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Thank you SO much Dick, again. She is our friend's dog, and yes a lovely pet and you are right - she won the race of her life because her owners are wonderful. They will be very happy with that info. Much appreciated!

Hi, We experienced a very bad case of freezing when we first got our boy in Feb of this year. I seriously thought he would never get over it. We went so slow we were practically moving backwards. He wouldn't even get off his bed without some serious coaxing. Not to mention outside to pee (we live on the fourth floor of a condo). We stuck to around the premises for weeks. I got some wonderful advice here with the takeaway being time and patience are key. 6 months later, our boy will go anywhere, even into a busy store, does Meets & Greets, he will go virtually anywhere if we are going. He is still shy but the difference is unbelievable. He is also the star of our condo building because everyone knows how far he has come. Agree with others, short and sweet. Give it time. He will be fine. You are doing a great job.

Hello Dick, If you have the time I would really appreciate your thoughts on Whiskey Heat, female, DOB 2015/06/12 please. You were kind enough to give us your thoughts on our boy, Braska Damien ( now Ollie) a while ago. Whiskey Heat is his best buddy. He loves to run with her and I'm curious as to her track performance. With very many thanks!

Having thought ( worried) about it all day, DH and I decided that we will only take him when the park is totally empty and toss a ball. Not worth the risk otherwise and every time I've heeded the general consensus here things have gone well. Thanks for all the great replies!

Thank you all so much. I love this forum and so far, whenever I've followed the advice it's worked much better. When I have strayed from said advice ( e.g. Letting him on he couch too early) we've had a hiccup. So I am learning a lot and appreciate the thoughts and suggestions. I totally agree about the owners. I've had close calls with our coonhounds and other dogs with irresponsible owners in the past. So it's the first thing I look at. Before I took Ollie off, I spoke to the two owners. One had a friend with an adopted grey and understood my hesitations and I could tell she was super responsible and introduced us to the park ( the exits, the " rules" etc) The other guy was also very responsible and when he called his spaniel over he came right away to meet Ollie in a controlled manner. So I did feel okay with them. After a while when two other dogs came, we left right away. Ollie came immediately when I called him and didn't pay any attention to anything else - he didn't want us to leave without him and we exited at the other side of the park ( there are three gates) as I saw them get out of their car. But it's still a risk I know. I'm so 50:50 about it. I could try it again if those same two owners are there or keep him away and on the leash on our hikes and walks. I do feel bad if he can't run off-leash and seems to love chasing a ball. We walk ( stroll, really because he's still very nervous outside and freezes) for a total of one-one and half hours every day around the neighbourhood during the week. At weekends we hike/walk for at least 2-3 hours on both days. Is this enough? I will also explore some other options and talk to our group maybe they have other condo dwellers who would be willing to get together and " rent" someone's big yard or farm area for greys.

Thank you for the replies and suggestions. I was reluctant about the dog park too after reading on here. We held off for days until we only saw two dogs that were well behaved and doing their own thing. One small one who wasn't interested in Ollie and another medium sized one that was fixated on a squirrel. We left immediately when other dogs came in. For the most part Ollie and the other two dogs did their own thing other than an initial sniff of each other. Here's my quandary. It's the only fenced area close by and we don't have a yard. Our greyhound group do group walks but not play dates. I will keep asking around to see if anyone can offer that. At the moment he won't walk down the street with traffic to get to many places, so I have to wait until DH brings the car back from work and go anywhere After tsking him on the beach on the leash and realizing he wanted to run and play ( first time I've seen him super happy and excited) I gave the park a go at a quiet time. If we went again at the same time ( the other good owners said this was the best quiet time) with the same dogs do you think that's okay? We would leave if other dogs came. Or do you think it's best avoided altogether?

