deboosh
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Posts posted by deboosh
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We've had our girl for 3 months. Six weeks after adopting her, she attacked a tiny dog (during a walk, both leashed). As a result, we keep her muzzled in public and no longer go to the dog parks because she started to fixate on and aggressively chase certain dogs there. Now we only take Bonnie to greyhound-only playgroups, and are searching for a positive reinforcement trainer who is familiar with the sensitivities of this breed.
This forum is truly a wonderful place. I've learned more about greys here than from any other reference. I'd be willing to bet that many a greyhound's newly adoptive home has been saved because of the effective advice and generous support offered by those members who've gone down the road before us. I've shed a few tears since getting our new cuddlebug, so if at any time you need a shoulder or just want to compare notes, please, just send me a PM.
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Thanks silverfish! I'm always learning something useful here and people are only too happy to be helpful.
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I had no idea that honey had healing properties. Are you using it as a topical anti-biotic? It sounds as though it speeds up healing.
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I'm a newbie greyhound mama too, and because I am only beginning to learn about commands and recall, I went to the hunting section of our local Canadian Tire store and picked up a squawker, "just in case" Bonnie accidentally got away from me. I always carry it whenever I'm out with her and did have occasion to use it a couple of months ago. It happened when we used to frequent the dog parks. This particular one was fenced, but there was a portion of the park where the "fence" was a tree-lined creek. Bonnie decided to investigate the dense bush area and managed to get far enough away that I could no longer see where she went, and she wasn't responding when I called. One quick, short blast on the squawker and she was at my side within a few seconds. I have only used this tool once, as it also should only be used as an emergency recall. It's a permanent part of my walking paraphernalia~~poop bags, keys, cell phone, a wet nap/tissue for any messy pudding poops and the squawker. We all learn, then move on. I'm so glad your girl is back home, safe and sound with you!
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from another neighbour. Your Missy's adorable! 
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I feel fortunate he will actually "go lie down" after only the third command to do so...
I'd look on the bright side~~there's nowhere to go but up, LOL!
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Congratulations and welcome to the forum! We adopted our grey this past Christmas, and she is also a first dog for both of us. Talk about green, lol. We let our girl take the lead, and just let her explore, check out the yard, go for a walk in the neighbourhood and began teaching her stairs, as we have to use them to come and go. We took quite a few pictures to mark her homecoming, and just enjoyed getting acquainted. I hope you have a memorable Gotcha Day and that your new family member settles in well.
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Sending lots of good thoughts and wishes that your little guy will get through this and be on the mend soon.
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I'm so sorry for your loss of your sweet Target.
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I did the same thing! Someone on GT gave me a link to the blog when I first adopted (a year ago and my first grey) but I read it thinking "that's too hard" I started obedience training a few months ago, and voila! He sits, downs, shakes on command w/ or w/o a treat! I am FINALLY starting recall training.
ETA: You just have to KEEP TRYING, don't give up or be discouraged. If something doesn't work for you and your grey, then alter the method until it does. For example, there are no hills where I live, so training to sit with the lure method (from the blog) did not really work for me, I had to do it standing on the bed where he felt more stable. I also have to do a few really short sessions, like 5 mins 3x a day until he realized how yummy all that sitting business can be
Well now, what do you know, who'd a thunk I'd actually take advantage of the steep paved path that was the bane of my existence 20 years ago. Said path leads down to a ravine 2 minutes from my house, and when my boys were little, they played organized baseball there, 3 x/wk. I cursed it because as an obese smoker, I thought my heart would explode by the time I made back to the top. But now that path is going to be my new best friend, as there isn't a more perfect spot for teaching my girlie to sit (and I no longer smoke~~don't ask about the other, lol)
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When Bonnie gets in one of her goofy moods, she starts wagging her tail, paws the length of her muzzle, and then starts to whine, ending it with a high pitched series of barks. If I imitate her whine, it encourages her to keep it up. So I will start training from there. Thanks for the well-explained examples of how to take advantage of a training opportunity, Giselle and Adaerr!
Clawsandpaws, I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I found Never Say Never Greyhounds over a year ago, but completely overlooked her blog! Really now, sometimes I'm such a dodo.
And of course, the training I've been searching for is smack-dab all right there~~in the darn blog! So, Thank You, 
Clawsandpaws, 
I've been feeling apprehensive and intimidated about training, but now I've got some guidance, if only I'd open my eyes. I feel much more at ease about it now, thanks to you! -
I didn't watch the video, but I would only do train this with a dog that growls naturally in play or fun. When they do it on their own, I would click (I use clicker training) and treat. Eventually when they reliably do it on command, you add in the rest.
I've just started doing this in teaching her to lie down; I click/treat and say down when she does it naturally, But my girl has never growled, in play or otherwise, so I guess I won't be hearing any motorcycle noises from her.
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I've been looking for training examples of teaching basic commands to greyhounds, (which are sadly lacking, btw) but came across this video from a greyhound/inmate program that was posted on youtube.
