Mali

I was concerned about this too before we adopted our grey last year, particularly as we have younger children. She has never shown any signs of sleep startle at all but we did, and constantly do, remind the children not to approach her if she's not completely awake. She also sleeps on her back with her eyes half open and her head hanging off the sofa with her tongue lolling out, which in itself is quite startling to see. A babysitter was quite alarmed and thought she died!

Thanks! I was kind of hoping it might be that she was feeling more settled! Fortunately she marks less as a bitch than a dog would. I'm quite glad we don't have to stop at every tree!

Hi - this is not a problem that needs advice, I'm just interested to know what it means. We've had our hound 10 months and just in the last couple of months she's started scratching the ground behind her after she's peed and pooped. I know that this is usually a scent- spreading thing but I just wondered why now after such a long time.

Apologies if this is in the wrong place. Husband and kids are away next week up to MILs. They are not takinghound as MIL's dog is an old lab that she took on 6 months ago from a neighbour who died. She understandably doesn't relish the idea of two large dogs in a relatively small house. Last time she put him in kennels but the DC really want to meet him. Anyway, that's a ridiculously long and unnecessary backstory - sorry! I was going to be staying at home working from home as I always do, but I have to now go away for three days. My parents are having the hound but I'm taking her up to them on the train. Advice please - she doesn't lie down unless she is very comfortable and she's not exactly the size to put on your lap on the seat. The journey is about 1 hour 15 minutes. How can I make the journey comfortable for her and not a pain for other passengers?

She last went yesterday. She's had a good run at lunchtime and her normal morning walk. I'm sure I'm worrying excessively. I seem obsessed with everyone's bowel movements in this house from kids to dogs - *sigh*

Hi, I'm probably overthinking this but she's our first hound so I'm constantly asking questions! Mali-dog normally poohs 3 or 4 times a day. She's not gone at all today - do I need to be concerned? She's absolutely fine in herself. Thanks

Thank you so much - greysmom particularly, that's really very helpful advice.

We've had our retired racer coming up 5 months. She's settled brilliantly and has, until the last week or so, been a fabulous addition to the family. Over the last week or so she has started growling at the children. I haven't heard her do it, it's been when we're out of the room. The children are 6 and 8 and are respectful of her space. We've now said they can't sit with her when we're not in the room to try and avoid this. She's growled at me when I've taken a chew from her but I just ignored it and took it anyway. We've not punished or reacted to the growling, as I know this is a warning and don't want her to move straight to biting, but have told the children to move away from her as soon as she growls. How can we get past this? We all love her dearly now and I would hate for her to become intolerant to the children and for them to be afraid of her.

I know this is a controversial subject but we've been working hard on recall and have a fully enclosed field behind our house (for which we are extremely fortunate). Anyway we let Mali off-lead today in the field (muzzled and there were no other dogs around). We've done it a couple of times before and she's come back brilliantly each time. This time, she had her burn up - for all of 90 seconds and then came back, we didn't call her - she just came of her own accord, so we gave her a treat. I was going to just let her potter on round the field off-lead but but when I went to walk away she came and nudged her lead. No idea whether she was wanting treats but it seemed like she wanted to be on the lead. It was lunch time and we had a limited time so I didn't want to look a gift dog in the mouth as it were and just leashed her back up again. Is that likely or am I anthropomorphising our hound here?

Oooh lovely colour! He's very handsome indeed. Congratulations. When is he coming home with you?

Glad to hear other greys on Field and Trial. Also yes to the firm poops, happy dog keen on exercise, cleans the bowl in one go, no nasty gas. Her coat is also looking well improved since we had her but that maybe down to the sprats that she's getting as treats and the mackerel she gets on top of the kibble once or twice a week. Perfect, we'll stick to what we've got then Thank you very much! But this: There is no blame in being a 'dog-food-crusader' and selecting one of the super-ethical foods, but it will do more for you emotionally and socially than it will for the dog. Where are the super-ethical foods? And yes, that would definitely be for me not the dog!

Hi there We came home with a bag of Arkwright's food from the rescue centre which we started feeding our hound which our trainer told me was really poor quality. We were then given a bag of Skinners Field and Trial food. This has suited her better and her poohs have been much better. Shall I keep going with the Field and Trial (even though she's never?!) - we're coming to the end of the bag now. Thanks a lot

Oh man, the sugar! That's horrible! We've been wise so far regarding food (apart from the fact there was a very close shave with resident guinea pig this weekend) but I'm just waiting for the next incident. I like the idea of drink cans.... maybe we'll try.

