Brandiandwe

Just looking for some advice. My two girls are obviously perfect. Paige has a high prey drive which we're managing to control and she is gradually becoming less leash reactive and aggressive towards other dogs. Brandi isn't worried by other dogs at all. The latest issue is cats. Both girls, if they see a cat on the other side of the road will stare at it. That's fine. We deal with it the same way as we dealt with other dogs (distractions, circles, attention to me, keep on moving). The problem is that when we're working, it is frequently dusk or dawn, and the neighbourhood cats enjoy lying under bushes watching the world go by. I don't see them, the girls don't until we are actually beside them, at which point both dogs dive sideways into the bush after the cat. Fortunately, both are muzzled and the cats get away, but has anyone else found a way of dealing with the cats you can't see? Or do I just need to be braced and ready?

We also feed fish oil every couple of days, but they're on TOTW Pacific Stream anyhow. What also helps with us is making sure that the bedding for them is clean and that they aren't rugged for too long (less a problem for you there). Rolling around on the carpet also seems to help! It's worse at the change of season and moulting as well, and when PK first arrived, the shedding for the first month also contributed.

We have a high prey leash reactive grey and one who is over friendly. Makes for interesting times. Pk is kept at my side whenever we see a strange dog and told to 'leave it'. It's working more and more. Mixed breed obedience has also helped. What struck me about your post is that you don't know how your dog is reacting because you are so busy watching the other dog, and that you can't keep a close eye on your dog at a crowded event. My focus when walking is on my dogs. They'll tell me what I need to know , which is why pk is successfully taken to markets, obedience and out generally. Because I watch her and react to her signals.

PK also eats grass but mainly when her tummy is empty or she's feeling 'off'. Given that the grass just makes her feel worse, I try to prevent it.

Eucalyptus oil?

Ours get fed twice a day (at 7 and 7), 2 even sized meals. But at 8.30 or 9.30 (either before or after last turnout) they get a 4x2 biscuit. They love them, its good for their teeth and it keeps them quiet at night. PK has a funny tummy, so I like giving them a little extra as it seems to help, and she will always eat the 4x2.

We just had Brandi's nails done by the vet. We've done desensitization, tried it ourselves, but it's too hard. We'll keep working with lots of treats and reassurance but we'll see.

I'm sorry, but I had to come back to this, you probably know that this is a valid test for dehydration in pets and humans, but he's got it completely backwards. It's when the skin DOES KNOT spring back immediately that there's concern for dehydration. It almost makes me wonder if there was a hidden camera somewhere catching people's reactions to this boob. Anyway, I'm glad you got to give him an earful. Buzzy Yep. I know. Which is why I felt much better about thinking he was a complete idiot. Sadly I didn't see this at the time, as it would have made me feel better immediately. didn't find out till the next morning when DH let me know about his conversation. It would have been easier to walk away had I not been wedged into a sofa with him looming over me. Fortunately, he seemed a bit taken aback by my cutting him off and he avoided me for the rest of the night. Apparently the little woman should have stayed in her place. Pity I've never subscribed to that theory.

I'm lucky in that this isn't an issue for me, and so others might need to chime in, but could you make him a 'bridge' over the dangerous part of the floor for now? A nice big wide one with lots and lots of rugs and leave it there for a while. Then, one day, remove a bit of the bridge, and keep removing bits gradually until he's fine? A bit like other forms of desensitisation training (we're doing the same with handling Brandi's feet and nail clippers)

THANK YOU ALL!!! I had a feeling that the guy was a doofus (excellent description by the way!) but wanted to confirm. I'm still new to this greyhound/ dog owning thing so although I was fairly sure things were ok, the reassurance is very helpful! The girls got an hour and a half this morning (ish). It was pretty miserable out. When we came in, Brandi sat for a treat and breakfast, Paige worked off a bit of extra energy (because 4kms wasn't enough) by killing a rogue stuffy in the living room to work up a bit of extra appetite for breakfast. Obviously I'm doing something wrong. DH has suggested I start taking a stopwatch on walks to try to ensure that they aren't over-exercised. He also informed me that this d&*( informed our hosts that their dog was dehydrated. He did this by pinching the skin at the neck (which is obviously fine) and, when it sprang back immediately, pointed to it as proof. As DH commented (he was also stuck with the guy for about half an hour), f$@%wittery comes in all shapes and sizes.