So we've had Ollie for 6 weeks now. He is a pretty shy dog and really afraid of traffic, being outside, strangers etc but has been making huge leaps forward. I wanted to share this here because I'm so proud of him and from all the advice you've all given here has been fantastic and I'm seeing so many great things now. He still freezes a lot outside but is now willing to walk around quieter areas of our neighbourhood, I let him lead the way and yet encourage him to try something new each day. It's paying off big time! He has been taking me down new streets ( we are new in this neighbourhood too!) he even discovered a playground which thrilled my kids. We recently took him to a greyhound meet and greet with our adoption agency at a big chain pet store. Of course Ollie didn't want to go in but when two of the other greyhounds came to help him he went right in. He was fantastic! He didn't shy away, but stood right with me and the other greys and happily accepted some gentle scritches and treats. He got a lot of positive comments from everyone and they could see already how much he had improved. We were so proud of him.at his debut. He is now allowing me within a foot of him as he chews a bully stick. I toss him some bits of meatballs and he even lets me hold out my hand with meatball in it and he will take it. So there is big improvement there too. He's also been alone for two hours without a fuss! He did have a growl/snap at my daughter within the first two weeks when she got a bit unruly on e floor and he was close by ( my fault for not anticipating that....and I learnt so much from that) so I made sure Ollie sits on his bed when she is playing in the living area ( he likes to lie right in the middle of the toys but then feels trapped). The other day when he was lying there and she came over to play, he got up and went to lie on his bed without.being.asked. So he seems to have learnt that it's not the best/ safest area to lie when she plays ( we have a very small condo so space is a premium!). He's not at all space agressive in his bed but I still rescpet his boundaries and there is no petting him by anyone on his bed. I learnt that the only time he sleep startles is if he is fast asleep and I touch him if he is on the couch. I let him on the couch once only and he fell fast sleep as I petted him and then suddenly snarled so he is not on the furniture anymore for a long time. He doesn't even ask now and he's not done that since. And even though I would love for him to be able to sleep with us or go on the couch with us I know this is not a good idea for a long while and keeping everyone safe is much more important. So another step forward! He is getting much more trusting of us all, my kids help feed him by hand, so does DH and he is enjoying playing hide and seek with my kids. I can brush his teeth much longer too! He likes to counter surf and his nose is perfect height at the dinner table so now he know he gets more little treats if he is lying calmly on his bed away from the table! He also dropped my kids bagel when asked after she dropped it on the floor in front of his nose! He loves nature walks/hikes with us. We scramble over rocks, through forests, explore on beaches and he is definitely a nature type dog. We also took him to an off-leash, fully fenced area so he could run tonight' There were a few dogs there of all sizes and he was super good with all of them- and he had a few short runs! He was SO happy! And we were so happy to see him so happy! I was nervous letting him off at first as I didn't know how he was going to be but he's great! I also called him over a few times and he came. Every.single.time. He also came over a lot and stood by me when I didn't call him! What made my kids day was when he watched the other dogs playing fetch and he took a turn at going after the ball! He tossed it in the air and shook it (!) and went into a full play bow with my kids and the other dogs. They all ran around with him and wore themselves out. It was the first time we have seen him play after weeks of trying to get him interested in his stuffies. It was awesome. So I'm not sure if this is the right section to post in but I just wanted to share all this. Any comments or suggestions as we continue this amazing journey are always welcome.

Thank you! We left him for two hours on Sunday after a long walk on the beach with him. He rushed to the door when we left ( dropped his Kong) and my heart broke. But we set the video up and recorded him. Thankfully it was the most boring video ever. He spent some time by the door, lying on the floor in my kids room by the door, going back to his bed/s, back to the door, listening, watching, resting, a little panting but not one sound or misdemeanour. He finished his kong quite quickly ( I'll have to figure out something less messy and harder as he like to take it to the living room rug, lol)l but he was an angel. I'm so relieved. We won't be leaving him much but I know he will be alright when we do now. Thank you all for the votes of confidence and support. I love this forum!

