ramonaghan
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Posts posted by ramonaghan
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Deepest condolences on your loss.
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Stunning boy! Congrats!!
What was his racing name?
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(I actually said fuzzy trombone, but he didn't think it was funny)
I read this too quickly and totally thought "Fuzzy Trombone" was a racing name!
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But most importantly, where are the pictures of your new girl??!
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Coconut oil is good too (organic, virgin), which you can get at Costco or Trader Joe's (not sure where you're located, but it's not too hard to find). Start slow with any oils to avoid loose stools (maybe a teaspoon working up gradually to a tablespoon). Cottage cheese or yogurt are popular here. My hound also LOVES FreshPet Select, which I buy at my regular grocery store in the refrigerated section of the dog food aisle. I get both "Homestyle" flavors; I warm up a spoonful or two and stir it into her regular kibble and she literally drools in anticipation.
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So sorry for your loss. Rest well, Queen.
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My deepest condolences on your losses.
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Oh, Possum, what a handsome dude you were. That third picture where you are apparently casting a spell on someone (or are you holding an invisible remote?) made me laugh out loud. So happy you got to spend your last days in a happy, loving home. Rest well.
I am so sorry for your loss, macoduck.
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Not really an answer to your question, but we just wait til Sweep is naturally in that position (which is often) and then swoop in with the dremel. She never seems to mind it, but we still give her a treat after each foot to ensure it remains a positive experience.
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There are some things you can do to desensitize, but really, the only safe way to prevent these situations from happening again is to supervise every single interaction. During these interactions, the dog should be standing up and free to walk away when she's had enough. If you can't be there to supervise, the dog needs to be crated or confined. Even though it may have looked like Piper's behavior was unprovoked, it's likely she gave a handful of subtle cues first that said, "I'm uncomfortable with this. Leave me be!" A toddler isn't capable of recognizing those cues, so it's important that you be there to do it. I highly recommend Dogproofing Your Child by Brian Kilcommons to learn how to read those cues.
Here's another article on those subtle cues (calming signals) that might help you identify when Piper's had enough or is feeling uncomfortable before a situation escalates.
Other than that, just want to thank you for your commitment to Piper and willingness to work through this. I suspect that for many parents, this single incident would be a deal breaker. No matter what the future holds (and I sincerely hope it all works out!), it's obvious that you're putting in the effort and research, which is commendable. (Seriously, scratching the hardwood floors? Wow. Didn't know that's why she was bounced from her first home.)
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And there there was the screaming, crying Staghound on my porch, holding up her leg, totally freaked out. OMG! "Monkey, what happened! Poor baby. Hold still. Let me look at it." I pulled off the damp leaf covering her knuckles so I could get a good look at them. Screaming stopped. "Seriously?! You're terrified of a leaf?" I continue looking just to make sure there wasn't anything else. There wasn't. She continued to hold her leg up & refused to walk. Then one of the other dogs takes off running after something. Staghound's head whips around. I let go of her & she takes two strides, part way down the ramp she leaps off & zooms across the yard.
A leaf.
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You'd be suprised what sissies Greyhounds can be.
The first time George limped, I was still a newbie, and didn't realize this fact--but you would have imagined his leg had just snapped. It was actually the top of an acorn stuck to his foot!
Exactly what I was thinking. For good measure, Sweep even continues limping for a few steps once you've removed the acorn/pebble/whatever. Then she realizes she's going to live and ceases her dramatic display. Hope your boy is fine today!
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For the Missing Link, do you just sprinkle it on their food at every meal?
I sprinkle it over the kibble and add a little warm water and stir to make it like a gravy. Sweep loves it. I recently switched to this formula since it also contains a probiotic and thus has the added benefit of firming up poo.
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I have followed your posts since Tempo's diagnosis and am so sad to read this. My thoughts will be with you and Rocko. Rest well, Tempo.
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Welcome! Mickey is gorgeous and looks like a very happy boy!
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Annie sheds 365 but right now, she's shedding more than usual. She has no bald spots though.
