HeyRunDog

I've been let down by my Grace again. And again it was when we were visiting my mother. She, Grace not my mother, decided that the pale coloured carpet needed a little extra something and thought that emptying her bladder on it was just the ticket. This is only the second time she has gone inside and both times at my mother's. I don't think she has anything against my mother as she gets given a couple of pieces of ginger biscuit, or the shade of carpet. I think it was the cold weather that caused the bladder failure. I'm going to have to take the price of a bunch of flowers for my mother from Grace's stuffy toy allowance.

When pressure is put on the crack of the front right paw are you pressing on just one side of the crack or both sides together? I wonder if when walking on uneven surfaces pressure is put on one side of the crack more than the other and it's parting the two sides causing her to limp. You could try keeping it moisturised using Aloe Vera, which isn't poisonous if licked, and covered when going for a walk until the crack is healed. Aloe Vera will make her pads soft so they will need hardening off again when the crack has gone.

Thanks for posting about your grey's inactivity in winter. I was beginning worry and think my Grace had turned into a stuffy due to her ability to sleep even longer, if that's possible, and not interested in going for walks. She hasn't even done a zoomie for nearly a couple of months. Looking forward to spring and a reinvigorated greyhound.

Check the amount of protein. The recommended level for retired Greys is 19%. If necessary give him less Kirkland and add a couple of spoonfuls of porridge oats moistened with warm water to bring the protein level down.

The easy solution, is as you say, is to keep the dogs away from each other. Another option is for your wife's friend and her dog to get obedience and socialisation training so the Golden doesn't jump up at people or other dogs and then reintroduce them in a controlled environment.

I agree, consistency is essential. Don't let him get away with anything you don't want him to do even once. Feed him once from your plate and he'll beg for food every mealtime. Give him a titbit when you're preparing food at the counter and you've got a counter surfer. When he grabs a pencil etc. a quick firm NO and replace it with one of his toys.

Grace was the same. She was OK with the odd car but heavy traffic wasn't good so I used to take her to the corner of a quiet street and a busy road and just stand there with her, totally ignoring her for a minute to start with then steadily increasing the time each day. Now she will walk down a busy road without any trouble. (Famous last words. We are talking about a greyhound ) Time and patience and he will improve.

I don't know about Petunia not being sure about it but as soon as Grace heard the sound on the video she woke up from her pre breakfast nap,ran to the window with both ears standing to attention then wanted to be let into the back garden/yard curious to find the source of the sound. Remind me not to get one of those for Grace otherwise she'll definitely be playing with it at 3 a.m.

The kennels dry shampooed Grace on her adoption day to make her smell nice and remove the smell of the disinfectant they use to keep the floors clean. They then used a liquid flea and tick treatment on her which stank. Since then I've only bathed Grace once since I've had her and that was a medicated shampoo to help with dandruff.

Just a random thought. When he pees and poops outside does he only go on grass? If so, and as you say that room has a carpet, perhaps he thinks that is close enough to feeling like grass that it is OK to use it as a toilet. Try not letting him use that room and move his couch elsewhere To clean the smells use a solution of biological washing powder/liquid.

Love the ear semaphore

The shortest route to the Deli for a morning coffee

Well done. Great news

Hooray! I can now take Grace for a walk without statuing and on different routes and along fairly busy roads, she ignores other dogs and cats, mostly, but we must TURN RIGHT out of the driveway

I agree more exercise is probably needed but also look at the protein level of his food, it should be around 19% for a retired greyhound. As for sleeping in your room, that is a personal choice. In the UK most greyhounds sleep downstairs but in America the preference seems to be with their owners.

Grace has 2 twenty minute walks a day with an additional visit to the park once or twice a week depending on the weather but as Time4ANap says take her with you in the car when running errands.

In the UK the percentage of protein recommended for retired greyhounds is 19 to 20%

Grace doesn't like walking on sharp gravely stoney footpaths or roads because of her soft pads and will try to find a smoother surface to walk on, but has managed to walk 4 miles on soft ground with no problems, apart from sleeping for the next 24 hours...

I could do with some black hair to make into a wig for Grace's bald bum

As robinw says relax. Sounds like he's doing OK. Leave him alone everyday even if you are at home so he gets used to his own company. Grace is left alone 3 days a week for 7 hours with no problem so a walker might not be needed. Once they accept that this new strange place is their home and they are safe and that you will return they relax and do what they do best and sleep.

Sounds like a soft tissue injury but if it's a corn she'll limp on hard surfaces but not on grass.

Thanks for the link Banjoman to this years Great Global Greyhound walk, I was wondering when it was and yes we are looking forward to taking part.

I agree with everyone else, give it a go. If he wasn't house trained, baring a couple of accidents, and chewed everything then that would be different but he seems well adjusted to living in a home. I had a crate to start with because that what I was advised to do but the door was always open and Grace used it as her bed and safe place. The crate is now put away as Grace has decided that the sofa is now hers.

I use a lightweight house collar with my contact details on an agility tag attached to it so there is nothing dangling and a fishtail collar for when Grace is on the lead.

It'll be shoulder pads and big hair next.