Thank you! So we have begun trading up my youngest offered her stuffy ( we he likes but I know will let it go if I ask) and he loved the game. So much so that he'll go and hover over it in the hopes of getting a treat now, lol. Anyway, tonight we gave him a short bully stick as we watched our movie. He tried to come out from his bed with it into the main area but gave me all the signals he regarded it as very high value ( eyes rigid, body stiff, just " that look" I couldn't tell) So I gave the command for his dog bed and tossed some meatball on it and he took the chew back to his bed. At first he didn't chew but eyed us all up carefully. Clearly uneasy, so we kept throwing little bits of meatball at him with lots of praise and saying good boy etc and he relaxed a lot and chewed it. DH and I kept going into the general area ( actually fairly close) tossing treats which he gladly accepted and he relaxed even more. When he finished he came over wagging his tail, more treats and I cleaned off his dog bed. He loved his chew and it worked well. He's now roaching at my feet. so we will continue this as well as trading as he learned today that we have no interest in that stinky thing but the rules are he has to stay on his bed with it. He did so well! Thanks again, you guys are so incredibly helpful.

Thank you. I didn't try it (being the leaving and the photo posting) today but hopefully tomorrow and I will report back!

Thank you both so much, that is so helpful. I'll start working on that with him. I think " drop it" would be very useful and also the more he learns the more he seems to trust me. So as I train this with other things I should continue to give him dental chews and simply stay out of his way then? The trading is good for emergencies only then right? Just leave him in peace as he enjoys it sort of thing but keep the trading up for a different purpose. Come to think of it, I would never really take a chew off him anyway unless he was choking ( I would growl if someone tried to take my high-value coffee away, lol). I was going to try a bully stick ( despite the terrible smell - ugh!). Perhaps I'll give one to him on movie night when the kids are in the couch with us and all parties are safely in view but at a distance from each other for a while. I'm sure he'll come over for the popcorn when he's done.

Thanks so much I will try that!

So our sweet boy, Ollie has been with us 4 weeks. He's a doll. Very polite, fast learner, anxious to please. We hand feed him ( including my kids and DH) and he's generally good about everything. He doesn't sleep startle, and isn't possessive about space or anything at all. However, he did let me know that he considers his dental chew a high-value treat with a low-level short growl ( no teeth, it was the politest growl I've ever seen in a dog, lol) when I carefully bent down to pick up my pencil near him the other day. I didn't remark at all and simply carried on writing at my desk next to him. He had no issue after that and even came over for a pet ( nuzzled his head into my leg) afterwards. Prior to Ollie one of our other dogs had a very big problem with resource guarding so when we got Ollie I was expecting this relatively normal dog behaviour and have been very careful to read his signs. I kinda felt he was going to consider chews high value. With our other dog I ended up just giving her bones out in the yard instead, however we now live in a 700sq ft open concept condo so it's more tricky. My kids are never left unattended with Ollie and when I give him the chew I always tell them that he's got a chew and remind them not to bother him until he comes out to say hello and they respect that, and his dog bed ( they never approach him when he's resting). But I'm careful only to give him a short-lasting chew. I can sit right next to Ollie as he eats it without an issue. We can walk by the door without a sound and I can also take something out of his mouth ( like a tissue or a cookie that got awkwardly stuck in his mouth/teeth) without any problem but he doesn't trust my hand within a foot of his dental chew. I want him to continue enjoying his chews but also feel I need to work on the trading up strategy to be safe and so he can enjoy longer lasting chews and better chews! I also want to be able to remove say, a chicken bone if he ever got hold of one ( though he's getting quite good at the "off" command) How does it work? What are the steps for trading up with his dental chew and what should I try and trade it for? Thanks in advance for any suggestions and help.

Thank you all so much. That's good to know he is doing well. I think I'm more anxious about leaving than he is! We live in a 700sq ft open concept condo and he has two beds, one next to our bed and one in the living room area not far from the door so he would go and lie on that one when he's had enough of the door, I think. That or lie on the carpeted floor in the kids room which is right by the door. What app is best on the phone? I've tried TV and I think it probably does work better because he is used to our voices. I will also freeze the kong, another great suggestion. I think I've got to have 50posts before I can upload a photo but I can't wait to introduce him