Is that a fawn thing? Sweep's a year-round shedder too; her chest and belly have bald spots but her thighs and butt do not. We have been using Missing Link with her and it seems to help with the shedding a bit, but it definitely makes her coat soft and shiny. We recently got this formula (previously, we'd gotten Ultimate Skin & Coat), which contains a probiotic, so there's a great side benefit: perfect poos!
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I know this is an old thread but just wanted to post that I got the Northmate feeder mentioned by the OP, and it works well! (I actually got it for my two cats, but I let Sweep check it out first.) Her long nose was not an issue; she just used her tongue to reach between the longer "blades of grass," which are probably no deeper than the average Kong. She tried to use her paws quite a bit, which was entertaining for me but not very productive for her.
If I were to keep using it for her, I'd probably weigh it down somehow so she couldn't flip it. Seems like a great, albeit not the cheapest, solution for the fast eaters out there. -
No stories to share, just my deepest condolences on your sudden loss. Rest well, Jonelle.
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My condolences. Rest well, Morgan.
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Welcome from Nashville! I too am looking forward to photos of Blaze—blues are so gorgeous.
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But I totally disagree about the "coddling" comments above. If you have a baby or a small child who is frightened by something, you wouldn't stick them in a closet or their crib and just leave them alone to be scared out of their wits. Dogs aren't stupid and they can easily tell the difference between being comforted and being trained by reinforcement. If under your desk is her safe spot, and she's OK there during storms, then let her stay. Sit in the room with her, give her a pet or some encouraging words every now and then, depending on what she can tolerate. Let her know you're there for her. Don't abandon her when she feels most vulnerable.
Oh no, I hope that is not the impression I gave! I certainly don't abandon Sweep and am often in the room with her (I work from home, so that's usually the case). It's just that I don't baby-talk her or hold her close throughout a storm, which would be nearly impossible anyway since she retreats to her crate. I act normally, meaning I do still talk to her and pet her, but if I need to do something in another room for a couple of minutes, I will. I also try to remain calm myself; as hard as it is to see her stressed, I wouldn't want her to sense any tension or weird vibes from me on top of what she's already feeling.
I second the radio suggestion (we go with classical); that's the one thing we've tried that does seem to help her stay settled rather than becoming Pacey Pacerson. I turn it on before the thunder starts whenever possible. We have not had much luck with Rescue Remedy.
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Very sorry for your sudden loss. Rest well and free of pain, Katie.
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Sweep is a butt/crotch sniffer too. I have posted on the same topic before, and it seems like it's fairly common (for all dogs, not just greys, but greys have a height advantage!). We're pretty used to it now and just try to get dressed quickly or avoid bending over when she's nearby.
It's still embarrassing when she does it to strangers, but it's just how dogs gather info and say hi, so most people are pretty understanding about it if I don't manage to pull her back in time.Sweep is also a thunderstorm-phobe. We've had her for 10 months, and she's progressed from pacing/panting during storms to seeking out her crate and staying in there til it passes. I think it's OK to let them hide; seems like a natural instinct to me. I do make every effort to behave normally and go about my business instead of babying her (as tempting as that is) because I don't want to reinforce her behavior. There's some good info and suggestions on my vet's website.
BTW, Minnie is beautiful!
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My girl gets mouthy when she loves what I'm doing and wants to play. Don't know if that's what happening with you, but teeth mean different things with different dogs in different circumstances.
Same here. Sweep mouths affectionately and excitedly, usually right before she flops over into a roach when we're petting her.
Exactly what I was thinking. For good measure, Sweep even continues limping for a few steps once you've removed the acorn/pebble/whatever. Then she realizes she's going to live and ceases her dramatic display. Hope your boy is fine today!
If I were to keep using it for her, I'd probably weigh it down somehow so she couldn't flip it. Seems like a great, albeit not the cheapest, solution for the fast eaters out there.
It's still embarrassing when she does it to strangers, but it's just how dogs gather info and say hi, so most people are pretty understanding about it if I don't manage to pull her back in time.
Garth Has Gone To The Bridge
in Remembrance
Posted
So very sorry for your loss. Rest well, Garth.