I was treated to a bit of a lecture last night on how I treat my greys. My girls are 2 years old and never raced - they trialled then went straight to adoption, so they really haven't had the same level of training and socialisation that others have. Having said that, they're perfect. :-) At a party I had the misfortune to run into someone who had owned a grey (till she was 16 years old), came from racing and retired injured. On the basis of this, and having trained '100's' of dogs including racing greyhounds, I was told that my greys only need 1/2 hour walks twice a day if that, that I needed to feed them only once a day and then half of that should be lean mince, and that I was obviously letting them 'be in charge' when they bounced off walls because they didn't get enough exercise. I was also informed that, at 2, they were fully mature and finally, and this really was the LAST straw was when I was asked if I was aware that greyhounds couldn't sit. At all. Never. That physiologically they just couldn't do it. So I curtly told him where to get off (I think the words 'patronising', 'ignorant' and 'insulting' may also have been used in my response). What I wanted to do was to just check back here. My dogs are walked for around 2 hours a day, sometimes longer. And less, sometimes more, but the least they get is usually 90 minutes. Any less and they don't settle at night, do zoomies inside and are generally nightmarish. Question: am I walking my dogs too much? I don't think so and they look amazing, as every vet and greyhound person I've met says. Weight is good, well muscled, fantastic coats.... They get fed twice a day. TOTW Pacific Stream. A bit over a cup per meal, mixed with plain yoghurt and some hot water. PK seems to be sensitive to other forms of protein (and raw meat doesn't seem to agree with her - too much and it's a disaster, chicken doesn't work out well, beef doesn't seem to be as bad, but it still isn't great). They aren't overfed, aren't overweight, but what of the suggestion that I should walk my dogs less and then feed them only once a day. PK doesn't do great on once a day - tummy upsets. And leaving aside the idiocy of someone who has never met my dogs letting me know I'm doing the wrong things..... weight control is about calories in and calories out, but there's no hard and fast rule, right? I know that yoghurt is an issue for other dogs but it's presence or absence only decreases or increases the amount of gas passed by the dogs - it doesn't result in runny tummies or anything like that. At 2, I consider them to be still immature, if only mentally. Accurate or not? I won't even touch the sitting thing. One does only on command, but not otherwise, one does it when she feels like it, but not on command.... Finally, are greys who have raced qualitatively different from those who don't: calmer, more laid-back, and so on? Or is this a function of age? To what extent is it possible to generalise? My feeling was that all of them are individual and different, and that needs to be recognised, but that there are some real differences. I think that the proof is in the pudding. The girls look great and are obviously happy, healthy and well-behaved. Vets, adoption agency, other owners, animal behaviouralists are all really happy with our girls and their condition, although they do get exercised more that others. I don't 'think' I'm doing the wrong thing, but I'm also afraid that in getting my back up, I'm not open to the idea that I maybe should change things..... Help?

Yes. Then its done more stealthily..... when you least expect it..... when getting romantic with your partner, or stuck in an unventilated car....

I'm sorry you've gone through this. But absolutely the right grey is out there waiting for you!

Things I learned: whatever bed you buy won't be the right one - make a decision early on about whether they're allowed on your bed and furniture or not. invest in nose plugs - greyhound gas can clear houses never mind rrom. You can never have too many leashes, collars or coats.

A few thoughts. Keep in mind that it is as easy to love the hound that is 'right' for you as it is the one which isn't. So if you are going to return him (and I might give him a little longer the 24 hours, say a couple of weeks at least), it is better to do it earlier rather than later on because you will fall in love with him. Second, Chad is right in that all dogs have issues. However, everyone has issues that they are prepared to deal with. I think about it like horses. The issues I'm prepared to deal with are bone lazy, a bit stupid, ugly and a bit elderly and so needing supplements. What I am not prepared to deal with are hot, fizzy, spooky or unduly athletic. Same with hounds. I'm prepared to live with issues of high prey drive, energy, very vocal and somewhat standoffish and then, in the other one, occasional incontinence and submissive urination, bouncy, somewhat spooky and both of them very bonded to me, because they have other qualities which make them right. You are going to find the right hound, be it this one once he settles down or another one.

