Time4ANap

I'm so sorry that Bjou had to leave, Greg. I can honestly say that one of my favorite memories will always be the day that I got to meet Bijou, my first GT crush. Run free sweet Bijou, and keep an eye on your Daddyman from the bridge.

Yes, I should have said that. I've been communicating with our group every step of the way except with this very last issue of being terrified of walks. It's them that called me and suggested we consider returning him. I spent days crying and begged them to give us another chance with him, which was when they came out for a home visit. They planned to take him that night if they felt he was aggressive but concluded he wasn't. They thought we could make it work with him. I haven't contacted them yet about him being terrified while out walking...I think I know they're going to say to return him, and my heart is fighting that. :-( Also, I won't be offended by any responses. I asked for advice. And I realize that my husband is an issue. Regarding the floors, he's agreed to carpet the floors, but Django is so strong when he does his whirling-dervish thing, we're wondering if he'll ruin the carpets too. But, you are right. Thanks. Thanks, everyone else for giving advice too. I've been crying nonstop thinking of having to return him, but I'm trying to think of what's best for him. Any pet is going to cause some wear and tear faster than you are used to on any flooring surface. That's just the way it is. Ruining it is doubtful, but you will have things happen like accidents, stains or snags, and that's just part of life with a pet - virtually any pet that roams free in the house has that potential. You do need the buy-in from your husband on the next dog, or you will be re-visiting the same issue. As I stated, I am the one who never wanted a pet in the house - for years and years my wife wanted a dog. I didn't - period. Only after meeting many greys did I relax that stance and decide that crap happens and you can replace carpet if you need to. That's a huge adjustment for someone who isn't used to pets in the house. i understand perfectly where your husband is coming from. Rocket makes us laugh every day, and so should your hound. Your hound sounds like he is as upset in the situation as you are. That's no one's fault - it's simply a mismatch that occurred and it is ok to rectify that by returning him and finding the hound that fits in your household. Yes, you will miss him at first, but somewhere down the line you will find that he is in a household that works well for him, and you will have a hound who thrives in your household. It will be a win for both of you.

You will get lots of varying opinions on a post like this. Please realize that some of them may sound harsh but no one really intends them that way - it's just a very emptional topic around here. 1. Have you worked with your adoption group on this at all or is the potential return going to be a complete surprise? If you haven't been working with them, contact them now so they at least know there are issues. Often your group will have someone who can help you through the issues and help you make an informed decision. 2. (This is where it might sound personal - but isn't) Any dog or pet has the potential to damage floors, walls, furniture, paint etc just through normal activity. Based on the descriptive info, your husband does not want a dog, or at least isn't of the mindset yet to adopt one. I know from experience - I resisted adopting a dog for years because I didn't want the house to be messed up. Once I met the right dog, all of that didn't really matter any more. If it matters that much, then he really doesn't want a dog or a pet in the house. I didn't grow up with pets in the house, and it took many years for me to even consider that idea. 3. For whatever reason your hound sounds like he is fearful of all of his surroundings. That's not a good situation for anyone. 4. Many people here will tell you that they have a rule in their house that the hound(s) do not get petted unless they are standing up. Some are very protective of their personal space, and others will snuggle tightly against you. There is nothing wrong with either, but if your hound doesn't want his/her space invaded, you need to go with it and respect it. We have the sweetest, friendliest boy in the world who never met a stranger, but we do not pet him while he's laying down, and we do not approach him when he's sleeping on his bed. He will bite if startled and I can show you the proof. He sleeps with his eyes open. Overall, it sounds like this situation isn't working for you or your hound, and a return is probably in order. There is no shame in returning, it happens, and is sometimes best for both the hound and the adopter. I would urge you to reach out to your adoption group and let them know what is happening and go from there. Good luck to all of you - it's a difficult time for all.

Welcome to Greytalk. Please remember that everyone in the adoption groups are volunteers dedicating their own time and resources to facilitate adoptions. Putting in multiple applications at the same time is wasting the time and resources of one group that you will end up not adopting from. You should wait until you have an answer either way from one group before applying with a second group. It's fine to talk with multiple groups and attend their events or M&G's to get a feel for the way each group works and figure out which group is a better match for your situation. But multiple applications shouldn't be filed at the same time, as the groups and volunteers start incurring expenses at that point. Best of luck with your new hound!

