Feisty49

I, and Annie Bella, appear to be the only failures when it comes to stairs. Annie can do stairs as long as there is not a wall involved. She runs up and down the 9 steps to the back door because they are flagstone steps going up through the terrace gardens. She shook, shuddered and practically collapsed when I tried to train her on the indoor stairway, which has a wall on one side and a banister on the other, leading to the second floor and the bedrooms. I worked on it for over a week: foot-foot, paw-paw, push-push, at least twice a day. It was horrible. She whined and actually peed once. Getting her to go down was worse. After a week I decided *I* was the one who wanted her in my bedroom at night but it was optional on her part, so I stopped trying. (If it had been necessary, such as in Brucie's case, I would have gotten professional help and plowed ahead). I figured if she wanted to be with me, she'd come up. That was back in July and she still sleeps downstairs all by herself. I feel bad but that's my human feelings transferring to her and obviously she doesn't care because she never cries or whines nor gets into mischief.

My Annie Bella's eyes are red on the side but it's barely noticeable unless she turns her eyes far to the left or right and then it's just a sliver of red. I'm assuming this is normal just because I usually do think things are normal unless there's a lot of blood or a bone sticking out. Let me know if the vet says it's not normal.

:lol Gotta love 'em, huh. This is Annie Bella's first winter with me, but I've reduced the amount of food I give her by a third of a cup a day because she's getting less exercise. In the good weather, and before it got dark at 5 PM, we took 3 walks a day. On most days now, we take 2 walks, hence she's getting less exercise, and I would think need less food. What's really interesting is that before it got cold and stayed dark until 7 AMish, I was up and taking her out for her first-morning P&P and then breakfast by 5:30 AM. I still get up between 5 and 5:30, but she wants nothing to do with going out until at least 7 AM, if not later. She also doesn't care about food at that hour. So she's switched her schedule by starting her day 2 hours later, even if she is hungry.

We like to transfer human emotions to our dogs. We get bored so they must be bored. We are upset so they must be upset. They're sensitive animals but they're not human. As far as looking sad: 99% of the pics I take of Annie Bella show her looking what others call sad. I call it the way she looks 99% of the time. Seriously, how many pics of Greys have we seen where sad eyes are practically begging to be fed, be pet, let outside, let inside, loved up, allowed on the bed, etc. Life is what it is for us and them. He is loyal to you and knows you are his human. Plan fun things to do when you have the time and love him up lots when you're home.

My Annie Bella sleeps a lot during the day and sleeps all evening and all night, from about 6:30 PM to 5:30 AM, without going out (at least this time of year). I too used to encourage her to go out about 8 or 9 PM and got the stinky eye for my trouble and sometimes a turn around in her bed so her back was to me. I can take a hint. She always sleeps with her eyes at least half open so honestly, during the day sometimes I don't know if she's napping or just staring into space. I just know she spends all her spare time in her bed. Annie Bella almost never plays with her stuffies. The only time she does is when she's impatient waiting for me to get going on our walk (and she knows when I put on my hiking boots, it's walk time). If I'm not there with the leash in 20 seconds, she trashes her stuffies, winging them here and there with some whining tossed in just to make sure I get the message.

What a shock. I can only begin to imagine the hurt and pain you're feeling. I have no experience with either osteo or broken legs so I have no insight to offer, just my sorrow for your loss.

This sounds like Annie Bella. She has never sat, at least in my presence. Even when she lays down, she seems to skip the sitting part and just flops. Having said this, when it's time for a meal or a treat, she stands patiently until all is clear, meaning I have to be out of the kitchen (this is something new since the contractor started working on the new bathroom). Annie Bella also stood at her M&Gs, before I adopted her, even though there were soft, comfy blankets to lay on. Sitting is not her thing.

Gosh, he's gorgeous. Many positive thoughts that it is nothing serious.

Uhmm... good luck with accumulating the supplies or.. ahh.. errr. using a rectal thermometer?

Ha! Haven't had those in the house in years and years and years and years even. :--)

This is so good that you're meeting neighbors and even one who has a dog. Nothing like company. Have you met anybody that you'd trust to visit Bruce after a few hours? It would be particularly good if you could find someone who always brings a treat that he gets from nobody else. It could be a bonding thing so he would look forward to her/his arrival. Hang in there. It will get better! No water? ACK!! My sympathy.

Thanks. I've got half of these things in the house already, including Bag Balm (country folk tend to keep that around). Will get the rest on my next shopping trip.

