Brandiandwe

Biggest problem this morning? Walking in the rain. Apparently Hermon shrinks when he gets wet. Who knew? And it's all my fault for not remembering to turn the rain off before leaving the house.

Because I found that the one on one time exploring and getting to know each other (so becoming really really familiar with body language and communication) was what helped and I can do that only without any other distractions.

Mine can differentiate between prey animals (anything smaller including other dogs) and humans. The bigger issue is whether you can trust the kids around your dog. To avoid issues, don't let them run or play together, and keep all interactions controlled and supervised. And, really, stop overthinking.

Sorry, but do you walk her by yourself?-

Hang in there. You're still figuring each other out and working on the bond. I can't remember - do you walk her? Because getting out and walking together is the fastest and best way of bonding and developing trust in each other. My first grey, Brandi was very timid. i now trust her completely, and she trusts me as well, because of the hours we've spent pack walking and doing obedience training. She's also now the grey who would lay her body on the line for me to protect me.

Everyone, I'm posting this because I'm seeing a few threads pop up about how worried some new owners are about their greys because all they read about are the problems. And I get it. This is an awesome resource for problems. But I thought perhaps it would be good to have somewhere where we could post about the daily or weekly trials and tribulations which really aren't anything to worry about IYKWIM? So, here goes. this week's list of MAJOR issues I've had with my greys. Brandi: decided on a 40 degree C night that she REALLY needed to sleep in between DH and I. She flopped around like a fish all night shoving her legs into my face, or shoving her nose right into my neck and snorting with contentment. I'm delighted that she enjoys snuggling. Less delighted it was stinking hot night with work the next day. Paige: moves five wheelie bins out of the way to go lizard hunting. I've no idea how. Some were full and I had difficulty moving them, so how a 26kg dog managed it, I don't know. I'm also not impressed that she's learning to use her mouth to open the glass sliding door, the wire door, the fencing we use to keep her away from the herb garden (yes, there are lizards there too). Scary intelligence not being used for good. Hermon: the grunting and groaning with pleasure as he stretches out in bed and then roaches and wiggles, kicking our bed, have woken me every night this week. They generally don't, but the heat is making me sleep poorly, so I'm awake. Benny: loves to snuggle. But the cold nose inserted into the belly button swiftly followed by nitting teeth has resulted in my squealing and leaping from the sofa at least once. This then results in me jumping about the try to avoid standing on another grey who insists on lying ascloseaspossible. Sigh. We post a lot about big problems. but for most of us, and most greys, it does all work out. Look for the positive.

Great. I'll save some pennies, but I'm thinking one in oranges and pinks for Brandi and one in just pink for Paige. Hmmmmmm

Do you post overseas? I'm looking for some tag collars for the girls.

I sympathise, as we ended up with 2 greys because our first couldn't cope. If possible, I'd try that. Other things which might help. Vitamin B supplements can assist in keeping dogs calmer. I've also found lavender essential oils and a DAP collar has helped. I find my greys settle better on a full belly. I wonder if things are worse afternoon or morning?

It just goes into his food (only a teaspoon otr so), mixed in with the tumeric. It does make their poop go a startling yellow and a very odd texture though! I'll pm you her details - she's on FB. She makes some great supplements (though whether they could be shipped internationally I don't know. Mibne are all on her stuff, but the two boys are now on her 'Old Fart's Mix' which supports their digestive systems as well as helping with their arthritis.

My guru greyhound vet here does a lot of work with herbs and she swears by tumeric and aloe vera. Also to keep them moving (move it or lose it).

When we were lure coursing, Brandi was on it daily, along with a potassium supplement. But when I suggested my husband take some of the magnesium (which was human stuff!) he scoffed that he wasn't taking 'dog stuff'. And then it worked.

For cramping, a magnesium supplement daily can also help. It's used by racing trainers here, and also works on humans for cramping and muscle soreness.

Of my four, only one has ever had it and he's now fine with DH and I. Hurrah for anecdata!

Mine all love raw egg, but not the shells. They also like them slightly scrambled with spinach. Though this does remind me of a beagle my mother had when she was young. Apparently Trixie knew that the eggs were kept in the pantry and occasionally would disappear and reappear with an egg in her mouth. The only reason you knew it was there was the slight 'smile' on her face as she walked past with her purloined goods. Of course, the egg was intact unless you tried to take it off her, at which point the soft mouth cased to be and the egg was crunched up and swallowed!

I'd get rid of the rice and the chicken myself. I know that until we got a food Paige could tolerate, she was liquid. Awful stuff. And transition immediately because, really, could it be any worse?