Hello everyone, We've had our lovely boy, Ollie for 4 weeks now. He's settling in very well inside the house, loves walks in nature but doesn't like city walks. He's very attached to us ( comes into the kids room for bedtime stories etc). So we began separation training slowly. We are now up to 30mins without a single issue. He doesn't make a sound, we leave the radio on and we give him a stuffed Kong which he enjoys but once he's done he waits by the door. He has had free run of the condo from day one and is very polite and respectful. No accidents, no chewing. He knows his bed is his safe spot ( treats it like a crate). The only time we've heard him bark is when we are there with him and he is letting us know with a quick woof that there is a sound he doesn't recognize. So, is it okay for him to wait by the door? He's good, very quiet but I'm wondering whether this will progress into whining or whether he will eventually give up waiting and go back to his bed? I'm hoping to do 30mins every day this week, then 45mins the next week, an hour the week after etc. We would never be out of the house for more than 3- 4 hours, three times a week anyway.

Thank you all for the great replies. Ollie is continuing to make great progress, especially on our local trails, beaches and forests. However he is still very fearful of traffic and urban areas, and where we live in this fairly busy area. So in the week, when I am car-less, we continue to work on gradual, daily exposure around the neighbourhood. He is really such a sweet guy and tries so very hard so it is easy to have patience with him. Yesterday we stood and watched the garbage truck and waved to the driver on our neighbourhood around-the-block walk,which takes us quite some time but he is working hard all the time. Not much physical exercise but he is pretty exhausted after that kind of walk. I use it also to work watch commands which he has nailed inside the house so I think it is slowly helping outside. The nature trails he loves and we go out for long walks on Saturday and Sunday in quieter areas. He only freezes if we do an out and back walk when he doesn't want to head back to the car, lol. I don't blame him! So we try and do loops whenever possible. He meets other dogs and people with no problem in this situation. Today we took him on the beach where he ran along side me for a bit and went into a big play bow with me! It was so awesome to see him clearly happy. He also met some extended family and their children and did awesome with them too! He gets tons of compliments and comments whoever we go! The vet, experienced with greyhound, recommended an Adaptil collar for him for a few months to try and help soothe him outside in urban areas. Has anyone tried this? Would love to hear some thoughts. We are going to work more on separation next as he is very attached to us now ( even my husband!) and although he doesn't appear to make a sound for the 20mins we have left him he is now waiting right by the door as opposed to his dog bed when we first started it. We are actually at home a lot but I would feel happier knowing he will be okay on his own when I take my kids out to the library etc. This is where it would be good if he could come with us but he's not there just yet, understandly so. He's only been with us now for 4weeks today! We are in awe of this sweet guy, knowing some of what he is going through. He's so motivating and is helping my kids learn to conquer their fears ( of the dark etc).

Did you adopt Powzner? He was a handsome boy ! Hope all is going well with him. Is he needing to put weight on?

Thank you everyone, very helpful. We started on the salmon oil and already I can see his coat improve a bit. We started on Acana just 1/4cup per day mixed in with his ProPlan and so far his poop,is looking firmer and bouncier so it does seem to suit him. According to Pro Plan he should be on 3 1/3 cups per day. His racing weight was 71lbs but he came to us at 63 and the adoption agency had him on 4 cups..... so this is going to be tricky to work out because he needs to put on weight ( every bone is showing) so I have been giving him 4 cups ( including the 1/4 cup of Acana) plus treats etc and I think he is slowly gaining it back but I will only know when he goes on the scale next week. But Acana suggests for a 66lb dog between 2-3 1/4 cups per day and 2 2/3 - 4 for an 88lb dog. So I was thinking of trying him on 3 - 3/14 cups per day of pure Acana when he has finished Pro Plan. Until then, keep mixing the Acana in slowly and gradually reducing the Pro Plan and overall amount, mixing with green beans once he has put on weight to bulk it up a little ( he loves his food!).

Thank you! Yes, it is huge!!!!!! This morning he also got up himself and didn't move back to his bed when I got his coat on. He walked all the way out of the building, around the walkway twice, went to the toilet, and all the way back again without freezing once. He also didn't try and run when we happened to run into the underground gate opening ( it's a bit of a noise) but we stayed and watched with interest as a car pulled out ( I gently hug him so he feels safe) ...and then we went to investigate the gate! Lots of yummy treats this morning! I'm so happy we must be doing something right to make him feel better. Many thanks for all your help. Such a great place to come to for advice and share our successes.

