GeorgeofNE

I don't know how you train out what a Greyhound has been bred to do for (they say) about 2,000 years.

I've never trained with treats before George--but George just wasn't responsive to learning for praise alone, so I got in a TERRIBLE habit, whilst going through the long and painful process of housebreaking him of giving him a half a treat every time he peed outside. Seven years later, he DEMANDS his treats after every leg lift! Sometimes he even fakes it. I'm SOOO weak when it comes to this because we've had such a pee struggle-- I also thought it would be smart (hah!) to give him a treat when the train went by on our walks--you know, so he would associate the extremely LOUD noise with a good thing. Now all he has to do is hear it in the distance and he looks at me with that, "Well?" look on his face! Argh! As to Jack sitting, I would consider that earning it. He learned the task well enough that the command isn't needed. My last dog was taught that while at heel, when I stopped walking he was to sit and NOT MOVE when I stopped walking. My goal was for him to do that automatically. And he did. He was never, ever given treats while training, just praise.

Take a deep breath. You won't end up with a flea infested house just because a couple of fleas were on your dog. I know they're icky, but since you (presumably) found them right away, they haven't had time to take up residence in your house. A flea has no desire to leave it's nice, warm, yummy host, your dog, and move into your carpet. Wash your dog's stuff, vacuum like mad, and I expect all will be well!

I really don't think that Wellness petfood is foolish enough to put a toxic dose of anything in their food on purpose.

Some dogs are obsessed with chewing on sticks. I expect the target market for that product is the owner of a dog who is a stick chewer who is sick of picking up bark! I give my dog marrow bones. Cheap, he loves them, and the grocery guy delivers them!

One of the reasons I just knew George was the dog for me is that he drank out of my coffee cup when I went to meet him at his foster home! It wouldn't even occur to me to worry if my dog drank a bit of my coffee! Now, if he ate a pound of coffee beans....

I'd have the vet look at it. I've never heard of a dog that concerned about stitches.

If she's fine once she's in, don't feel bad about leading her to the door and giving her a little nudge. She's testing you. Don't let her win if you need her to be crated!

If you have had Greyhounds for 10 years, what do you think you're going to learn from some kid at Petsmart in a class? Train him yourself at home! Save yourself some $$ and teach him what you know he needs to know!

There is NO WAY this dog should be in the dog park yet. Maybe after you've had him for a while, but not yet. You are just begging for trouble. For what it's worth, I live in a condo. I have a Greyhound. The few times I've taken him to places to run, he could care less. All he wanted to do was sniff and pee. I wager he gets as much, or more exercise than the average Greyhound who has a fenced back yard because he is leash walked 5x a day, 365 days a year. Greyhounds are among the laziest beasts on the planet. It's a myth that they "need" to run loose.

I know how you feel. George has similar problems--not quite as bad, yet. But I own my condo, and it's up three flights of stairs, and I cannot carry 64 pounds up the stairs. I suppose I could, in a life or death situation once, but not the five times a day he goes out. I know that he will end up leaving me sooner than he would have to if I had a home with a yard and a way to get him in and out without the stairs, and it breaks my heart because I used to own a condo WITH AN ELEVATOR. I moved because I didn't like my neighbors. I still have whacko neighbors at the new place, but no elevator! Argh.

My "quote" feature no longer functions on GT (nor does cut and paste!) but this is supposed to be a reply to post #32. "People" may use a prong collar inside out on purpose, but that doesn't make it less stupid or less hilarious! And in fact in my 12 years living in a city full of pit bulls, I never ever saw anyone else doing that. You can buy a thick leather spiked collar at pretty much any big pet store. I'm relatively certain that particular thug was just a moron and NOT trying to protect his dog since he wouldn't even show his ID to get his dog treatment. Sadly, many bad people consider a pit bull a disposable weapon.

I'd take a sample of urine in to the vet if my dog started peeing inside! Rule out medical first, at least for the part of the problem. No idea where you live, but could you have an animal whose made a home under your porch or something like that? We once discovered termites when our rock steady, calm as could be English Setter started frantically scratching at the floor of our screen porch. He could hear the destructive little buggers eating the wood! Put on your detective hat and really think about all possibilities for the anxiety.