Can I just suggest that you make sure that whichever group you go with, that the dogs are assessed by a qualified and experienced behaviourist? There have been very bad examples over here where greys have been labelled as cat safe, when they clearly weren't, with very very bad endings. (The case I'm thinking about particularly had a video online of the cat test where the grey was clearly in full prey-drive, but was labelled as safe by people knowing nothing about dog behaviour. They still don't have a behaviourist who works with them and are still making poor choices).

This. None of what you described sounds, to me, to be unworkable, but if your wife isn't on board, it isn't going to work.

Rosey is a good looking dog then! But I'll be willing to bet that Hermon is a LOT bigger and boofier. He weighs 88 lbs and has a gorgeous Roman nose.

I don't think that walking late is a solution for everyone. Certainly I couldn't walk my dogs that late in the evening. I do, however, think that a later turnout is desirable. I wonder if she's cold or something?

If her last potty at night is before 9pm, then 5.30 isn't too bad - 8.5 hours (with the time change, she's an hour out so its 4.30) . But, yes, you might need to start taking her out later.

They do eventually learn to sleep in. It just takes time.

So after we got Brandi home, we discovered that she was very very insecure. She wouldn't walk, suffered terrible SA, I began alone training, googling madly and posting on here, and talking to the adoption group. I suggested we try a second just to see. Our adoption of Brandi was finalised a fortnight after she came home. Three days before then, hubby agreed to try Paige and she arrived the same day Brandi was finalised. SA almost completely resolved immediately. Of course, Paige was high prey, non responsive and ignored hubby for six months. He was then allowed to touch her. Right dog for Brandi. My little princess. Hubby has really, only nearly four years later and the arrival of two other hounds, bonded with her.

Let me tell you the story of an overly cautious husband. When I first suggested getting a pet, because I was working home a lot while my husband was away, I suggested a couple of cats. That idea was vetoed very quickly. I then tentatively suggested a small dog. I was informed that if we were to have a dog, it needed to be a 'real dog'. I then suggested a greyhound, because I'd read an interview with Dame Judy Dench who raved about them. I was informed that they were 'skinny, ugly dogs'. So I went away to do some more research. Six months later, I returned to the fray. 'Real' dogs in Australia often mean working breeds or bully breeds. Given we were both workers, a working breed needed too much time and stimulation. A bully breed just didn't appeal. And I'd kept on gazing at various greyhound sites doing my research. So one Sunday morning, we were lying in bed and I was asked what I wanted to do. I told him that there was a greyhound adoption group doing a meet and greet at a pound about half an hour away. I suggested we go along and just meet some in the flesh. Hubby agreed and off we went. When we arrived at the pound, he pulled on my arm and swung me round to face him. He then said, very seriously, 'Now. You know we aren't taking one home today, right? We're just having a look and a think. OK? So no getting attached.' I agreed, very seriously, and we headed in to find the greyhounds. Brandi and Paige were the two on display. As soon as she saw us, Brandi pulled her handler over to us and threw herself into my arms. She quivered, and leant, and snuggled, and when I stood up, she did the same to hubby. Meanwhile, I got some more information and was introduced to Paige who, frankly, couldn't care less. I got the info, had a good talk, and then we walked away. We got about 20 metres away when hubby stopped. And sighed. I asked him what was wrong. He told me he wanted to go back. So we did, to the same reception. I was then told that, if we wanted, we could fill in a form with our details, so we could think about it some more. We walked away again, and again, hubby stopped. I asked him if he wanted me to fill in the form for adoption and submit it, and we dashed back so I could. This was just so we could 'think about it'. No commitments were made. My sense of direction is terrible, so it took me a while to realise that, on the way home, we weren't going straight home and that hubby was, instead, heading for the nearest large pet store, to 'price some things'. He also spent the whole ride home from the store imagining Brandi sitting on our back seat. Later that night, I walked in to find him in a terrible state on the computer. When I asked what was wrong, he explained that he had been checking up on Brandi on the adoption site. But apparently lots of people had seen her and liked her because every time he refreshed the page or returned to it, her count had gone up! And would I please ring first thing in the morning to tell them that we wanted her! I pointed out that the counter was his, not someone else, so every time he visited to page, he added to the number, but I did ring at 9.00 the next morning. That Friday Brandi came home. So, yeah, husband's say they want to 'think about it'. But given the right dog, everything changes.

We brought our second home within a fortnight because Brandi really needed a second dog. 2 girls, Paige picked not because we wanted her, but because Brandi knew her, they seemed to get along, and she was available. In the end, Paige has ended up exactly where she needed to be and where she belonged and I would trade her. So it isn't too soon, but be ready for the possibility of you not getting the dog you chose.