Annie Bella won't pee in her rain coat because it goes too far down on her butt. If I fold it up, she'll squat but then I have to hold it so, Goddess forbid, it doesn't touch the top of her tail! (I don't often use this; just when it's pouring cats and dogs... .. and we're on our mile-long walk). Her mildly-cold jacket (used when it's below freezing but not wicked cold) stops just above her tail so she has no problem with it. Her winter coat (for when it's single-digit temps or higher temp with a wind chill out of the north) goes way down on her butt, and I expect I'll cut something out of it so she doesn't feel anything on her tail/butt. It's been a mild Autumn around here, but Annie shivers in the early morning (5 AM) at her first P&P if the temp is 30 or below. It's an incentive not to linger for which I'll be grateful in mid-January when it's 10 below zero.

I adopted Annie Bella in July of this year. I have nothing in the house to take care of medical situations that could be addressed before going to a vet, if necessary. What supplies would you recommend? Thanks for the suggestions!

I'm a novice at Greyhounds, having adopted Annie Bella in July. Thankfully she's had no problems other than the typical diarrhea in the beginning for which I sought advice from the vet. I was not the type of mother who called the pediatrician at every little thing and I imagine I'll be the same with Annie. Actually, my biggest concern is that I'll underreact, though if she had a bad cut/slice in her, I know I'd get her to the vet immediately (and I hope it's not on a weekend because the e-vet is 40 miles away). Regarding over use of antibiotics: I Googled Superbugs in Dogs and got some hits, most of them a couple of years old. One, though, was dated July of this year and can be found at: http://www.nwsurgeons.co.uk/blog/2011/07/superbugs-in-dogs-and-cats/

Oh my goodness, Kari. I am really sorry for your problem. The only suggestion I have is to leave him uncrated. Is that possible? I don't know if you're having issues with him chewing or peeing in the apartment, but if you're not, the freedom may relieve his anxiety. My Annie Bella didn't do much whining or rooing when I'd leave her, but she did none of it when the crate became an option with the door always open.

That too crossed my mind. So she's being "bad" (and it's not really bad) because she feels very comfortable and knows she's here forever and ever, no matter what she does. How right she is.

Ahhh.. no decorations yet but I am having a 2nd bathroom put in (on 2nd floor where there was none) and the work started last week. It's noisy and also, she doesn't like my contractor, for no apparent reason because he's a nice guy and a dog person at that. I used to do the circle thing with Annie back in July until I got dizzy. What works better for her and me is a slight/gentle push with my thighs or my hands on her side about shoulder level and at waist. She doesn't like it, but it gets her moving. Also, taking her muzzle in my hand, looking her closely in the eye and very firmly saying, "Come now," works too. I just thought we were way past having to do any of these things. Guess she showed me, huh.

I've got a chilly-weather coat, a rain coat, and a really-cold weather coat for Annie Bella. I do not have boots. I just don't think she'd tolerate them. I did buy Musher's Secret to protect her feet from rock salt and icy snow buildup. It won't keep her feet warm, but I don't expect to do our mile-long walks when it's zero degrees with a wind chill of minus 10.

I adopted Annie Bella mid-July. She had problems with confined spaces, such as a narrow hallway, the door going outside not open wide enough, inside stairs with a wall on one side, etc. She's more tolerant of these situations but not entirely comfortable. She also planted herself on walks... a lot! Sheesh, it drove me crazy. How *does* one move a stubborn Grey? I found out via advice from friends as well as figured out a few things myself, and when I started implementing them, it took about 3 days for her to realize momma "ain't" buying this any more. We went 4 months with almost no planting until last week and she is at it again. Some Greys velcro themselves to people. Mine velcros herself to the sidewalk. I am again implementing the "get moving" tricks I used previously, but she's not buying into them as quickly or easily. I know she will eventually because we *have* to go home and I do not give up. My question is: Has this happened to any of you? I don't men specifically planting but a regression to any undesirable behavior.

Is the door opening narrow? Are both doors open as much as possible? My Annie Bella used to give me grief about the door, out and in, if the space seemed too confining to her. That meant I had to stand away from the open door so she had open space, but yet hold onto the leash. If the storm door wasn't open far enough, she wouldn't go through. If there were any recyclables next to the door ready to go out, she wouldn't go through the door because the space was reduced by 2 inches. I've had her since mid-July, and it took her 2+ months to not be afraid. Even now, though, she often RUSHES through the doorway as if it's on fire.

Many good and positive thoughts going your way.

The unknown *is* scary. Positive thoughts that she is well.

Whoo hoo for Katie. That's terrific. My Annie Bella also will do outside stairs and can do inside ones but hates 'em so much that she's climbed them willingly three times in almost five months, which is why she sleeps downstairs alone. She is not food motivated either.

I gave up guilt a long time ago when I realized that doing something to make others not feel bad wasn't taking care of me or my family. In this case, you need to take care of Ace. When it comes to family, they deserve the best.