Feisty49

She was lovely young and old. It was a nice thing to reach out to her former family and in return you got the pictures. Worked both ways.

Thanks for re-posting this. I haven't seen it previously. I keep a folder of Greyhound-specific information in my car just in case something happens and we're not near Annie Bella's vet, and this will be added to it.

Someone wrote on another post that in order to get a sample of nasty poo, she follows her dog around and puts a paper plate under him to catch the stuff. (I'd use a heavy-duty plate. ) I'm gonna remember this good idea.

He is beautiful and it sounds like you've got a new family member! My granddaughter is 5-1/2, and she and Annie Bella get along fine. They don't play together because Annie Bella isn't a shake-that-stuffy, let's run around and play, type of girl . My GD will lay down next to Annie Bella and croon to her and give her love.

Wonderful and weird Greyhound stuff. One of the things about Greyhounds I like and admire is they're not a typical Golden or Lab who does tricks. I think like all dogs they should have manners but looking at this vid weirded me out.

Fortunate mom here because Annie Bella is very sensitive and hates to feel ashamed about anything. She used to grab pairs of my slides so I put them all away, until the day I forgot. One does get lazy sometimes. With the opportunity, the minute I left the house, she commandeered the shoes. I was so irked (at myself really) that I shook my finger in front of her face and said with great disappointment, "Shame on you, Annie Bella. Shame shame shame." She hung her head, nuzzled into the blanket on her bed and has never touched another pair of shoes, ever. If she hadn't responded to that, I would never again forget to put shoes away.

I've read almost every response you've gotten. Some have said what I think, which is, to put it succinctly, if you want to keep the dog, keep her. You said your prayers have been answered so it seems to me you love her and have bonded. Is it fair to her? Was it fair for her to spend two years as a donor dog and then face death? No, it wasn't, but it's certainly "fair" for this girl to have a good home with you. The issue with her whining and pacing is improving, if not entirely gone, so IMO the only question that has to be answered is: Can you get over the feeling that you are guilty of something because in your mind it isn't ideal? And to put in my two cents regarding using you as a vet because you might give up or considered giving up Ari: I would use you if all other things were good for Annie Bella. Until I walk in somebody's shoes, which is not possible, who am I to judge? Also, I maintain a professional relationship with my vet so there is no way I would know s/he had ever given up a dog after adoption. It's not a question I ask when interviewing a vet for Greyhound purposes. One more thing -- I adopted Annie Bella in mid-July of this year. The changes in her personality, which was good to begin with, are remarkable. Nothing changed overnight, but ever so slowly, week by week, month by month, she is becoming more of who she will be living here in her Forever Home. I was told by my adoption group that it can take up to a year to see the "final" version of Annie Bella (and longer actually because dogs like human continue to evolve) and I'm looking forward to these months. Have faith in yourself and in Arielle (lovely name), stop feeling guilty and (not that you asked ) stop apologizing.

Once obsessed with wanting a Grey, it never leaves. I waited 15 years to get my first Greyhound and once I adopted Annie Bella in July of this year, it's been better than I could imagine. The only bad thing about joining and reading the forum is that your desire to adopt will grow quicker and bigger than ever! LOL

Is there a comparison among the group between Petzlife and Proden Plaque Off? I've read good things on GT about Proden and use it daily, as well as brush Annie Bella's teeth. She had decent teeth to begin with and I haven't noticed a difference by using Proden.

I'd call the vet's office and ask them.

I adopted Annie Bella in mid July of this year. She either had loose stools or diarrhea, even after rounds of metronidazole and anti-worming stuff. Chicken/rice helped a little but not enough. Over the months, I tried her on a couple of high-end food and they were just too rich for her. My vet put her on a 'script kibble (Purina EN). That started firming her poop up but IMO, it still wasn't "normal." Long story short is I took the advice of quite a few people who post here who recommended Iams Minichunks Proactive (or referred to mostly as Iams in the green bag). That changed everything and her poop went from soft ice cream to a firm, definitive output. Annie Bella's diet now consists of half prescription kibble and half Iams in the green bag. BTW, Annie has a sensitive gastro tract. Anything out of the ordinary (such as a Bully Stick) will change her poop so I'm sticking to what's working. High end food doesn't work for all dogs.

