Jump to content

GreytHoundPoet

Members
  • Posts

    1,637
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by GreytHoundPoet

  1. Thank you, everyone. Your kind words mean a lot.
  2. We are absolutely heartbroken as we say goodbye to the matriarch of our pack, our queen, Lorelei. Lorelei was the dog that everyone loved, even people who didn't like dogs. She was sweet, adorable, kind, and incredibly empathetic. We always said she was everyone's dog, not just ours.She came to us almost 11 years ago (next week) as a foster and we never planned on keeping her. At that time we had an incredibly neurotic Galgo Espanol who bonded deeply with her. She was petite, pretty, sweet, and cat safe so we knew she would get a home quickly. Argos, however, had other ideas and destroyed our house when we took her to a meet and greet. When we came home with her he met us in a state of panic and shot straight to her as if he would never see her again. We always said that Argos adopted her right then and there. Over time she helped us teach him confidence and how to cope with a scary world. It was the first of many lives that she would touch in her 12 years.Lorelei loved everyone. She got along with every dog and person she ever met. She was a calm, steady presence in every situation. We fostered a long time and for years our home was a revolving door and she was always an integral part of pack integration going smoothly. Nobody could have a problem with Lolie.She really LOVED people. She was the perfect Renaissance Festival breed ambassador and therapy dog. She was gentle with those who needed it and fun-loving with those who wanted it. She attended several years of the Carolina and Georgia Renaissance Festivals and the Enchanted Chalice. She visited the elderly and young children and special needs children at various events. She was always incredibly well-mannered and never stepped a foot out of line. She was truly a very good girl. You could always rely on her being a perfect princess when it counted.Lorelei loved all dogs and especially puppies. She had a lot of health issues (mostly automimmune) for most of her life and acted like an old dog years before she should have but every time we brought her a puppy she came to life. She would run and play and bark and go wild with "her" babies. They brought her life and vitality and she took her role as Momma Lolie seriously. She raised Delilah, Finnegan, and Aziza as her own and all three are incredibly attached to her. They are going to be beyond devastated when they realize she is not coming home tonight. Every member of this pack came after her and respected her greatly so I anticipate a rough few days here.Lorelei was a quirky dog. She loved collecting toys and would hoard them in piles. She had the cutest little-dog yip and sweet smile and tail wag. She always met you at the gate with a smile and a cute little tail wag. She was simply adorable all the time and would charm everyone she met. We always joked that she was Princess LoLie of LoLie land and she had marshmallow clouds in her head and was made of sugar and iced with love. She was an incredibly happy dog.We are going to miss Lorelei so much. As many health issues as she has had we are fortunate she stayed with us as long as she did. The past few months have seen her going downhill rapidly. She was so exhausted and ready for a long rest. She went peacefully on my lap. This was written about Lorelei a few years ago. There are very few people who will deny that a Greyhound is a beautiful animal. They have been the dog of royalty and the chosen subject of art for centuries. Their regal, stylized form has become synonymous with the image of status and elegance. Even if the sighthound build isn't your preference, there is nothing quite like watching them run and I think most any dog lover will admit to that. Truly, they are the supermodels of the dog world: tall, leggy, graceful, low percentage of body fat...well, if that supermodel also sidelined as an Olympic sprinter. I have never shared my home with a Greyhound, though I've been an admirer since I first became aware of them. I am an online stalker of my many Greyhound friends, mulling over their photos of their beautiful dogs and I read the bios of the adoptable dogs from the many adoption groups and sigh. Someday, there will be a Greyhound (or two) on my couch, but at this time in my life they would not fit into my lifestyle, or my pack of very high energy dogs. Taking that into consideration, I leaped at the chance to spend a weekend with The Hounds of East Fairhaven, a group that promotes Greyhound education and adoption at Renaissance Festivals. I was able to spend the weekend playing dress up in good company, surrounded by wonderful dogs! These dogs were amazing ambassadors in every way. They were friendly and relaxed even in the middle of extreme chaos: huge crowds, camels, horses, loud music, people wearing masks and wild clothes, gun shots...they weren't phased. Which brings me to Lorelei, a young "racing school drop out" who preferred to sniff the roses rather than race. Lorelei belongs to my friend, Shannon, and she was "loaned" to me for the festival. Lorelei is a very beautiful, sweet girl who I've loved from afar for years; she is simply adorable from her sweet little tipped ears to the tiny curl in her tail. It is rumored that she may not be the very brightest of Greyhounds, as her head is filled with cotton candy clouds and sparkly stars, but she is simply brilliant