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My guys refuse to eat the pills! They're brats. I started out using gel caps, then puncturing them and sprinkling the oil on their food. But I couldn't find a way to do it without getting oil on my fingers and/or clothes. I once had some fish oil splash up onto the scarf I was wearing and spent half my work day thinking, "Who ordered an anchovie pizza?"

Peggy, you brat! I think the cheese is a good idea. Or at least some type of really enticing, special, high-value treat that you only reserve for this command. Another thing I'm wondering about... do you leave the house for work soon after she comes inside? Maybe she's starting to catch on that going inside = mom leaving. In that case, she's creating a diversion to get you to stay longer. So I wouldn't be too mad, because that means that (1) she loves her mom and doesn't want you to leave, and (2) she's clever. I know several people whose dogs have excellent recall EXCEPT when it's time to leave the dog park, then they have "selective hearing."

Has anyone ever used any treats or supplements by Plato? We have a pet warehouse in our town that carries a bunch of discount products, and I got a 16 oz. bottle of Plato Salmon Oil for $10. Henry and Truman seem to love it (Henry has been scarfing up his food even before he gets his pill-pocket ravioli). I can't really speak to its effectiveness yet, but so far so good. And the price really beats Grizzly, Iceland Pure, and Nordic Naturals. http://www.amazon.com/Plato-Pet-Treats-Alaskan-16-Ounce/dp/B001QEAVSU/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

It's hard to say, but for a lot of greyhounds there is a significant change in behavior when you hit the 4-6 week mark. Shy and timid dogs will begin to gain confidence and push the boundaries a little bit. If she appears distressed and you notice her trembling, panting, or giving calming signals, then I would do a little bit more investigation to see if something is contributing to her fear... However, from what you've described in this post and other posts (that she has a silly streak and she's now just plopping down in the middle of the yard) it does sound like a touch of obstinance. Almost like, "I'm not ready to come back inside, and you can't make me!" I've found that the key to training statue dogs is to keep them moving. Take her out on a leash, and if you feel her starting to lag behind, increase your pace or turn in circles so she doesn't have the chance to freeze up. One thing you can work on training-wise are the cues "easy" (meaning, slow down), and "hurry!" (meaning, speed up). It's a form of heel, where you reward her for changing pace to keep up with you. Also, is there anything that will entice her to come back inside that's not food related? Perhaps a favorite toy? Does she like to play chasing games? I taught Truman recall by running away from him. Maybe you could initiate a game of "I'm gonna get you!!" and get her to chase you back inside? If Peggy were my dog, I would just try a few different things and gauge her responses. Dragging or carrying should be a last resort (I understand it's sometimes necessary if she is being unresponsive and you have somewhere you need to get to). But sometimes, they can get used to being carried, and it adds to their reluctance to do things on their own. Truman had me believe that he was incapable of jumping in and out of the car on his own. He would just stand outside the car door and wait to be lifted. Henry went through a stage where he sprained his leg and had to be carried up the stairs for a period of time. Even when his leg healed, he still had us fooled to believe he couldn't go up on his own. Be careful, because they can "train" you just as easily as you train them. Be patient with darling Peggy and keep trying until you find something that works.

Good boy, Dudley!! Keep up the good work!

Poor guy! This is how we started with Truman's happy tail (with the syringe cap, wrapped barber pole style). It didn't last long- we eventually ended up with the self-stick pipe insulation, coupled with a muzzle and stool guard. He still had to have surgery to remove part of it. I hope Dudley heals up quick, and it doesn't turn into anything more serious.

I agree with this. Make sure there's not a medical reason for his licking before you try to do any type of training.

I've heard they're necessary to prevent bloat, but I've also heard the opposite argument. So whether or not that's a real consideration remains to be seen. I use elevated feeders, as others have said, for my dogs' comfort. But I've fed my fosters in their crate with no elevated feeder, and they've been just fine. I think it's just a personal preference.

I agree about the Denamarin, or some type of milk thistle liver support supplement. It's expensive, but very effective at regulating liver problems.

I would LOVE to see that!

Just thinking about this guy and looking for an update.

Maybe adding another pet wasn't such a good idea, considering Miami seems to have some medical/behavioral issues that require more time/money/commitment.

Welcome! Gable greyhounds are known for being very even-tempered, handsome dogs. From the pics, your boy is no exception!

No problem! Just keep in mind that greys are not high endurance dogs. A race is somewhere around 30 seconds (a quarter mile), so 8 minutes to her probably seems like a marathon! They differ from the working dogs who can run and run for hours.

I fostered a dog who would run like the dickens at full speed, then would just collapse and pant for a real long time. People at the dog park would ask me, "Are you sure he's okay??" And he was, just probably a little bit out of shape. It's a good idea to warm up and cool down after heavy exercise (for dogs and people alike). Maybe next time, try a short walk beforehand and see if it makes a difference. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much.

You've gotten good advice here. Just wanted to say that the shy ones are really some of the MOST rewarding dogs in the long run. Henry was super shy bordering on fear aggressive when he first came home. It took a lot of time and patience, but he truly became my heart dog. There's just something special about them. I'll probably always adopt shy greyhounds.

I was hoping you'd have more time with him. Very sorry for your loss.

Yay! I hope that's all it is. Are you guys warming up in Ohio? We're supposed to get "thundersnow" today in Pittsburgh.

Both of my guys have gone through phases where their behavior changed temporarily. Who knows what the reason is- stress, boredom, not feeling well, change in weather, gravitational pull of the moon. I just tried to ride it out and make sure everything else was consistent. Has Jack ever been in a training class? That could help him gain confidence and pull out of his funk. Good luck.

Was she ever formally housetrained? What I mean is, did you use crating, confining, or the umbilical method consistently since she's been home? One of my greys was very easy to housetrain (he always gave signals and just seemed to "know" what to do). The other was extremely difficult, gave no signals, and would pop a squat anywhere and anytime he felt the need. What helped for us was going back to basic Housebreaking 101 with a strict eating, drinking, and elimination schedule. I watched him like a hawk so he couldn't sneak off anywhere and go. Then I gradually gave him more space and freedom when he proved he could be reliable. In your situation, I would also recommend crating your girl in small intervals then working your way up, since there's clearly some stress/anxiety with the crate at this point. If she continues to go to the bathroom in her crate, remove all bedding and just use a plain, waterproof mat.

Henry's first vet said his thyroid was low and should be medicated. I had one of the docs at OSU look at it, and they said it was well within the normal range for a greyhound. I don't think their service is free anymore (sigh) but I was glad for the second opinion.

If he's letting you touch/manipulate his foot, then it sounds more like an allergy or a behavioral thing rather than an injury. I'd get the skin scraping and go from there. Sometimes dogs can be on the same food for YEARS, then out of nowhere develop an allergy/intolerance to it.

Are the sores just in between those two toes? Or is the entire foot red and sore? If it's the latter, then I would probably do a vet visit. They can do a skin scraping to determine if the problem is bacterial, fungal, or an allergy. Food allergies can cause dogs to obsessively lick their body (usually feet, base of tail, bum) and that can turn into sores. So I'd keep that in mind too. Feel better, Teddi!

Sounds good, Nancy! We've tried the off-leash park at Riverview, but it's kind of rocky. Django broke his toe there once! When the weather improves, I'm thinking we'll try and get together to try some new parks and hiking trails. Bring Lydia! She is my absolute favorite. If you know anyone else from GHG interested in a playgroup, feel free to give them my email address.

Now if only they could ride bicycles... then they'd be tri-athletes!!