HeyRunDog

It's a bit like asking how long a bit of string is. As you have discovered greyhounds are different to other dogs and take time to adjust to new experiences good or bad. In the three years since I adopted her, Grace is still is afraid of the sound of a football being kicked, I think the kennel lads used to play football at the racing kennels or the track kennels against the side of the buildings. Are there any other greyhounds you meet on your walks you could introduce him to or walk with to be a calming influence? Before the Covid lockdowns I used to take Grace on organised greyhound walks, usually run by the nearest Greyhound Trust kennel, which was beneficial for her attitude to life. The last one we went on was at Lichfield and there was over 80 greyhounds walking around the parks. They are hoping the first one after lockdown will be on July 18th so fingers crossed.

I think that covers just about 99% of greyhounds. The other 1% are not normal Grace will do an occasional fake pee but that is usually because she's empty from previous marking pees. It looks like Wiki has learned that if she squats she gets a biscuit but as you said it's not a problem if she's not peeing inside.

Dog friendly restaurants should have the necessary equipment to clear up any accidents. You could take some cleaning equipment with you for the first few times you visit friends just in case but as you said he's picked up quickly not to mark your house so he shouldn't do it inside elsewhere. Just make sure he has the opportunity to go before hand.

Looks like one of Peggy's ears gave in first You were lucky to hit the sweet spot between the travel restrictions being lifted and the littering hoards descending over the Easter weekend.

Is the water fresh from the tap? It could be the chlorine smell that is putting Smithy off. Put a jug of water out overnight to let the chlorine dissipate or use cold boiled water.

Grace only drinks once or twice a day from her water bowl so I put about a third of her kibble in her bowl and add hot water letting it cool down before adding the rest of the kibble giving it to her. This forms a gravy which she loves and it keeps her hydrated.

I take Grace by car to the local park so she doesn't have to walk on hard surfaces only on the grass. I put Bert's Bees Hand Salve on her corns, then a baby sock and then her boots if we're going for a walk on the road. I've also cut out a little insole for her boots from a thin human insole to provide a little extra padding. My vet used to be the vet at greyhound races so she's greyhound savvy but even she says there isn't much she can do and it's just a case of managing the condition. She'll hull the corn when it starts to protrude but grinding it down yourself is cheaper and easier using a dog nail grinder. You have earned brownie points for adopting a rescue dog. You now have even more for adopting a rescue dog with a disability, which probably isn't what you signed up for, but inside you still have the same beautiful greyhound who just need a bit more looking after.

I just wonder if she thinks "if I stop short of home or the car I get a treat." Can you tempt her to move by showing her the treat but not giving it to her before you get home or in the car? Or give her a second treat when she does get in the car and after a few times stop the one she gets when she stops short. Greyhounds seem to have written the book on quirks.

Don't let her surgically remove the corn as it will probably come back bigger. Grace's largest corn, she has multiple corns, is the one the vet removed while she was having surgery to remove an abscess from between her toes. He thought he was doing her a favour by removing it. Do your own research and Google greyhound corns

They are not very good at giving "I want a pee" signals so don't worry about it. It's no-one's fault and he probably knew it was wrong but couldn't help himself, your greyhound not your husband If it's any comfort Grace about once a year has a little accident. It comes within the job description of being a dog owner.

And they can play dead. The number of time I have nearly prodded Grace to see if she's alive because she doesn't seem to be breathing....

It could be that he's sensing your fear and thinks he's the boss whereas your partner is more confident in his actions and voice and so Mich looks up to him. I know it's difficult but try and act confident around him and keep your voice calm and forceful when telling him NO without shouting or raising it's pitch and praise him when he's behaved correctly in a more light and breezy voice. Returning him is NOT a failure. He just isn't the right greyhound for you but another one will be. Greyhounds are like people, there are all different. You don't get on with everyone you meet and greyhounds are the same.

I'm not a fan of harnesses but if you are going to use one make sure it fits right. I got one for Grace when I first had her and only used it a couple of time when I noticed some bruising on her ribs a couple of days later. Being a new greyhound owner at the time and not realising how easy they bruise I took her to the vets and after a lightening of the wallet for some blood tests we realised what had caused it. You can get a dog lead doubler so you just have one lead but two clips. I'd adjust it so you can control your greyhound with the neck collar and have the harness as backup. https://www.amazon.co.uk/STGOOD-Coupler-Adjustable-Splitter-Durable/dp/B072R5VFN4/ref=sr_1_20?crid=H2UR94TV1BDD&dchild=1&keywords=dog+lead+double+clip+for+harness&qid=1616569027&sprefix=dog+lead+double+%2Caps%2C316&sr=8-20

I agree with macoduck, it looks like she's a corn sufferer. There are plenty of suggestions on how to help her and I hope you find one that works meantime if possible only walk her on grass. I find the large size of Vibrant Fellow Paw Protector Dog Boots fit Grace but they might be only available in the UK. I put a baby sock over her foot first to provide a bit extra padding and as it keeps her toes together it's easier to slip the boot on.