in terms of empathic connection with people. Simply put, she loves everyone unreservedly. She enthusiastically approached every new person all weekend long, untiringly offering herself for pets and leans and winning new admirers, big and small. At one point, while walking through the milling crowds with hands reaching for her every few steps, we were stopped by a family with a small girl who wanted to see her and her "sister", Delilah. The mother warned that the child had a sensory issue that made it difficult to perceive the strength of her grip. For the next few moments, she hugged Lorelei a little too tight, patted her a little too hard, and Lorelei stood quietly and enjoyed every second of it. The child was delighted! However, later in the day, Lorelei did something that was truly touching. A very elderly woman came to visit the Hound Barn, being pushed in a wheelchair by her very elderly daughter. The mother was very fragile and infirm, and not all together there, but the sight of the dogs lying quietly in the barn made her sit up a little straighter. Lorelei, who had been lying half-asleep taking a break from her long day, spotted this woman immediately and leaped to her feet instantly and went to greet her. Her steps slowed the closer she came, her head lowered and her whole demeanor softened. By the time she reached the woman, she was moving very gently and carefully. She stopped by her side and lowered her head into the woman's lap and stood very still while the woman took Lorelei's head between her hands and pet her somewhat awkwardly. The woman's whole face just lit up in the most beautiful smile and she began saying, "Oh, you are so pretty! Look at you!" They stayed like that together for quite some time, with the daughter standing by looking on. The daughter was so thrilled, and I could tell that it made the day better for both of them. Lorelei, to me, is a wonderful example of what is truly beautiful about Greyhounds: their empathetic, loving personalities. The elegant, sleek form is just the pretty wrapping paper on the true gift!
  3. Welcome back. I'm not on here much either anymore, but I pop in on occasion to see how things are going.
  4. We had several cut fresh off the deer and none of my Greyhounds, Ibizans, or my Galgo would chew them. I gave them to a friend with breeds known to be heavier chewers and they devoured them.
  5. There are no podenco adoption groups or breeders that will place a dog with an electric fence. Their prey drives are significantly more intense than most dogs and they'd ignore a shock in pursuit. They'd probably also never cross back over the barrier to re-enter the yard. Also, invisible fences offer no protection for your dog and allows people, other dogs, and prey animals to enter the yard so they're really just not a good solution for safety. I have 5 Podenco Ibicenco (Ibizan Hounds) and they would keep hunting through any injury or shock. When they are focused nothing stops them.
  6. I have several raised beds and I have never had a single Greyhound or Ibizan use them without me adding some type of pillow or padding on them. I use outdoor furniture cushions.
  7. I missed the sign up. I had to put down one of my pets and didn't have the funds. I look forward to seeing what everyone gets!
  8. I'm really considering it. I need to take a look at my budget.
  9. Ohhh...despite previous experiences I am tempted to sign up since it is the last one. I'll think about it.
  10. We have used these for years, even on the show dogs, without fur rubbing. They hold up beautifully, don't smell, and clean easily as well. https://www.lcsupply.com/LCS-Reflective-Day-Glow-O-Ring/productinfo/RDCO/ Super reflective
  11. I keep getting an error when I upload a signature that says it exceeds the size. I have uploaded several smaller than 500 x 150 and received the same message. Then I had one made for me and it is 500 x 150 and I am getting the same error.
  12. I've run the gamut with Greyhound toe injuries. If there is any swelling we go to the vet. Otherwise, I give them 2-3 days to stop favoring it or limping. After 3 days we go to the vet. We've had simple dislocations (often) and ligament avulsions (less often but about 12 weeks of crate rest and healing). I'm sure I could get you a recommendation for a Greyhound savvy vet from the performance and show folks I know across the country. My vet practice has 3 super sighthound savvy vets. One worked with racing Greyhounds for years and bred and owned Borzoi. I drive 45 minutes and pass 6 other vets to get to them.
  13. I add some more, but not enough to be a full day's worth of food because I don't want them having to digest one huge meal. If they get too ridiculous with skipping meals I add in some dehydrated food mush to add some calories without having to cram a ton of food into them.
  14. I feed twice daily whether they eat or not. Feeding twice daily is recommended to reduce the chances of bloat, as you mentioned, and also helps reduce stomach upset and throwing up bile in my home. We refrigerate any leftover food from breakfast and offer it for dinner. I have a Greyhound who skips the occasional meal regularly and maintains perfect weight so she does not concern my vet. If she started dropping weight or acting differently I would worry but she has done it since she came home at 15-months-old and is 10 now and still doing it. Incidentally, upping the amount of exercise that my picky dogs get makes them eat more consistently in my home.
