HoundHeavenAZ

Leah has been afraid of hard floors since I got her 5 years ago. She refuses to go through my kitchen with no throw rugs, but will cruise right through Home Depot or Office Max! But NEVER my kitchen. Goofy girl She does like you said - use her tippy toes and go stiff legged. She seems to respond to me when I'm confident and a bit insistent about her trying, but if I stop coaxing her, she'll cave in and give up. Throw rugs are our friends Perhaps if you could get a chair and sit with her in the locations that she's afraid of, toss a bed down for her and see if she'll trust your judgement that it's a safe place? Good luck, it's a challenge, but Leah has mostly gotten better with time. Hopefully your boy will too. Oh, there are those slip on rubber booties that I can't think of the name of. They might help too.

I too am a big fan of sweet potatoes as a add-in. I've given it to several hounds and they all seem to do great with it. The yogurt seems to be only a temporary fix to mask a disagreement with their food. And one of mine hates it , and the other would eat the whole container. They do like it as a popsicle though with peanut butter, banana and a chicken foot inside

Muzzling them will be the EASY part! It's when they both try to come in the bathroom to check on you that you'll have the MOST fun! Bye bye privacy! Congrats, good luck and get your camera ready!

It might be a better world if they did BTW: I just saw pics of your kids! I haven't met them yet, but they sure are cute! And they're so lucky to have found you I'm home a lot and my two have been together a year now without a problem, and we have brought in several fosters too. I am very careful when first introducing them to gauge their reactions about toys, space, food, etc. When I do leave them, I do not muzzle them - but it is for much shorter periods than you'll have to leave yours. Perhaps it would be wise for you to muzzle them for a while and see how things go. All of my fence gates are padlocked - that might be something for you to consider too.

Raw is the way to serve bones - I never serve them cooked bones. Turkey necks can vary in size from 6 - 14" so you may want to start with a smaller, maybe 6" piece. I usually feed them frozen - they are easier to cut with a hacksaw then too. Plus on a hot Arizona day they serve as meat popsicles I do the same with chicken backs, necks, feet. If I feed organs raw and they scoff, but if I grill or cook them they are quite usually satisfied .

The batch I made today included chicken breasts, sweet potatoes,white potatoes, brown rice, broccoli, eggs, water. I mix this with the kibble along with maybe some cream cheese chunks, peanut butter, cottage cheese or yogurt. The batches vary each time I go shopping Tonight they'll get frozen chicken feet as well.

Bumping

No difference noticed here.

Some react to the sound of a squeaker but most seem to react to the movement. Toss one past/over/above him and see what happens. Maybe a lure pole would entice him? Or maybe he just needs another houndie to play with or chase They are so used to being with other greys for company that most of them seem to enjoy being around them best. The only time mine chase me is if I pretend to be sneaking around. Perhaps you could find other greys in your area for him to have a playdate with? Or maybe one day you could foster a hound for a bit ... it might help with the sadness that you both must be feeling. Grieving is tough on everyone in the household. So very sorry to hear of your loss.

I've been using 50/50 Kirkland Lamb and Rice and the Iams green mini chunks kibbles and having the best results. I also do home cooking to mix in - this week was fresh pumpkin, sweet potato, potato, brown rice, broccoli, eggs, chicken breasts & hearts. Next week I'll make a new vat of goodies to freeze - whatever is on sale or ready in the gardens. For snacks I give hard boiled eggs, beef bones, frozen chicken necks,feet or backs, frozen turkey necks or kirkland cookies. I have been very happy with the "results" My guys used to be on just Kirkland kibble but I can't always get to Costco so I started mixing with the Iams. They seem very happy to eat it and I'm pleased at how easy it is to clean up the yard.