It's no big deal. Just be glad it didn't drop off and land where you could step on it, cause that happened to me once when I was a kid and it was all kinds of disgusting!!!!

On a lighter note, I used to live in Brighton (which is really just a part of Boston they call Brighton) and the vet I used was Angell Memorial, a major veterinary teaching hospital. It's in a very urban area, and open 24/7, so they get lots of rather unsavory types coming in at all hours. One night I was there with an emergency, and some young fellow with his pants half off, sideways hat, down jacket in the summer came in with his unneutered Pit Bull, and he had a pinch collar--but it was inside/out! In other words, this chucklehead had put the collar on so the prongs were OUT. It was hilarious! When he found out he needed to show ID to be seen, he left, but I've never forgotten that particular sight.

Why would you need to notify a rental landlord? Believe me, I'm sure much more horrific things run through a rental property that no one ever tells anyone about! An in-house pet sitter would probably cost less than boarding two dogs (at least it would here) so if that's an option you'd do, I'd look into that! Dogs are happier, and you don't have to go pick them up when you come home!

I don't ever use people shampoo on dogs. They're not babies after all! Most Greyhounds have dry, not sensitive, skin. I like a shampoo for dry (dog) skin. In case you're not aware, some greyhounds will actually "faint" while being bathed if the water is too warm. Mine did the first time and I thought I had killed him! So if you're doing your first bath, make sure the water is NOT too hot!

I agree with Batmom. You CAN cut your dog's leg off, irradiate him, fill him with chemicals, and HOPE you get another year or 18 months. Or you can accept that osteo is a painful, progressive disease and put an end to the dog's suffering. People like to write about what a "fighter" their dog is. The dog has no choice. The dog isn't given the option to refuse the treatment. It's the owners who fight. I think, given a choice, most dogs would opt to go sooner rather than be subjected to all the treatment. I'm not saying it's wrong if you choose aggressive treatment. But I wouldn't. George had an ultrasound a year or so ago. I told the vet if she found cancer, to call me while he was still under because my intention was to put him to sleep without ever waking him. I personally think it's a kinder option. Dogs cannot possibly understand why all the things that need to be done in an aggressive course of action are being done. The fear, pain, and stress--is it worth it TO YOUR DOG? I doubt it. Just my 2 cents.

At 14, there is probably very little you can do for her except give her anything she wants, love her, and prepare yourself for the inevitable. Sounds like she has gotten senile. If she's losing weight their no doubt IS a medical reason--it just hasn't been figured out yet. I don't personally no how effective the doggy dementia medication is, but you might discuss that with your vet.

Prong collar and pinch collar are the same. Most people today have NO IDEA how to properly use or fit one (you take the collar apart to put it on). I used one on my Pit bull/shepherd mix when he was young, but only after fitting it to my own thigh and giving myself a "correction" and seeing it is no more uncomfortable than a choke collar. Like anything else, it can be a proper tool if used by someone who knows how to use it. But anyone who would put one on a greyhound is not someone I would trust to go anywhere near my dog. Clearly they don't know a thing about Greyhound skin!

Throw rugs. George remains terrified of any shiny floor after all these years. I don't think he's ever had a bad experience, it's just who he is. I bet you're right--she fell--and who knows how long before she gets over it, if ever!

I don't consider 2 hours a long car trip. The risk of stopping and letting the dog out, a dog who doesn't know you or trust you, is far, far greater than just driving. And in case no one told you, NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER leave your dog in the car in the summer unless the engine is running and the air conditioning is blasting.

Steroids don't actually do a thing for the compressed nerves in the spinal column--so unless your dog's issue was related to inflammation AROUND the spine, you won't see any change at all.

What made you give her a baby asprin? Dogs CAN take asprin, and a baby sized dose isn't big enough--but it should be buffered (Ascriptin is good). But asprin thins the blood and increases the potential for bleeding problems, so it's really not a good choice for a CUT. I suppose you wanted to do something for the pain? Now you no! No asprin for cuts!

As greyhounds are raised in packs, there are rarely any problems. I personally think two boys are much more apt to get along than either two girls, or a boy and a girl.