  15. Congrats on your new adoption! I would love to see a picture. This is a question for your vet because it concerns the health of your dog. The internet and peers are great but I'd trust medical advice from a professional over random adopters. It is likely that your vet will tell you that water restriction can be dangerous and result in dehydration, bladder stones, urinary tract infections, and psychological water obsessive behaviors. I have never limited water and never will because healthy dogs should self-limit themselves. My dogs regulate their water consumption appropriately. I have water in the living room, the dog room, and outside. In fact, one of my dogs fell ill and did not drink enough and ended up in the hospital for two days on fluids. About $2,000 and a head of grey hair later she was fine but now I watch how much she consumes like a hawk. I've had well over 100 Greyhounds cross my door and they all adjusted from life at the track fairly quickly and easily. They had access to water 24-7 in my home and I never had an issue.
  16. Neither of my boys lasted a week past diagnosis. Lucius shattered his shoulder the day after diagnosis and had to be put down in the middle of the night. It was the most horrifying thing I have seen as a pet owner. It has been a couple years and I still see it in my mind. The x rays showed that it was the early stages but that didn't matter. My heart dog, Timmy, had a crooked right back leg and permanent limp from a racing injury that never healed right. I got it x-rayed every year and arthritis ate that leg up. His osteo developed in his right front leg. With only one functioning side he couldn't walk, wasn't a candidate for amputation, and he was miserable and in pain. Within the same six month span of losing my boys to Osteo, Lucius' littermate also developed it. She had the amputation and chemo and lived another year. They lost her to heart failure. As a pet owner, we get some of the greatest joys and the most painful decisions. I have never known anyone, including myself, that regretted letting a dog go just a little early while they still had some quality of life. Everyone I know, including myself, that let a dog go too late regretted it.
  17. Hee hee...all in good time. All I will say now is that a dog I have loved from afar (and attempted to good-naturedly steal on several occasions when we were in the same place) is coming to live with me. It is an honor and a dream come true.
  18. Our staple is the shredded chicken and rice but we've also used the sensitive stomach lamb. We used Taste of the Wild forever with my Galgo, Dalmatian, and Greyhounds. The beezers just did terrible on grain free. I know quite a few who have had the same experiences.
  19. I've never had a gassy Greyhound despite the numerous fosters and visitors plus my personal dogs. I've tried the gamut of foods, from super high end to what some people consider pretty low brow, trying to find the perfect food that everyone will eat (that is a huge task with 3 of my picky brats) and have healthy digestion. We've had the most success with Pro Plan overall. It came highly recommended from most of my lure coursing and conformation showing friends, several of which are vets. Maintaining proper fit condition is a must for performance hounds and everyone who uses it has fit, active, beautiful dogs. We have no gas, no digestion issues, good appetites, great coats and muscle tone, and since I feed 6 (soon to be 7) dogs I get to turn in my weight circles for "checks" that cover $7 worth of each bag of food I buy. It all depends on what your dog does best on. For example, my Greyhounds did great on grain free but my Ibizans did awful and could not maintain any weight on it.
  20. Mine last 8 months for ticks. I'm on my 4th year with them. Ticks can get on the dog but die before they can do any damage. They have to be fitted snug to work. Many people keep them too loose on the neck. Anything Greyhounds can handle should be fine for most breeds (except certain things with MDR1 sensitive breeds), barring any individual responses.
  21. Mine haven't been sick but three of my dogs have decided that they don't want to eat it anymore.
  22. High energy Greyhounds are uncommon but certainly exist and often take people by surprise. Most truly do settle as they age. However, the girl I brought home at 8-weeks-old is still wild at 8-years-old. She's the exception, not the rule. She's lived with high energy breeds all her life (a Dalmatian and Ibizan Hounds, which are like Dalmatians on springs with sleeker bodies). I channelled her energy for years into hiking, lure coursing, fetch, and training. She's slowing down now (she's more like a 2-year-old Greyhound instead of a puppy ). I'd recommend daily training (you need to nip that lunging and poor leash behavior now before they become a bigger issue). Sometimes mental stimulation will tire them out quickly. I use puzzle toys for meals with my energetic dogs and do short training exercises throughout the day (after work). Keep up with the walks, perhaps increase the pace. You may be able to turn that toy drive into brain games. A tired dog is a happy owner.
×
×
  • Create New...