family dog almost took my arm off when I approached him in the car one day when I happened upon Mother's car parked in town. Freaked me out. Very territorial of the car!!

I have a bit of the same issue--3 year old dog, had him a few months, 9 times out of 10 he adores getting pets and loved on, and then that 10th time he'll growl. I just say, "Ok, I hear you" and ignore him for a while.

Any way to just separate that cat from the dog on a semi-permanent basis? Like make him your upstairs cat? A cat scratch on the nose can get badly infected. And even the best natured dog can turn in a heartbeat if push comes to shove, so to speak.

Oh, a lighted stroller! How about a baby back pack? I used to know an awesome woman who had her dog long before her child. She would put her newborn in one of those baby carrier things, use her husband's coat, fasten it right over the baby (he was asleep) and trek to the dog park like she had always done. You'd never even know the baby was under there unless he woke up! I was really impressed that she went to that length for her first "baby." What if you go out in the yard and try and play with her? Your baby could be in a baby securing device of some sort--

I actually disagree about the pain killers. Too much pain relief and they'll be acting like they don't have stitches, which could then easily tear open.

My BROTHER ate a glass ornament (well, took a good bite anyway) when he was a toddler! My mother freaked out, naturally. She called the doctor and he calmly said, "First one this year!"