PrairieProf

I am very sorry for your loss.

The longer Beth holds it, the firmer it gets. The second poo is always looser. But if she doesn't usually have pudding poo, it's probably food-related. We use TOTW Salmon and I'd like to try the High Prairie one, but I can just about feel the pudding coming when I read the ingredients list.

If she's playbowing, it sounds like she wants to play -- my understanding is that's a pretty unambiguous, hard-wired sign among dogs (I don't know what "dominance play" means). And chasing is the main way greyhounds play. Are you sure the whining isn't excitement/frustration at wanting contact with other dogs? Does she get any time to, you know, be a dog with other dogs?? In my view that's crucial to any dog's mental well-being. So I would find it hard to tell from your post whether your dog actually has an issue with other dogs or is just beside herself wanting a chance to play. I mean, I know the behavior you're describing is a problem, but expecting to extinguish that behavior without letting her play with appropriate dogs in appropriate contexts (like a greyhound playdate) doesn't seem quite fair. I'd say she needs a lot of exposure and conditioning -- positive reinforcement when she behaves quietly walking with other dogs in view. A positive-reinforcement based obedience training class would be great because it would give you guidance with techniques on this and lots of opportunity to practice in a controlled setting with feedback.

Wow, welcome! It's wonderful to have you here. Being such a grey-experienced veterinarian is going to make you veeery popular around here I suspect! Hope you'll share some pictures of your amazing pack!

I am so sorry for your loss. What an adorable and amazing girl she obviously was! I've never seen anything like those hugs. I hope in time the pictures help you hold on to many happy memories.

Welcome to GT and greyhound ownership! There is such a wealth of information on this forum ... my advice is to browse the archives and use the search function if you have a question -- not that you can't post too, of course, but there's such great advice on anything you're likely to wonder about already waiting for you. And be sure to post pictures!

I've heard the girls are often better at leaping in because they always get the upper crates at the kennel. Mine always leaps right in unless she's distracted or needs to reposition for a better angle, so unfortunately I can't offer any suggestions!

I can't comment on the standing, but Beth sits spontaneously pretty often -- in the same situations you cite. She very often sits when she's on any kind of hill facing downwards. I think the way it's a "mom, I'm bored" sign when I'm talking to someone is pretty funny. FWIW I don't think she ever sphinxes outdoors unless she's been running and is hot/tired. I think the idea that all greyhounds hate to sit may be overrated as a generalization. Those who do it spontaneously clearly don't hate it. Beth sits on command, too, but once she got the idea that doing so was a source of treats she'll drop into a sit while we're on a walk to bribe me for a treat, even when I don't want her to!

Can't you do a short walk in the neighborhood, if that's what it takes? Many of us get up early to do that, and most of us walk at least twice a day. You seem to think she's trying to psych you out and, you know, she just may need to walk. Give her the benefit of the doubt -- she's probably not being "stubborn" or trying to play you (in my experience that's more typical behavior from my undergraduate students than from my dog!), she just doesn't want to go in the yard. I quickly realized that leash-walking is much less frustrating than hanging around the yard checking your watch thinking "Oh for heaven's sake go, go, go....." Beth almost always goes in the first five minutes of her morning walk.

Welcome to GT ... here, have some Kool-Aid!

I am so sorry. Nasal cancer is what took my precious cat Quinn ... I know, not even a kind of cancer you ever thought about before. I hope you have much good time left with Indy still.

We have a small weekly greyhound playdate in Waterloo, Iowa (northeast Iowa). The day and time shifts with the seasons, contact me for more info!

Sorry, none here, though I'm sure others will ... Beth also only pees in the backyard -- it's very small, and we don't even use it all that much (she also only pees in others' larger backyards). She generally needs to walk briskly for a couple of blocks on leash before she's ready to do #2 -- or trot around for a while at the dog park. I have not myself felt the need to mess with her preferences; as long as we have a routine that works for both of us, I'm happy, and I'd be taking her out on leash or to a park morning and evening anyway. You might try leash-walking her around the yard -- she may just physically need to move more to have the urge to go. Of course once you're doing that, a walk around the block is more fun for both of you.

