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PrairieProf

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Posts posted by PrairieProf

    Hello From Kansas

    in Introductions & Biography

    Posted

    Welcome to GT from another academic, current Midwesterner, cat person, and mom to a white and brindle girl! All three of yours are wonderfully sweet looking. You're in a very exciting time waiting for Penny to come home. You'll find fabulous resources on this site and in its members for any question or issue that could possibly arise.

     

    What are you studying?

    New Fear

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted · Edited by PrairieProf

    Not a dog suggestion per se, but on the other end -- do you have your roof raked after it snows? (Well you could do it yourself... I pay a handyman!) At least that might leave less to slide off, and it helps prevent ice damming or too much weight on the roof too.

     

    I guess you'd want to take Lexi out while it was being done ... though it also might be a perfect opportunity to do counter-conditioning to that kind of noise.

    Trouble Pooping

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Where do you live, and what are the weather conditions? Is he actually straining or just semi-squatting and then moving on? My girl gets really picky about finding a spot when the grass is covered up with crusty snow, and sometimes she'll look about to go but then seem to think "Nah, not here...". So I'm just wondering if it's possible that the issue isn't pooping per se but finding a spot... it certainly might be medical but I'm just offering another possibility.

    Poop Eating

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by PrairieProf

    Urrgh, Beth is a poopsicle fan too. She knows the "leave it" command perfectly well but gets completely "la la la I can't hear you!" when poopsicles are involved. Actually, they're a good way to exercise her because I come over to stop her and she picks one up and races far away from me to eat it -- it becomes a big game for her! (She can only get into them at the dog park, I pick up all of hers instantly.)

     

    I think she just likes it ... and evidently it's only some that are really desirable, others she ignores!

    What Is This And How Concerned Should I Be?

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted · Edited by PrairieProf

    Great news!

     

    Beth had three of those last year along her side and lower back (or something very similar -- the vet seemed to keep changing what he called them, though he was never concerned). They fluctuated a bit in size and oozed/crusted a bit periodically (OK, I admit I tended to pick at them when they did that) but after six months or so they went away completely and she's been bump-free since early summer. :)

    A Few Questions

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    These are very common issues ... try a search and you will find umpty-gazillion threads addressing all aspects of these issues. The bald butt is not necessarily a sign of a problem, some greyhounds are just that way. Some people use fish oil to help (or not). Diarrhea can be from countless things, including food that's not agreeing with him. Did you just get him? Has he been wormed? What was he eating before? People will be able to give you more advice if they know more about your situation.

     

    And welcome to GT!

    Hi I'm Charlotte & I'm New Here, Am A Friend Of Energy11

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Welcome to GT! My grey was recently approved as a therapy dog through our local organization and we're going to start visits this winter, as soon as I figure out which sites seem like the best match for us. Beth absolutely adores seniors and kids (and everyone, really). I'm the shyer/less social one and so I know it's going to be more of a challenge for me than for her.

     

    I look forward to hearing more about Missy and Eddie (and all of us here love to see pictures!).

    Hoping I Am Very Wrong.

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted · Edited by PrairieProf

    My greyhound is my first dog ever, I have no experience training dogs, and still within a year or so after adoption Beth and I graduated from Advanced Obedience at Petsmart and are continuing on with a new local trainer; there too Beth absolutely holds her own with many other breeds of dog. She isn't as super-attentive as a Lab, say, but she did absolutely as well as any other dog in the classes (and yes, she sits on command, though holding a sit for extended periods on a hard floor is difficult for her). Greyhound laziness makes her great at down-stays! :)

     

    From what I can see, every dog in our classes has its strengths and weaknesses in trainability; Beth gets bored and distracted more easily than some (greys don't like a lot of repetition), but on the other hand she is calm and confident pretty much all the time, while other dogs may be wiggling all around or clinging to their owners. She's pretty independent, so her recall outdoors (in an enclosed area of course) isn't what I'd wish unless she knows we're practicing with high-value treats. I'm sure if I had more experience I'd be working with her even more effectively, but I love having a dog I can communicate with and find positive-reinforcement training an utterly fascinating process.

    Are Greyhounds Really That Lazy

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted · Edited by PrairieProf

    Lately I typically have to bribe Beth (age 3 1/2) off the bed with dairy products to get her off the bed to go out for a walk, especially for the last pee of the night. Call her name, clap my hands, put on my coat . . . nothing. The noise of my opening the lid of the cottage cheese or yogurt seems to do the trick, however. :rolleyes:

     

    She's quite energetic once we're actually out, though (well most of the time).

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