Meekosmom

I have one of those! My older greyhound, far more delicately built, is so nimble and almost never bumps into anything but my three year old has been clumsy since I adopted him at 1. His balance in his hind legs is not great, he misjudges distance so that when he comes to me I get a nose smashing into me, he’s forever cut and grazed by side swiping shrubs in the garden, he knocks his head and his ankles on furniture. He’s been checked out. No physical defects bone or muscle wise. He must have missed out on the stage of learning body awareness. He’s a rescue so maybe he was either malnourished or kept in a confined space as a pup. Maybe there’s a spot in his brain not quite up to par. Who knows?

Rakete, your bouncy boy and mine would be great pals. So very similar! I sympathize with you.

Could be, but his chest is still very narrow and he is only 70cm at the shoulders.

No Rakete, not a Spanish Greyhound. That would be a Galgo. Lets try this: https://www.facebook.com/100000034385736/posts/2362023750475415?sfns=mo

Thanks friends. I believe my other greyhound probably has a touch of Saluki in him somewhere, I think this bouncy boy is purebred. If I could post a photo I would. Sterilisation is a requirement of all reputable rescue organizations here. We dont want to add to the unwanted pet population. I strongly agree with the work for everything policy with this boy, although the idea of it just exhausts the other one... but then, hes an angel! Ill soldier on!

Thank you for your comments. I have very little background on my bouncy boy, just that he was rescued from hunters shortly before I adopted him. I was told that his estimated age was one year but as he has grown 6cm taller in the year Ive had him its possible he was younger. So yes, the puppy excuse could apply. However, I work in rescue, training pups to get them ready for adoption and they learn fast that calm is good. He gets all the exercise he wants. Walks are exciting for both my dogs and they love to sniff everything. They also, two to three times a day, wrestle and chase each other around the garden (to the extent that I have a racetrack worn into my flower beds and lawn) until they are both seriously out of breath. I play ball with them at home after their walks, again until they are tired. Both dogs sleep for an equal amount of time, in fact the bouncy boy might sleep a bit more! I have consulted a behaviorist and a trainer, both of whom feel that I am doing everything right. I had the vet check bouncy boy soon after I got him due to his clumsiness and bumping into things but nothing wrong was found.

Thank you for your comments. I have very little background on my bouncy boy, just that he was rescued from hunters shortly before I adopted him. I was told that his estimated age was one year but as he has grown 6cm taller in the year Ive had him its possible he was younger. So yes, the puppy excuse could apply. However, I work in rescue, training pups to get them ready for adoption and they learn fast that calm is good. He gets all the exercise he wants. Walks are exciting for both my dogs and they love to sniff everything. They also, two to three times a day, wrestle and chase each other around the garden (to the extent that I have a racetrack worn into my flower beds and lawn) until they are both seriously out of breath. I play ball with them at home after their walks, again until they are tired. Both dogs sleep for an equal amount of time, in fact the bouncy boy might sleep a bit more! I have consulted a behaviorist and a trainer, both of whom feel that I am doing everything right. I had the vet check bouncy boy soon after I got him due to his clumsiness and bumping into things but nothing wrong was found. No, I would not return him. Like all of my rescues Ive had, hes my forever child. Hes a happy boy and very fond of me and his greyhound brother. Besides, the number of dogs rescued here so far outnumbers the number adopted, that returning him would be immoral to me. So, I shall continue to give him more and more training and exercise and hope for the best. Hopefully Ill survive this marathon!!! I must admit I was hoping to get a response from someone who had owned and tamed a similar lunatic. As for dog racing here, it is illegal but of course there are people who have no respect for the law. They seem to use Italian greyhounds for racing.

My hounds both plant themselves firmly when they smell something they cant see, when they see something they cant have, or when they choose not to walk the same way as me ( or each other!) I give them a minute to savour the moment then say ok lets go in the same excited way I say it at the start of the walk. That works about half the time. Other times I need to add myself skipping along after letting the lead go completely slack to give myself a running start. The excitement encourages them to move. Of course, occasionally I have to just quietly lean away with my weight on the lead until the hound gives in!

I have two greyhounds, rescued hunting dogs (hunting dogs here are mostly owned by indigent and uneducated people who keep them half starved). Naturally they both have a strong prey drive and cats and small furry creatures are in danger around them. I accept that and take precautions. One is a perfect gentleman. The other has no self control, after a year of me trying to instil it in him. He listens when I get angry and reprimand him but nothing sticks. I have used positive reinforcement to train him ie food treats with great success.... until training time is over. He bounces around like mad thing, jumps on anyone including me when they enter the room/ house/ garden, nearly rips my arm off on walks when he suddenly and frequently decides to suddenly take off for the joy of it, jumps on top of me and other greyhound in his exuberance, crashes into furniture and me and other greyhound, climbs on top of us to be close, gnaws way too enthusiastically at other greyhounds face and throat in play.. you get the picture. (Hes also very affectionate and loves to cuddle). The point is, this is the first dog in a lifetime of owning dogs that I have been unable to teach self control to. Every single day he inflicts pain on me and his brother greyhound. Any ideas?