That's good news. Beth leaned into the pressure that way too. Really dig those fingers in there -- that's what my vet showed me to do! I'd still encourage you to go to the vet and get a prescription for Deramax or something -- it's like doggy ibuprofen, which I'd certainly want to be able to take if I were sore that way.

Oh yes, I was told to do the massaging too -- forgot all about it! I did it several times a day for a few weeks, up and down the neck with firm circular pressure. Whether it helped or not, it sure put Beth into a trance.....

Welcome to GT! My Beth is also my first grey/dog, and sounds like she has a lot in common with Miles. I sure like the white and brindle cuties .... look forward to more pictures and stories!

Are you doing "No kitty!" or "Leave it!" in the scary Voice of God when she shows interest in the cats? Can you get her to redirect her attention from the cat (and rewarding her when she does so)? That said, I would never trust the safety of my cats to a grey who stalked or chased them... cat testing is certainly not foolproof.

My girl had a sore neck (she yelped sometimes, not all the time) that the vet felt was muscular (i.e. not a spinal issue). Treatment was a week or so of Deramax, no running for a week, and several sessions of acupuncture (I requested this since I knew he does it and I'd heard good things about it here). He told me to walk her on a harness rather than a martingale, which I did for a month or so. Anyway, with this treatment the issue completely resolved. But you should definitely go to the vet to get it checked and to get some painkillers at the very least.

I am very sorry. Cali sounds like such a wonderful girl.

Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss. I remember when you discontinued the chemo and I'm really glad you had so many good months with him.

But I think it's also a matter of finding a good, up-to-date, caring vet who has top-notch facilities and seems caring and available -- and ideally, has emergency coverage, because sooner or later you're going to need that! Yes, it is important to know about greyhounds, but it's not like the main information is that hard to learn (you'll learn it yourself by reading this board!). My vet has, I think, only two greyhounds in his current practice but I think he's wonderful, extremely smart and caring, and his facility does high-level treatments that otherwise are only done at my state's veterinary school several hours away. He also does alternative medicine like acupuncture, and many of us have found that very helpful. Some vets offer boarding services -- is that something you think you might need even as a backup? What about grooming (I take Beth to my vet's in-house groomer for the occasional bath, figuring anyone they'd hire is probably more qualified/trustworthy than someone at, say, Petsmart, plus she'd be at the vet's already should anything go amiss)? So yes, greyhound experience is important, but I wouldn't make it the sole criterion. Pick a place/vet you're comfortable with in ALL ways. But absolutely, ask the group for suggestions. If they aren't right in your area they might even ask other adopters in your area who they see -- that happened to me, once, as I'm the main active adopter for my group who lives in my city.

I would definitely research a vet in advance, as it's generally considered a good idea to take your new grey to the vet for a "get-acquainted visit" and checkup soon after adopting him/her. You definitely don't want to wait until s/he gets sick! And you want to find a vet who is experienced/knowledgeable about greyhounds. If your adoption group is right in your area they can probably help you with that, though, or if not folks here might be able to give suggestions if any of them live in your area. If you don't currently have other pets the group will certainly understand that the vet can't be a "reference." I had my cats' (cats-only) vet for that, but I did decide in advance what vet I was going to take Beth to -- I stopped by to visit the facilities of and talk with the top contenders. (I guess I was approved for the adoption at that point, but I hadn't brought her home yet.)

What a beautiful spotty pup Eddie is! Welcome to GT!

Beth is not really a kisser, but I've noticed she seems to give kisses very readily to men with facial hair!

Welcome to GT! Bella is very pretty! Where in Orange County are you?? My family lives in Monroe and I visit there with my girl Beth at the holidays and for several weeks in the summer. You might also want to know about Hiking Greyhounds which meets weekly on Sunday mornings in Wawayanda State Park, just beyond Goshen: http://home.earthlink.net/~hiking-greyhounds/index.html Very nice people and greys! Sounds like it might be a good experience for her.