I also use a coupler to walk my two. When I bring in a foster, I put the new dog on the coupler with one of my veterans and they pick up on cues from him/her. I too use a short leash as I've found that though they may think they know where to go, I'm the only one that really does so I don't allow them to walk ahead of me generally. After just a short bit I discover that all 3 are comfortably tagging along next to or behind me. I'm also out for the exercise and fresh air so we don't often stop to sniff pee mail, but when someone has their eyes crossed I do allow them do their thing

I have been mixing the Kirkland Lamb and Rice with the Iams for about a year and it's working just fine. We also feed some raw and I cook for mine as well. So happy to hear that you've found what works for your hound! This will be a huge relief for both of you.

Another vote for Iams mini chunks green bag here. We mix with Costco lamb/rice and get great results But Petsmart might be the last place I'd go to buy food - too overpriced here.

Thinking of you today and hoping for a turn around...

Once you've seen a pack attack or a "competitive nip" from a roommate brother ( http://forum.greytal...s/page__st__280 page 15), you'll understand. Or If your happy, playful greyhound accidentally runs over a smaller dog and injures or kills it ... they'll be no going back then. It can be a life altering experience seeing something like that and it simply is not worth it. Greys can become badly injured SO easily. Before we had an official dog park here, many of us used a field that the little league used in the evenings. They HATED having dogs in the field because invariably, some jerk would not clean up after their dogs and the kids would step in it. If it were my kids, I would have been pissed too. But they even went so far to wait till we had dogs running and playing and then they would OPEN the big equipment gates and never warn us. I guess in hopes that they'd get loose. You could do what some of us did and raise money to build a dog park with 3 sections - large dog, small dog and a training area. That way our hounds can run and play with just each other ---- SAFELY. Good luck and stay safe

I have a gravel yard and mine don't like it either, so I got some 12" concrete stepping stones to make a walkway for them. Sometimes it's a raceway too Congrats on your new baby! So glad you found Greytalk as a resource - you'll learn soooo much and get such greyt help here!

Wow-score! I now officially have chicken feet envy!

If I had it to do over differently ( oh, if only I did ), I wish I'd had the knowledge to contact OSU for a second consult as Batmom recommends. Please know that you and Jax will be in my thoughts.

Thanks so much for posting this! I will try these out tomorrow

If I feed leg thawed leg quarters my girl usually won't eat them, so I simply sear the skin on the grill for a minute while they are frozen solid. Then it disappears quickly Many experienced raw feeders here that will have good suggestions for you.

My heart girl Lima, had a stroke at home and died in my arms at the tender age of 7. The following summer, Chip died in my arms at the vet, at the very tender age of 4. Leah is now 7 and fit as a fiddle, Jimmie will be 3 tomorrow and I hope to have many more years with each of them. I had one dog euthanized at home and found it to be the best solution for her. Others have passed naturally, here at home with me. Having a vet that I know and trust that is willing to come to my home when there is a need is very important. Some dogs need the peace and comfort of being in their own home.

I've had the best luck with mixing Costco lamb and rice and Iams Mini chunks for kibble. I also cook sweet potatoes and some meat, assorted veggies, brown rice and eggs to top the kibble. The veggies may vary, the meats vary but I always add the sweet potatoes and it has worked well for any hound that has been here. I may not be an expert, but I know the sweet potatoes work well. I'd chop one up with maybe a handful of hamburger, boil it and see what happens. Best of luck to you and Bo

Perhaps you could foster a dog until you can adopt?

Beautiful photos! I love those of him running on the beach and wish we had that option! He and his girlfriend look as if they are having just the best time together Oh that last one...the ets, the rolled back eyes...precious! What a lucky & very handsome boy he is

Oh wow......Leah can go in Home Depot with you? You bet! We regularly take our hounds in there! Every store we've ever visited (Utah, AZ, Calif., NM) has been gracious about us being allowed to come in, but we are intensely aware of the need to be well mannered and to ALWAYS leave a good impression. We make a point of taking the fosters in there to socialize them, sometimes we even hand out a few cards. We've taken as many as 5 at once and we've NEVER been asked to make them stop yapping or to settle down. Like I said, usually Leah is napping by the time I finish talking or shopping I really do need to get some pictures probably - they're on a coupler and sometimes Jimmie just drags her along behind us till I notice