Looks like a typical kid who had to get out of bed before he wanted to in order to go to daycare. He's got great teeth!

We old maids think alike....good answer!!! Don't need to have never been married to not allow a man to give orders. I've been married twice (divorced and then widowed) and they knew when we married that I was an independent, free-thinking woman who didn't take second-seat to anybody.

Isn't it wonderful and amazing how once we learn their routine, all becomes better? I wish I was as regular as they are. LOL I can count on my Annie Bella to do the same thing every day: Early morning, pee/poop/pee. Late morning, pee/poop/pee. Late afternoon, pee/poop/pee. In between she goes out for just a pee or two or three (she likes to mark as a male does).

Since I don't take kindly to being told what to do or not to do, my answer to your BF would be "No, I am not taking both dogs." Who says, besides himself, that his word is gold? Also, I know I would be unable to be comfortable around and/or trust a dog who has a history of biting.

Double sadness in your home. I'm so sorry.

He is beautiful and I love his name.

I too walk woods, but it's my 11 acres. Annie Bella loves to snuffle among the leaves, making clearing-nose noises and being very intense about it, shoving her nose deep into the leaves and dirt. Nothing scares her, though, and I know we have fox, coyote and no doubt a bear has crossed somewhere along the way. I wish she were afraid. When she smells something interesting, she pulls to continue rather than go home. I think if you use treats and act normal by not slowing down/pausing (at least trying) when he wants to and continuing on the walk, he'll get over it.

Wonderful! A great Christmas present. I love the pic of him under the blanket.

I tried one more time with a Bully Stick. I hadn't given one to Annie Bella since the 13th. I very carefully made sure she had nothing unusual to eat Friday or Saturday and yesterday morning, I gave her a 6" Bully Stick. When it was down to about 2", I took it away from her. In the middle of last night, she started pacing and had gurgling intestines. I took her out for a P&P but she wanted to eat green stuff, of which there is none because it's been so cold (in the teens) here. She finally went P#2, but didn't want breakfast until 10 o'clock, 4 hours later than she's usually fed. Apparently her sensitive gastro system (there were issues in finding just the right food to feed her in the beginning of her adoption in July) extends to not tolerating Bully Sticks. She would be sad if she understood.

You wrote a beautiful tribute to Callie. My heart is hurting. When the time is right, you will find a Greyhound that will not replace Callie but give life to your house again.

That's exactly how I feel and what I do. While I'm still learning Annie Bella's personality (it will be 5 months tomorrow that I adopted her), I know when she needs assurance that the world isn't ending just as I know my 5-1/2 year old granddaughter needs assurance that there are no monsters in the hallway. Not all advice for training and behavior applies to all dogs in all situations. For instance, I was told not to make a fuss over Annie Bella when I returned from an outing. The result was she didn't leave her bed when I walked in the back door and ignored me. Well, I missed her and wanted her to know so I started making a gentle fuss with the result that when I come home, she comes into the kitchen doorway, smiles and wags her tail. I know the reason for not making a fuss is so the dog doesn't get too excited and start jumping, etc., but Annie Bella is not a dog who gets excited or jumps. She's calm and placid so making a fuss taught her it's OK to welcome me back to the pack, albeit with just a tail wag.

I'll probably try one more time, after the holidays and the bathroom contractor is gone and things are settled down, to see if it negatively affects her. I've always been concerned about injury, even from the stick when it's new, because a wrong move could shove it into her throat. (I look at it and see kids and a lollipop on a skinny stick.) Annie Bella doesn't walk around with it in her mouth and usually chews with it on the side, but sometimes it's straight in and I move it so she's chewing on the side again.

I also got mine from Best Bully Sticks and are so hard I can't break them. They also stink to high heaven.

Annie Bella loves bully sticks. It's something I didn't offer her until mid-November (she was adopted in mid-July), when her post-adoption diarrhea was fully gone and she was poopin' nicely for a few weeks. I was giving her one stick about every 5 days and for a couple of weeks, she was fine. The past two bully sticks I've given her, though, have caused intestinal distress within 24 hours. The noises coming from her were loud gurglings and she obviously was not feeling well because she refused treats and meals. She ate some grass but didn't vomit and though her poop was soft, it wasn't anything to worry about. Each time it took about 6 hours for her distress to abate and for her to want to eat. Do any of yours have issues with bully sticks?