At around the 47 second mark, one of the inmates demonstrates how his grey can imitate a Harley Davidson motorcycle starting up. He straddles the dog, pretends to twist his ear, at which time the dog responds by giving a drawn out growl. I think it's cute, and something my hubby would have fun teaching Bonnie.
My question is, how would one go about teaching the dog to vocalize a growl without the feelings that go along with it? I would want the dog to know we were playing and would never want to teach her anything that would make her feel uneasy or truly elicit a growl.
Here's the video. Any suggestions on how to begin? It takes place near the beginning, around 47 seconds into it:
Thanks!
ETA: I've "asked" the video to start at the 40 sec. mark, so you won't have to wait long to see the trick.
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How frustrating! Should those of us feeding Nutro be concerned or not? Whenever there's a product recall, you hear about it in the media. This is complete news to me, but then again, I'm usually the last to find out about most things.
My girl is doing well on Nutro's sensitive skin & stomach variety, so I don't want to change brands if there's no legitimate reason to. What or who are we supposed to believe?
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We've had Bonnie for 3 months, and have found that her stealing has dwindled from everything she could wrap her teeth around, to just the occasional item. She's never destroyed anything except a couple of days ago, when she fancied my favourite belt that was on our bed. I found it in her bed, chewed in half.
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How's Sammi now?
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Prayers and good wishes for Sammi. Will be thinking of you both throughout the day.
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Yep, Bonnie's definitely figured out that if she yelps, I'll stop inspecting her toes or wiping away her eye goop. What a mean mommy I am! Dh and I were talking about her GSOD and how it made us lock horns, just the other night. It caused a tiff when I chastised him for stomping on her toes when he swore it was barely a graze. "She would never yelp like that for just a little graze", I told him smugly. You phony little wimp, Bonbon!
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I keep all vet records, too, mostly because I picture being asked something that only my records can confirm. You can take them with you should an emergency arise and the attending wants a history. Just don't tally them in the course of a year like I just did, if you don't want to feel sick.
Edited: b/c perfectionist
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I'm so sorry you and Beanie had to go through something tough.
May I suggest what a vet suggested to me regarding my last dog? I couldn't get over my guilt and was still crying at the drop of a hat. So I wrote a letter, several pages long, of love and apology. I inserted photographs and everything. And I also said goodbye (something which I hadn't been able to do in person). I took it to her for her to read, which of course broke her down, too. But it was very cathartic. If I hadn't have been able to share it with the vet, I probably would have burned a copy and wished that it would go to my baby at the Bridge.
What a beautiful, intimate and touching way to say good-bye, Lisa. Through tears, I thank you for sharing this. It brings special meaning to those of us who tend to burden ourselves over that which we have no control.
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I am so sorry for your loss. But please don't choose the manner of Beanie's passing as the memory you revisit when you think of her. You gave her a home but more importantly, you gave her love. We all do our best in every situation and cannot expect anything more of ourselves. Please forgive yourself.
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Sending you healing thoughts.
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I just wanted to add that the probiotic powder I use is chicken flavoured, and dogs find green tripe (canned) irresistable (but you'll find it rather disgusting, and have to breathe through your mouth in order to mix it in, lol), which will entice your boy to eat as mine turned his nose up at it without the tripe being mixed in.
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How long have you been feeding Enzo the Iams? I know there are a few posters here who've had good results feeding their grey the Iams green bag, but as you know by now, everybody's different. We adopted our girl at Christmas and she had tummy issues as well. It was recommended to us to use Blue Buffalo's Grain Free, but this didn't help. Then we tried Nutro's Grain Free, which also didn't help. Next came a limited ingredient food, also ineffective. I was at the point of taking Bonnie back to the vet, as her diarrhea had gotten to the point that it was just liquid.
Luckily, I happened upon a very knowledgeable pet food store owner who had taken numerous courses in canine nutrition. He suggested that we first give Bonnie 1 1/2 cups of brown rice mixed with a powdered probiotic supplement, and mixing in 1/3 can of green tripe. (Green tripe has many benefits, including being easy on the tummy). At the very next meal, she had no more diarrhea. He also suggested we try Nutro's Sensitive Skin & Stomach dry kibble, but to only start out by giving her a few pieces at a time, and gradually increasing it, up to one cup. She has been on this now for the past 6 weeks and I couldn't be happier.Just recently, we added one can each of salmon & sardines per week, and she tolerates this as well. Finally, I get meaty bones from the butcher and he cuts them into nice chunks, and she gets one each week to keep her pearly whites in good shape and as an added bonus, bone firms up poop as well.
Because all hounds are individuals in what they can handle digestively, there's a lot of trial and error they have to endure until we find what works for them. Good luck; I hope this helps!
from another neighbour. Your Missy's adorable! 
And of course, the training I've been searching for is smack-dab all right there~~in the darn blog! So, Thank You, 
Clawsandpaws, 
I've been feeling apprehensive and intimidated about training, but now I've got some guidance, if only I'd open my eyes. I feel much more at ease about it now, thanks to you!
Walli 31/7/2000 1/4/2013
in Remembrance
Posted
I am so sorry for your loss.