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MerseyGrey

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Posts posted by MerseyGrey

    Val 6/16/2008-8/5/2022

    in Everything else Greyhound

    Posted

    I’m so sorry for your loss. Despite making it to the grand age of 14, it’s still just not enough time. I don’t blame her for being terrified of babies and small children, and I can perfectly picture her introducing herself politely to strangers! Run free, sweet girl :brokenheart

    Puzzle games for the play challenged ideas please

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Another vote for a snuffle mat. We have three, two of which I made myself. They are basically mats made from strips of felt that you hide treats in. I made mine from an old sink protector mat which I threaded through old material from coats I had attempted to make from (this is making me sound like I’m creative and capable. I’m not - the snuffle mat was the easiest thing in the world to make!). The incredibly long link below is to a snuffle mat on Etsy 


    https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/767088210/multi-colour-feast-fleece-enrichment-mat?gbraid=0AAAAADutTMdGjGGhqp8sP9DU1rgxqf6lI&gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_e-pet_supplies-other&utm_custom1=_k_EAIaIQobChMIkNmJ_6ST-QIVGLLtCh3bcAmREAQYAyABEgLHzvD_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_12583166040_119876687739_507889599256_pla-314535281660_t__767088210engb_184390380&utm_custom2=12583166040&gbraid=0AAAAADutTMdGjGGhqp8sP9DU1rgxqf6lI&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkNmJ_6ST-QIVGLLtCh3bcAmREAQYAyABEgLHzvD_BwE

    Getting Old Ain't for Sissies

    in Everything else Greyhound

    Posted

    It’s a poisoned chalice, I think. It makes me sad to watch Buddy struggle to get off his bed, or to negotiate steps, but I’d rather be seeing that than have had to say goodbye to him before now. Buddy is coming up on 12 too, and I can tell that he thinks that the world has plenty of scritches and cuddles to offer him still

    Greyhound Owner Keeps Dog Cool During Heatwave

    in Everything else Greyhound

    Posted

    It was hot here yesterday. We wet a towel and laid it over Buddy, and gave him occasional rub downs which I’m not sure he enjoyed much but it seemed to help keep him cool. Our second walk of the day was at 9.30 in the evening and it was still incredibly warm. It is predicted to be hotter here today but thankfully it is deliciously fresh and cool this morning, so Dan has taken The Budster out for a long morning sniffari 

    Greyhound Owner Keeps Dog Cool During Heatwave

    in Everything else Greyhound

    Posted

    34 minutes ago, HeyRunDog said:

    Good idea but not sure Guinness wouldn't try and toss it around but as were expecting a two/three day heatwave with temperatures possibly exceeding 40C (105 F) it might be worth a try.

    I use a cheap plant sprayer filled with water and set to a fine mist to spray Grace and Guinness. They don't seem to mind and it cools them off quite quickly especially if there's a slight draught from a fan.

    This is what I do with Buddy when it gets warm. I know we’re going to get some hot weather, but at the minute, we’ve got patchy cloud and a cool breeze. We’re not getting anything like those predicted temperatures yet (and I live about 25 miles from Manchester). We’re all in the garden at 8am though, humans with coffee, Buddy sleeping soundly, and are planning for a scorcher. Just in case.

    Favorite Harness?

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    We have the Ruffwear Flagline harness which goes over the head and has two clips on either side down the body. It has three points that you can attach a lead to, and a handle on the back for extra control. We love it for our dog.

    Should you maybe look at tightening the martingale because it shouldn’t be that easy to escape from! An alternative would be a leather fishtail collar which is well suited for the thick neck and tiny head of a sighthound 

    Aggression

    in Training and Behavior discussion

    Posted

    Grabbing him by the collar probably wasn’t the right way to approach your dog, who is still finding his feet in his new home. This would especially apply if your dog was sleeping- try and imagine how you would feel if you were relaxing and had your guard down, and someone grabbed you by the collar unexpectedly. Some dogs have something called ‘sleep startle’ and many people on here who have experience of it would never advocate approaching their dog unannounced when they are relaxing/sleeping, as the dog will likely respond with a behaviour that is not acceptable to the human, and quite scary to the uninitiated. 
    The same probably applies to the second scenario you have described - your dog was sleeping and the ground beneath him unexpectedly started to move. His response was more likely to be defensive than aggressive - react first, ask questions later.
    To avoid a repeat, I would not touch the dog while he is sleeping, and I would not allow him to fall asleep on the human furniture, and I would not allow him to sleep on me. If you need to wake him for turn outs etc, call him gently to wake him up and wait for him to come to you.

    Greyhounds are gentle souls but the environment they come from can be very different from a home environment, and he is still learning the ropes. But it’s a learning curve for humans too - it depends on whether you are prepared to go on that journey with him. My dog has had sleep startle in the past and it is very unnerving when you’re on the receiving end of those big teeth, but with a slight adjustment in your (your son’s) behaviour, you will find that the reward will be worth the effort. For what it’s worth, our boy will still display elements of this behaviour four years after adoption (we only see it when he is tired or if there are strangers in the house), but we know what his triggers are and how to mitigate them if they can’t be totally avoided.

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