OwnedBySummer

I totally agree. It takes time. It's taken my girl since Grapehounds at the end of July to reach her current glossy condition.

OMG! Just told DH that if we were planning to go through Ohio going to or returning from Beach Bound Hounds at the end of the month... we are KNOT stopping. This is scary stuff!

We also use Grizzly here (the salmon oil). Two pumps on her dinner. And I buy ours at our local pet store. I had used a different brand before I tried Grizzly and I'm staying with Grizzly. She also is fed Iams green bag, so no difference there. And she gets one Fresh Factors tablet every day. Her coat is the shiniest I've ever seen. Sadly, I started the Grizzly brand oil and the Fresh Factors at about the same time so I don't know which one (or maybe it's the combination) that is helping. She actually gleams in the sun!

Congratulations! I thoroughly enjoyed your story. In fact, as soon as I started reading it, I realized it was going to be good so I restarted reading it out loud for DH. You made us both laugh!

Yeah, what is WITH that question? Ewwwwwwwwwwwww! I guess they gotta ask but really...

Is the vet close enough that you can just run it over when it's "fresh" in the morning and then take Violet with you later as scheduled?

I've also heard, on various TV shows where dogs are on treadmills, that you need a special belt. That regular human-grade belts won't stand up to being used by dogs. I'm guessing it's the nails?

I can't imagine that refreezing will bother them at all. They happily eat stuff with freezer burns or old dead things from the yard...

Summer has had it done a couple of times. It is NOT a dental and it doesn't go up under their gums. If your dog NEEDS a dental, then he will likely still need it done by a vet. That being said, though, a qualified non-anesthetic dental person will be able to tell you how bad his teeth truly are. Plus, if they clean his teeth first, then the vet has a lot less work to do and your pup will be under the anesthetic for less time. If you don't want to put your boy under, this is certainly an option and it will help. But always remember they don't go under the gums, they don't do extractions and your dog has to allow them to work in his mouth. And I pay $80 for this and it takes about 1 1/2 hours or so.

OMG!

I'm so sorry. I read about this on FB, that wonderful memorial written by George.

Huh? They are supermarkets here. Or grocery stores. Maybe this is a Quebec term but it's not a Canadian term. A co-op is a low-income housing arrangement, typically an apartment building, where the residents pitch in to help with the maintenance. There was also some kind of feed store/farm equipment retailer called a co-op (can't remember the exact details) but I haven't seen one in years. I have run out of dog food a couple of times in the past. I've been known to make them porridge with scrambled eggs in it. Or, if there's just a scraping of kibble left, to mix the kibble remnants into the porridge and scrambled eggs and thus make it go farther.

Summer drinks from a folding Outward Hound bowl (but only inside the van and only if I'm holding it) -- she can't possibly drink from that bowl ANYWHERE else. At a greyhound run, she will drink from pretty much anything but she enjoys drinking from my sport bottle (I've taught her to drink from it without spilling and to do it with or without her muzzle). But if we are walking in a provincial park, she won't drink -- the water from the roadside taps is the same water as is in the trailer but nope, she won't drink it from bowl, bottle or hand. They do get weird bees in their bonnets!

Summer never gets into anything and I'm hoping, after 3 years with me, that this will continue. I had a non-grey (lab/pointer) eat a super-ball on the morning of his adoption, at his foster home. I did diligent poop patrol for a MONTH and never saw it. So I figured it must have passed and I missed it. ONE YEAR LATER, he starts randomly gagging on his bed and pukes up the damn ball. FYI, a year in a stomach does NOT destroy a super-ball -- all it does it make the very outside layer black. But when you cut it open, it's still colorful and it still bounces.

Congratulations, happy gotcha day, happy birthday! Love his furry tail!

<ducks head and shuffles feet>

With my two previous dogs, I adopted one as a pup and one as a 10yo (both from shelters). I insured the 10yo, since I had no idea of his history. Figured it was a good decision, as I'd keep the pup healthy all her life. Well... the pup ended up costing me quite a bit near the end and I racked up over $4,000. The old guy? A half dose of Metacam every day. So when I got Summer, I insured her right away. I don't want to be whacked with a big bill again or, yikes, have to make a treatment decision based on current finances. So far, it is costing me more than I've claimed but I'm okay with that. As Krissy has said, it gives me great peace of mind and that is worth it for me. I have unlimited payouts and zero deductible and I will never have to worry. PS I totally suck at saving, so that route is not an option for me. LOL!

You'll learn, don't worry. Congratulations!

Has he seen a chiropractor? That would be my first stop.

Yup! Without treatment, Summer would have had an intermittent limp while exercising, caused by a fall over a month before. We don't go any more as she's fine but it was weekly, then monthly, then 3 months, then done.

I agree, borrow one if you can. If you can't borrow one, you may be able to rent one. That's what I did for the first few days (non-fostered straight-from-kennels) because I had heard the "greys love it and can't live without it" line and I wasn't sure. I'm not a fan of crating and was thrilled to discover that she didn't have an "attachment" to having one.

I like Xtrawld's suggestion. My Summer won't usually work for treats -- she won't work for toys, either -- but she WILL work for praise and loving. So that's what I used all through agility last summer. Perhaps toys or loving will work for your boy?

Poor Barbie! I hope you find out what it is. Foxtails sound horrible! Utterly horrible! Thanks for the link. Here's something which was in the comments. Wouldn't help the feet and legs much, though. http://www.outfoxfieldguard.com/

I'd also be concerned about the invisibility. You could also tie ribbons onto it (you can even get the red plastic from Home Depot/Lowe's which they have available for free when you have something sticking out the back of your vehicle and cut it up). I think the fluttering helps. Some of us have these ribbons on our portable gates for playdates.

Wonderful and congratulations!