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PrairieProf

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Posts posted by PrairieProf

  1. Rule of thumb I understand, is they like greys to gain at least 5 lbs over racing weight. Mine are both a bit above that and have ribs and tuck and I see ribs on your girl so I think she's perfect. Rough when they go up and down due to sickness but I think you're doing fine with her. She's got the tucked tummy too. Enjo

     

     

    This "five pounds" is terrible advice as a blanket thing. Wish people/groups would stop repeating it. Some dogs need to gain weight but many are perfect at their racing weight or, as they lose muscle, might even need to be beneath it. Also five pounds is a very different thing on a 55-60 pound girl vs. a big boy!

  2. After a near-brush with pancreatitis we put Beth on Hill's I/D and she's done so fabulously on it in every way I've never wanted to change (she's been on it 2+ years now). It's low fat/moderate protein but not a weight loss food. All of the poop problems she used to have are gone. Of course I get that you don't want the $$$ of prescription food. She maintains her weight easily and everyone comments on her silky coat.

     

    There are also a couple of hounds on this forum who have IBD issues and can ONLY eat I/D -- but on it they are stable. I don't love paying for it and I don't know what the secret it, but I'm a believer.

  3. It is easier for them to sit on a slope facing downwards. Mine will sit spontaneously on a hill all the time. I had trouble teaching Beth to sit at first but as soon as I gave the signal (raising a treat sort of backwards over her head) with her on a slope, she got it immediately and quickly generalized to doing it on the flat.

     

    At least one other person on GT has had success with this method, and I found on Facebook that a trainer who works extensively with greyhounds uses precisely this technique -- I was very proud I figured it out all on my own.

  4. I don't know about a "dominance" behavior, but one of the books I read talked about how personal space is a huge part of dog's social language, and there are three recurring, basic statements/questions that occur. "I'm on top. I'm in front. This is mine." And to a lesser extent "can I crowd?" So in dog language, she COULD be staking a claim over the baby "this is my tiny human/this is mine." (the book also talks about how dogs need to feel "owned" hence the "this is mine" part of their vocabulary. "This is my dog" is comforting and a source of security for dogs.)

    Side issue, but what book is this? Sounds fascinating. Haven't encountered these ideas.

  5. My greyhound stands over any dog she can (well, any greyhound she can, but I'm pretty sure she's tried to do it over other dogs if they are lying down) and will stand over my legs if I sit down on the floor with her. Seems to be a greyhound thing, it's quite common. Both she and other greyhounds (unless they have space issues) seem perfectly relaxed about it. She is a very confident dog but it has never seemed a dominance move in a way I would worry about. But I wouldn't have a baby on the floor under the dog or that close to a dog in a vulnerable position, to say nothing of someone else's baby.

  6. Wow, that gives me chills! You have the most amazing adoption stories! A friend for Biggy and a link to Havok at the same time. I wish you many years of happiness with her!

     

    Just looked her up -- Flying Penske girl, cool! And she was born in the same month as my Beth.

  7. Are you using high-value treats as part of these walking attempts? (Something like a bit of cheese or hot dog or boiled chicken breast.) If she's really stressed she might not even be interested in food, but holding out a tasty tidbit in front of her would be a better way to get her to move forward than hauling on her collar. If there are some really fab treats she only gets while walking, you might find her interest in it quickly increases.

  8. I crated mine at night for a few weeks at least (it's been five years, don't recall). Among other things you will probably sleep better if you don't have to be hypervigilant every time your grey moves that he's going to have an accident or get into trouble in some way. Mine had never been in a house before and after some whining the first night or two was fine. And if you're going to crate when you leave (I still do, Beth likes the crate and it works for us) there's no reason not to keep him used to it.

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