Sounds like you need a cork and a nose clip. I'll let you decide what goes where...

MerseyGrey beat me to it. Grace has kibble from the Greyhound Trust https://greyhoundtruststore.com/collections/pet-greyhound-feed/products/pet-greyhound-food or Gain Maintenance from Millbry Hill https://www.millbryhill.co.uk/pets-c6/gain-greyhound-maintenance-food-p5304/s18328 I also add a spoonful of porridge oats moistened with hot water and let cool together with Lintbells Yuderm Moulting Dog to her food to help keep her coat in good condition which was recommended by my vet https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lintbells-YuDERM-Moulting-Dog-500ml/dp/B07X5D1MCZ/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=lintbells&qid=1616480224&sr=8-9

What's your greyhound's name? You'll have differing views on the sleeping arrangements. In my case Grace sleeps downstairs on her own and has done from day one. A few nights of crying but she did settle down and now claims the sofa as her own overnight. The best routine is what works for both you and your greyhound but be prepared to tweak it. I'm an early riser so I'm usually up at 6 and having a coffee sat at the laptop downstairs with Grace while she has a lie in. We go for a 40 minute walk at 7 and breakfast is at 8. Her tea is at 4 ish and a chance to pee. We go for an evening walk 6:30ish. Her food is split evenly between the two meals. If your hound hasn't been running and exercising hard I don't think you have to wait an hour before feeding.

Welcome When you get him home walk him around the garden on the lead so he knows where to relieve himself. Don't worry if he doesn't go after a few minutes. When you take him inside show him where his bed is and then let him explore at his own pace but keep an eye if he needs to go to the toilet. Greyhound signals are very subtle. Don't go showing him off to all and sundry for the first couple of days, let him become used to you. Apart from food Grace ignored me for the first two days Routine is king and don't let him do anything you don't want him to do later. So no feeding him titbits when you are eating or preparing food etc. But the main thing is relax, have patience, a sense of humour and enjoy

I had a similar situation when I first had Grace. Some young children were exercising their small hairy dog in the park off the lead and it came running up to Grace upsetting her especially as she'd spent three years of her life trying to catch something similar. The hairy rat was too excited to come when called and when eventually it was back on it's lead I expressed my thoughts about having a dog off the lead when you can't control it. To get Grace used to dogs of any size I would ask the other owners we met when walking if she could say hello but only those on their leads so if things didn't go as planned no harm would be done.

Is it dusty where he's been exercising or is the pollen count starting to rise where you are?

It's interesting you mention the dew claws. Grace hasn't any on her back legs. I presume they were removed for her racing days. It might be worth putting something over the dew claws to see if they are the culprit.

I see he's got his sleeping positions worked out... He'd tower above my Grace. She's only 55lb and at the opposite end of the size scale I guess a child gate across the kitchen doorway isn't practical for you and as he seems an intelligent dog you could try putting a bed for him where he can see what you are doing in the kitchen and train him to lie on it while you are preparing food.

You're probably over thinking it and I can see where you are getting confused. Even "Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies" sits on the fence with a suggested 22% to 27% which is most unhelpful. UK based organisations say about 20% so anything between 17% and 22% depending on how much exercise Rylee does. If his coat is in good condition and he's weight stays the same then you are probably getting it right. His anxiety level could be caused by a number of things that only greyhounds can see or hear. Perhaps he's got used to one set of sights and sounds and now has spare thinking capacity to notice fresh ones that he need to come to terms with. The best thing you can do is to stay calm and chilled and keep to a routine and enjoy his company

The food is mushed up so there is nothing hard to chew on so their teeth don't get the abrasive action to keep them clean which is why some retired hounds have bad teeth. Pet greyhounds should only have about 20% protein in their diet otherwise it causes health problems later on. When they were racing the percentage is about 30%

Very rarely does Grace get bathed and when I do so it's in the shower with plenty of towels available. She refuses to wear a coat and isn't bothered by the rain, unless it's absolutely tipping it down, so she gets a natural bath every time it rains on her early morning walk When you do give your hound a shower/bath make sure the water isn't too warm as greyhounds apparently faint if the water is too hot which has given some dog groomers a fright thinking they've killed their client.