I have a high prey drive (there are a few other threads about this) and I will never trust her with any other small dog. That said, it has taken six months and I am now beginning to be able to redirect her attention towards me and away from the others and at obedience classes she now shows only minimal interest in the others. However, as soon as she gets tired or stressed, it's back to fixation. And we had the real deal. She was also described as small fluffy safe. Having got to know her, I now understand that her 'go to' behaviour when faced with something new is to shut down and go through the motions, which I suspect is how she got through assessment - it's hard to pick because it is very subtle, but she just 'goes away'. Regardless, she is never likely to be unmuzzled, and we only ever go to dog parks with other greys. Too hard else. Anything small, fluffy and running (or big and running) and she wants to take off. That will never change. And cats will always be a problem. We are working on that but its the dogs which are the bigger issue. My other one was also a lunger. In her case, it was because she assumed that everyone wanted to be her friend so she would give everyone we passed, smiling. Sadly, what people saw was a very big brindle dog who is muzzled lunging at them with teeth bared. She did this with children too. We kept her on a short leash, asked her to wait or keep walking, and if the people wanted to say hello, we had them come to her. She (and PK) are now fine around children and people generally, and will stand quietly to be thoroughly examined. It has taken time, and it will take longer. I feel like it won't be for another 18 months or so before I really know my dogs properly. Edited to add: just saw your update. Hunting small children is a concern. Both of mine watch small children and people running with intense interest. But once they realise that child = 'a small human'they seem to relax about it. Of course, people doing wind sprints at the oval, playing ball or doing any ind of track and field is endlessly fascinating - they don't seem to understand why people 'keep on' running - why not just run really quicklly and then stop? YMMV.

PK licks and chews, not metal but wood. So, the leg of our sofa has been licked and chewed, and she tries doors as well. No idea why she does it - it seems to be a slow, meditative action.

PK only, usually when excited, about to fixate or happy to see me.

We also have a dual leash but I don't like it. PK pulls but is responding slowly to training, but the dual leash for me reduces the amount of control I have because it feels like I correct both dogs when only one needs it. DH loves it though.

Is that all? She sounds like quite the talker! That's only the barking. We then have the whining (hello? Anyone there? I'm cold, hungry, want to play, need petting, fix my bed, let me on the couch - no not that bit of the couch, the other bit - we're nearly at the dog park, you're leaving me, you're home!, I need to go out), the little roo's accompanied by whining (there's another dog, rabbit, cat, plastic bag over there or I'm a little anxious), and the little grumbles when she's just happy. A very vocal girl our PK.

PK taught Brandi to bark. However, PK only really barks when she's very excited, being aggressive (especially when I'm a bit nervous), when running (telling the other dogs to stay behind her) or when she thinks I need to get up and feed her, walk her, play with her etc.

PK is exactly like that. Last week at obedience she came in and zoned out completely. Just stood in the middle looking around. The instructor attempted to demonstrate something with her. Nothing. Sigh. At least we didn't fixate onany fluffies... Having said that Booster is going great guns.

Another to chime in that maybe it's nothing. One of ours puts on weight as soon as she sniffs some food, the other one could be fed all day every day and still shows most of her ribs and vertebrae. We were worried, but then looked at her - lots of energy, beautiful coat and when I contacted her breeder, found out that her mother was a skinny little thing who never put on any fat no matter what.

Sure, which was kind of my point.... which is why I tried to make it clear that I wasn't having a go at the OP. I'm sure he is a PITA - I have two of those myself. I guess my point was that I'm working on changing the way I say things, which do affect how I react to things because they express how I think about things. Kind of shifting my attitude. So this rang a bell with me. Sigh. Good luck with Iker. I'm out. Obviously I'm too tired with other stuff going on to cope with this.

This is NOT a criticism, but something about that bothers me. I'm sure you don't mean it negatively, or rather, I'm sure he is a pain on the leash, but sometimes I think we are very quick to label behaviours that we don't like quite negatively which assumes that the dog is not behaving just to wind us up. Which affects how we respond - with frustration or even anger. I really have to work on reminding myself that the pup isn't doing it to annoy or be a 'pain' but rather because they don't know what else to do. Again, not having a go, just more reminding myself that the way I label, think about or discuss a behaviour affects how I behave.