Perfectly normal. As they say - poop happens.

I'll second the clicker training. Rocket loved it. Don't have any video's, but even learning basic commands was easy using the clicker. He has us very well trained now.

Irene, I'm so sorry for the sudden loss of your sweet girl. I was stunned to open GT and see her name. Run pain-free American Idol.

Sending good thoughts to Jake. Feel better soon buddy!

Mostly - she's new and doesn't know what is expected of her yet. She is not used to pooping on command, and may not yet be used to going on leash. So what she's doing is just going when she has to. When she goes during the walk - give her lots of praise, maybe even a treat so she knows that's what expected of her. If she is somewhere that you don't want her to go, lead her to the grass or an area where it's ok to go when you see the signs you mention. The bottom line is to establish a routine and stick with it, and give her time to learn the routine and adjust to a whole new life. Others will chime in here with some other suggestions that have worked for them. Good luck, and congratulations on your new girl.

Let the authorities do their investigation first and see what happens. If nothing happens, then I would get the local media involved to alert local people about the vicious dog and the vicious owner. Obviously you need to carry a big stick, or maybe more, and avoid that area and surrounding streets for a while since the dog is loose with no fence. If you incur much in the way of vet bills, go after him for them. Take lots of pictures of your dog's injuries, and video is he is having trouble walking for documentation. You may need it later. Hope your boy is feeling better soon.

I'm very sorry that your gorgeous girl had to leave. Run free sweet Rachel.

Does he have something to aim for in the backyard? We use a couple of traffic cones which you can get at any hardware store - the taller the better. Any type of garden statue etc is fair game. Get him a couple of things that it's ok to pee on. Do not waste your money on pet store things like the Pee Post etc. They don't work. Many of the kennels use a traffic cone or 2 in the turnout area, so he may go right to it.

Thank you for being his family when he needed one the most. I'm very sorry for your loss. Run free Powder.

i'm very sorry that Dante had to leave. Run free Dante.

Greg, I'm so sorry to read this. Spoil that sweet little girl rotten and give her whatever she wants. I remember when you posted last year thinking the time had come, and then she bounced back. I'm so glad that you got that extra time with her.

I'm very sorry for your loss. Run free Crystal.

Somehow I missed seeing this until now. I'm so sorry that your sweet Hannah left. You did not fail her. You gave her a fantastic life and your tribute was wonderful. Run free sweet Hannah.

Poor Joe! Get those paws back in shape for romping in the sand!

Hope he's feeling better soon.

Sending good thoughts to Bijou and to you. I hope it's something simple and that she can continue to steal from your dinner plate for as long as she wants to.

You have numerous responses to the same post in the Soap Box section already. You should use the Report link at the bottom of your post to ask a moderator to move that post to the Health and Medical section so that your replies are consistent and in one place. This will help to eliminate confusion from those responding. I'm sorry that you and your hound are going through this. Sending lots of good thoughts your way.

I see all of the advanced tests they did, but am wondering if they tried the simple stuff first. Since you had just come back from a cottage, my mind immediately goes to Parasites like Giardia or bacterial infection (I'm assuming some exposure to "nature" during the trip) . She may have other issues as well from the symptoms you describe, but if she has parasites or worms on top of it, you will be in a vicious cycle. Also, did they check for a bacterial infection in the stomach using a fecal bacteria test? Did she swim in a lake or drink from a stream or puddle? Is she on flagly (metronidazole) at this point. You might also try an allergy free food like Purina HA instead of something meat based to entirely rule out a food intolerance. I'm just throwing out things here in no particular order, but these are the things that came to mind reading your post. You may already have checked for these things, but i didn't see it in the post. Hope she is feeling better soon.

Sounds like a typical play accident. I wouldn't allow greyhound play in a wide open area like that without everyone being muzzled. It's too easy to get a skin tear or bite just from rough play, not necessarily any aggression involved.

He looks fantastic! Way to go Bullitt. Glad you are feeling better and ready to play!

I have started buying dewromers at the local farm supply store. If you have a farm / livestock supply, they will most likely have it. You just need to make sure that the product you are buying is the correct strength / dosage for dogs and not for large livestock like horses and cows. Our farm supply carries both, but some places may only carry the horse type depending on what the bulk of their business is. .