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Wantsagrey

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Everything posted by Wantsagrey

  1. I think I mostly want it known around the neighborhood that I've got a large dog. I do think just the knowledge of there being a large dog is enough to make many people hesitate to make trouble. While greys don't seem at all intimidating to me, I think they would seem that way to those who aren't dog savvy. I'd really prefer a dog that's not a huge barker, my Chihuahua and Havanese do enough of that! But I wouldn't be disappointed if I got a grey that would chime in when something suspicious is going on! Thanks everyone!! I really appreciate the feedback.
  2. Well, I'm not really interested in a German Shepherd, I still feel like a Grey would be a good fit, even if it didn't have a scary bark! Thanks so much for all of the replies, you've all been very helpful.
  3. I really do prefer a quiet dog, especially to take to work. My two girls are doing better, they don't bark every time someone comes into the shop any more, but they do bark if we bring someone back to look at thread choices or designs. I do think if people just see/know I've got a big dog, that prevents a lot of people from coming right up to the house. In a perfect world, it would only bark when someone is on the porch or close to the house. It's a shame this isn't a perfect world!! Thanks for your responses.
  4. So I've wanted a Greyhound for years. I was actually getting ready to send in my application when my father passed away a year and a half ago. I was the farm manager on his farm, the rest of the family insisted on selling, and now I live in town, which I despise, and not in the greatest of neighborhoods. I have 2 cats, a Havanese, and a chihuahua. My chi would do her best to protect me but let's face it, how scary can her bark really be? I want a big dog, and I would like a dog who sounds like a big dog. I'm not looking for a mean dog, or one trained for protection, I want a companion. But it would be a nice side benefit if my big dog's bark made someone think twice about skulking around my house. Would anyone be intimidated by a Greyhound's bark? And would a Grey be inclined to bark at strange noises? I also take my dogs to work with me. I work at a family owned embroidery retail shop, where customers come in and out, but my dogs are confined to the back part of the shop where they've got plenty of room and a couch to lay on. Does my lifestyle sound appropriate for a Greyhound? I know each dog is very different, even dogs of the same breed. I've raised Australian Cattle Dogs, and have had a lot of experience with other breeds of dogs, but never a Greyhound even though for some reason, I've felt a pull towards the breed for more than 20 years. Any thoughts?
  5. According to your pictures, Sam has made a friend in Arthur. Some of my dogs who lived for years together never snuggled. But for some reason, my Australian Cattle Dog Levi, absolutely loved my foster chihuahua, who I later adopted. (She and her puppies were evidence in a court case so I couldn't adopt her until case was settled). We had other dogs, but PicaBoo is the one he let snuggle up between his legs like he was holding her. Maybe he just knew she came from an abusive situation and just wanted to protect her. I hope the gf sees the light, it would be a shame to separate those two now. Good luck!
  6. A slumber ball is a dog bed. I ordered mine from Kohl's and used Kohl's cash. I put in the search at Kohl's "DrsFoster and Smith Slumber Ball" You can also order them from: www.drsfostersmith.com
  7. I'm so sorry you and Harley are having to go through this. I know how difficult it is. Just remember Harley isn't worrying about the amount of time you've spent together, she only knows and feels the love and joy you've had for her, and she will die knowing she was loved more than anything by you. And I don't believe she would ever want you to second guess your decision, because it was made out of love for her. You were both so lucky to have found each other. (((Hugs)))
  8. I agree, the cats need permanent and safe escape routes. I have been dog sitting often enough I've left the gates in place. I just don't keep them all closed when it's just us at home. The cats have several places to go. I've always wished though, to have a pathway up high for them, all through the house. I'm sure it would be hard to make it blend in, but if I had someone handy who worked for free, I'd be building them all kinds of ramps and paths.
  9. I don't have a grey yet, but my parents have 2 Havanese, one with Addison's Disease and an incredibly sensitive stomach, and I have a Chihuahua and a Havanese. Since they spend so much time together, we keep them on the same food. Several months ago, our vet wanted the Addison's dog on a duck food. After researching, I decided on Fromm DUCK &SWEET POTATO. They love it! Even my cats want to eat it. So I highly recommend Fromm products. My only issue is the local place we bought it from closed shortly after we started feeding it. Now I order it online Our Addison's dog periodically has a lot of diarrhea, so I ordered the Olewo carrots after reading about it here and it's been wonderful for her. Good luck!
  10. When I dog sit, I've got gates with the little pet doors so my cats can get away, but obviously, it would be preferable to have a grey that was good w the cats. I think you might be right about them being fostered w cats. A couple of groups I've looked at have listed some dogs as "cat safe, tested at the track" with no mention of them being w cats in foster homes. Thanks for the input! I can do permanent gates and stuff if necessary, but I don't want my cats to always live in fear.
  11. Fromm Duck and Sweet Potato would be a good one to try, my vet recommended a duck and sweet potato for my parents Havanese, when we were trying to figure out if she was allergic to anything in her food. Now, all of our dogs eat it, and are doing very well on it.
  12. Looks are the lowest thing on my list! Although... I would love a grey that has goofy ears . Some of the pictures crack me up when their ears are doing totally different things. Let's just say, I'd consider funny ears a bonus, not a requirement!
  13. I'm not set on any color, or whether it's male or female, unless the fact that my current dogs are both female would make a difference. And the 2 larger dogs I dog sit are both males. My only sticking points are small dogs/cats. Xengab, glad yours has worked out so well! Hope I'm as lucky.