It's such a lovely thing to do. We've had our new addition 6 weeks and she's settling amazingly. (We're UK based too). We had bowls (raised) and a crate with double duvets in when we first got her - she came with a lead, indoor collar and outdoor collar. The crate hardly gets used at all now as she sleeps on the sofa but it is still her safe place to go to when she's unsure. We also have children and it is a set-in-stone rule that they do not touch her when she's in her crate. It's also useful if there is a lot of coming and going at the front door (e.g. bringing in shopping) to be able to put her in her crate for 20 minutes. The other useful thing is a whistle - we are whistle training. There's a lot of feeling that greyhounds shouldn't be let off the lead but I have an inherrant fear that whether we let her go or not, one day she will escape and if she is whistle trained at least we have some sort of chance of getting her back. She LOVES dried spratts (bleurgh, the smell!). Get used to being hyper vigilant about the door. Oh - and dog pooh bags Have fun - I have not been as excited since childhood as I was the week before we went to the sanctuary - I couldn't keep still. (But then the following week I was completely "oh-my-word-what-on-earth-have-we-done" - that passed in about a week/10 days but it might be worth knowing apparently it's a normal thing!). I'm sure you'll love it - ours is just so lovely to have around the house.

We still haven't learnt - she's just had half a load of home made bread off the side She's lying on the sofa like some Roman emperor digesting...

Oh my word!

Oh wow - OK so we'll just learn our lesson well! I'm less bothered about the fruit picking - saves me having to make jam! Actually, if I'm honest the Victoria sponges were a bit dry so maybe it was for the best

I did a huge amount of research before getting our latest addition and we couldn't have asked for a better addition to our family. The only thing that has really surprised me is that she is VERY food oriented. I didn't come across that so much in my research! She's a pain for counter surfing (I did know that was a thing and we have learnt our lesson - particularly after two Victoria sponges went that I'd made for the church fair!) but also things like picking raspberries off the bushes in the garden. I don't mind at all, I just didn't realise greyhounds could be so greedy! Is this a greyhound thing or is it just our greyhound thing?

Yes, I'm not sure about the off-leash thing across trails. I fear she'll sight a rabbit and be gone for ever. Is this ever possible to train that well? She's three years old and an ex-racer (albeit a failed one). I am having one-on-one recall training lessons with a behaviourist and the first time I let her off she came back like a dream (but minus a claw so she hasn't been able to be let off since).

Thanks for those replies. I'll see how she goes and see if she seems to enjoy it. Our summer has already been and gone (we had a week of sunshine - UK based so limited on heat!) but I take your point. I'm also totally over-sensitive to the hot pavement (sidewalk) issue so I won't take her when it's hot. It's annoying we've had to stop with the claw thing but I will keep on keeping on. I'd like to get her up to about 3 or 4 miles ideally.

Hi So we've had our lovely girl nearly 6 weeks now and she is settling really well and has been a lovely addition to our family. A quick question. I know they are not built for long distance running but someone advised that if I built her up slowly she would be able to run with me. Has anyone achieved this? I got her up to about 1.5 miles and then she just slows to a walk. This is all on the back burner at the moment as she's ripped a claw off and is on short walk rest. It's healing beautifully though and I thought I would try the jogging again soon. Have been doing it very gradually with her due to pads as well as muscles but any advice gratefully received.

Thanks so much for all your replies. She's doing better and better bless her. Is far less "pully" now when she sees little dogs - has even managed to go past some squirrels and a cat without any major disturbances although obviously was very alert but didn't pull my arm off. She's been good whilst sniffing small dogs so, so far, so good. I'm of course keeping her muzzled for the time being. She just very obviously wants to go and play with bigger dogs. I feel mean not letting her off but I fear we'd never see her again!

She won't be let off for a long time - and then only in an enclosed field. It's way too early - she doesn't know us anywhere near well enough yet.

Sorry, another question! I have heard that you should not confine a greyhound to one room as they will destroy themselves and the door trying to get out. Does this also go for keeping a grey out of one room? So for example, if we left her in the room she "lives" in and left that door open so she has access to the kitchen and hallway but shut the sitting room door - will she go loopy trying to go into the sitting room?

Hi there Forgive me if these questions are all blindingly obvious. We researched for a long time and decided a rescue retired grey was right for our family (2 small children). We picked up our new family member three days ago and she has done amazingly. We've had no indoor accidents, no whining, she seems relaxed - certainly much more than the first day, she's engaged and engaging, affectionate and tolerant with the children and very calm in the house, sleeps well in her crate and takes herself off there to sleep. Walks are the only things that are not in the slightest relaxing. She is on high alert all the time, particularly if she sees another dog. She's absolutely not aggressive at all when she meets them and is happy to sniff and move on unless they are small - and then she looks like she wants to chase. My question is, the more of these small dogs she sees, will she desensitize to them or not? We haven't let her off the lead yet so I have no idea how her recall is. She is nearly 3, raced for a year (I think only about 10 races and didn't do terribly well - I guess why she was retired relatively early). I would appreciate any advice on how to let her off and how to desensitize her a bit to "prey". She is obviously still muzzled when we are out.