Thank you all for the warm welcomes. I love this forum! Ollie is making huge strides forward at the moment! He is meeting lots of other greys and it has really helped. He's slowly learning to trust us and coming out of his shell little by little. We are so proud of him! It's an amazing process to watch and be part of. Simonsays, let me know when you are up,for a walk sometime

Thank you so much for all the wonderful replies. I love this forum! Ollie has taken some amazing steps forward recently and I couldn't wait to share them with you. We have met up with some greys from the adoption agency and been for trail walks with them and they are very supportive and helpful. He still freezes from time to time but waaaaaay less than he was doing alone. One or two of the other confident greys circle back and we all try and get him moving forward again or reassure him and I'd now say 80% of the time that works. Towards the end of a walk, after he's had a few freezes he's completely done and I gently pick him up and carry him back but there is a huge difference. He decided to braves and walk down the street ( his own choice) a couple of days ago! He just decided to go for it and even though he was nervous and froze In a couple of spots he managed to unfreeze and walk on, calmly and slowly and taking it all in. I had tears streaming down my face as it was the bravest thing I think I've seen in a long time! He has made huge steps forward with DH, going up to him for pets, treats and sniffing his socks (!). He no longer runs away when DH puts his food down and he can stay in the kitchen without Ollie stressing too much. He's spent more and more time with us in the living room, hanging out and getting pets and playing Uno. He is meeting other dogs and getting along really well, wagging his tail sometimes and even copied a play bow today! He is not running away from strangers and even lets then gently pet him or will take treats as long as they kneel down and are gentle and calming which most people are when I explain he's nervous. He loves me dremeling his nails and goes to sleep. Comes to me for pets and belly rubs. He even let DH gently rub his belly! So the freezing is definitely getting less and he can get himself out of them more often than not now. When I can tell he's completely done he is happy to be carried a few steps and then gets going again. When he sees me with the leash or his coat he suddenly roaches on his bed,sighs and sticks his tongue out as if to say, " nooooooo, please!" But will begrudgingly get up for a treat and be carried to the door. Once out of the door he walks out of the building, in the elevator, down stairs,upstairs, outside himself....it's just getting him off his bed, lol. And it's been just about two weeks. It's unbelievable. I am so happy for him. I know he'll,be more on the nervous side but he's learning to trust us more and I think the quality of his life is rapidly improving. He's such a sweet boy,and tries so hard to do the right thing and is making massive improvements.

Thank you so much Dick that is really interesting for us to know as his new family- and helpful. I will be mindful of his shoulders just in case there are any residual effects. Much appreciated.

Super, thank you that's really helpful. Coincidentally I began " watch me" training this afternoon with him and he is picking it up very quickly so inside I will work on that more and see if I can get the response outside. And let him change direction: I let him do that today when he wouldn't cross the invisible line and then he got going again to the other invisible line and back again to the other one, and although my heart sank for him that in his head he was stuck, I couldn't help but chuckle a bit because I could kinda predict what he was going to feel stuck at some point but still, it was progress and once I carried him over one of the lines he got going again despite all his shaking. Boy, we love this dog to bits already. He is such a sweetie. He's doing so well really and is so polite in the house and hung out with our daughters for over an hour today as they built Lego. Loves cuddles too!

Hello, we just adopted our first grey, Ollie to us and his racing name is Braska Damien. He's just turned three this past Monday. He ran 58 races and won three, but fell in his last race. Would that have caused an injury? There was no mention of an injury in his vet record but I'm curious about this. We have watched some videos of him but would love to hear your analysis of his career. Many thanks!

Should I offer a treat when he is outside in general ( he's hiding and shaking now when I get the leash out)? Or only for any forward movement no matter how small? ( he got out of three statues today and moved several steps forward by himself before re-freezing but I take that as progress). What I don't want to do is reward a fear response but at the same time I want to reward just getting out, even if it's by me picking me up so he associates being outside with yummy treats. Thanks again.