  14. I think you're right about that. I've raised a Basenji/Beagle cross, 3 Australian Cattle Dogs, a Shetland Shedpdog, a small poodle mix and a smallish Maltese/Pekingese/Poodle mix, and 2 rescue Chihuahuas, and as a little girl, I had an English Springer Spaniel. I currently have the Havanese and one of the rescue chihuahuas. Plus the 2 cats. So I am not someone who doesn't know dogs, but since this would be my first Greyhound, I want to approach it as if I don't know anything. I don't want to assume a Greyhound will react or behave like any of the other dogs I've had although I expect there to be some similarities to my Basenji/Beagle cross since he was a hound also. A very smart, very hard-headed hound. I loved him dearly though.
  15. Thanks! Just bought it. I have the kindle app on my iPad, but my preferred ereader is the NOOK Glowlight from Barnes and Noble. Sometimes you can only get things on Amazon though, so I'm grateful for options . Wish this had been available to me several years ago when I had a dog with dementia.
  16. Ok, just went back to see exactly what they say. Beside a picture of the dog it Says: NAME: DOB: GENDER: COLOR: WEIGHT: CAT SAFE: SMALL DOG SAFE: SMALL CHILD SAFE: Next to cat safe it either says YES, NO, WORKABLE or TBD Next to small dog safe it either says YES, NO, TBD I need cat safe and small dog safe, so obviously any dogs with a NO next to either of those categories would be out. And it sounds like from what some of y'all are saying, since they use YES and WORKABLE, that workable probably means a lot of work would need to be done to make sure the dogs and cats can all live in harmony. The groups I'm looking at have the dogs in foster homes, and it sounds like they get to know them really well. After going over an application, it says they choose at least 2 dogs, 3-4 if possible, to bring to a home visit and if all goes well, one of the dogs becomes a member of the family. I know the dogs disposition can change after having time to settle in. So I'm aware there's no guarantee that there won't be problems, but I'd like to make it as stress free as possible for all the dogs and cats. I know I'll have to put a lot of trust in the rescue group to know which dog might work in my situation, I'm just trying to learn all I can to hopefully make everyone feel safe. I don't want to go into it thinking "workable" means yes when it really means extremely doubtful. Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to answer my questions.
  17. Thanks everyone. You've given me hope! Since I dog sit for a friend's big dog who doesn't have cats, I've got 3 baby gates w the pet door at the bottom. My cats can get to the laundry room, bed/bathroom and storage room without big dogs following them, my Havanese and Chihuahua can fit through the little pet door too which is nice bc my Hav, especially, really loves the cats, and one of them really loves her too! I went ahead and got the gates so everyone has a chance to get used to that arrangement before I (hopefully) bring a grey home. Plus it's made it so much easier when keeping my friends dog. Eventually I hope the grey will want to sleep in the bedroom w me and the other dogs. I like having them all close. Thanks for your help.
  18. So I've been checking out dogs on websites for a while now, and I'm wondering about the term "workable" in regard to cats. I've got 2 cats. One is very timid, hides the entire time anyone is in my house. The other has a hard time warming up to new dogs, even dogs I regularly dog sit bc she was frightened as a kitten when my brothers dog was overly enthusiastic on their first meeting. (Totally my fault, I should have handled it better but my nephew was here too, and excited to play w the cat...) So with 2 cats who need a lot of time to warm up to new dogs, and who are scared when they think the dog is too enthusiastic, would a grey who is listed as "cat workable" be an option, or not? I know even if they say "cat safe" there's going to be a lot of adjustments for cats and grey as they are settling in, and I've got safe places for the cats to go to get away from dogs, but I'm wondering if cat "workable" greys would be too much for my cats to have to deal with. ?? My cats are ok with my Havanese and chihuahua.
  19. Good luck! You're a brave woman to take on a new dog with issues, along w a toddler and a newborn. .
  20. That's so sweet seeing them snuggled up together. So glad they are friends!
  21. It wouldn't surprise me if he's got a fan club . I showed his picture to my aunt and cousin, they were also admiring how handsome he is
  22. He's gorgeous! I'm not any help, I don't even have a grey yet, but just wanted to comment on how handsome he is! I imagine you already know that though .
  23. This is a tough situation. I am a person who can't be happy without at least one dog, preferably 2 or 3. And like the OP, I've always felt very strongly that when you get an animal, it's for life. HOWEVER, I feel like this is one of those "it's me or the dog" situations. And that's a terrible position to be in. I'm assuming you want to keep your wife? Is there good communication between the 2 of you, or has she completely shut down where the dog is concerned? In a perfect world, you could say to your wife: honey, I love you, our baby, and this dog. I really need you to make an effort with the dog, I'm not going to feel right about rehoming the dog, and it would mean so much to me if you could try to build a relationship with the dog. In a perfect world, she would say: you know what, you are right. I haven't tried to build a relationship with the dog, and because I love you, I will try. In reality: I'm afraid you're going to have to choose between your wife, and your dog. My question is: how will you feel about your wife, if your decision to give up the dog has been forced on you? Just know this: if you do choose to give up the dog, it's not a failure on your part. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to make a choice that goes against what your heart feels, and do what your logical brain says is best for the dog and your family. It's not really fair to the dog to be living in a hostile environment. Perception is reality, and your wife perceives this dog to be a dangerous animal. He's not likely to have the opportunity to prove her wrong, bc she won't let him. I really hope that you and your wife could talk about it, and she would come around when she truly understands how you feel, but if she's the one home with the dog and the baby, and she doesn't want the dog, you're going to have to choose. I'm so sorry you and the dog are being put in this position, it's not fair to anyone.
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