MerseyGrey

We use the Ruffwear Flagline harness, which has three straps under the body, two lead attachments on the top and a handle. It’s very secure

Well done Grace on the speedy recovery and well done you on the insurance pay out!

Poor Grace! I hope she feels better soon. Most of Buddy’s injuries are because he is so focused on the thing he wants, that he doesn’t see what’s immediately in front of him. It sounds like you might need to put padding around all the obstacles in your garden, just in case

We are thinking of you. Hope you feel back to normal soon

Not exactly as you describe. Like yours, our boy can’t wait to get in the car if we are going somewhere, although he clearly doesn’t want to stay in the places we take him to (cafes, pubs, accommodation). Ours is very much a creature of habit and it does take him a little while to settle into new places if we stay away from home but we have overcome some of this by sheer determined practice. We take a rug/bed with us if we know we want to stop off for drinks (as well as water and chewy treats that will keep him occupied for a few minutes) and we expect the first night in a holiday home to be restless with broken sleep. But when we’re out on walks to new places he struts his stuff and loves exploring. If you’re not causing your dog any distress, just keep practising. Buddy would be very happy if all our days were spent with him on one bed, and us on the sofa next to it, but we want him to be part of our life, not dictating it. My advice would be to persevere and hopefully your dog will get used to it. Good luck!

this is such a good idea. I love the storyboard

I’m sorry for your loss. It was lovely to hear about Rosie’s personality

We are going to our first one this year, at Sefton Park in Liverpool. We’re not sure how Buddy is going to react but we’re hopeful since it’s sighthounds only, and there are a few hounds that he’s familiar with going so . I much prefer it being held at this time of year because June is just too warm to walk a hound at 11am.

Did she get her cookie? She’s a beauty

I’m so sorry to hear this news. I know Annie and Punkin will look after you well over the next few days. Hugs from us here at Buddy’s house

As above, I hardly ever clean Buddy’s feet, and probably would only do this if he was caked in mud (rare - Buddy is quite fastidious about avoiding puddles and muddy areas). If I had to clean him, I would do it with a soft cloth and warm water. I have a nail clipper which I use only on his dew claws. I am not confident enough to use them on his other claws, which I keep trimmed with a grinder. I have to do it every week as it doesn’t take much off each time and there is a limit as to how much handling of his paws that Buddy will allow. Treats are liberally dished out with each paw he allows me to complete, and I find it a nice way to spend a bit of time together. I’m not sure that Buddy agrees. If you’re going to clip Hector’s nails, make sure you have either a styptic pen or have some flour on hand - both will work to stem any bleeding in case you catch the quick

I am so, so sorry to hear this it feels like I’ve lost one of my own. I am going to miss her stories here, she clearly found her perfect home for her retirement. Best wishes to you from Buddy and family

My boy (also my first dog as an adult) is going to be 11 in a couple of months time and he still has lots of energy, for very short spells . We adopted him when he was seven and I wouldn’t hesitate to have another older dog…in fact that’s what I’ll be looking for when the time comes for another dog . As others have said, as long as you can afford the vet bills, go for it! Good luck.

Well done Sweep!

Re: evening walks. We continue to walk ours until he poops to avoid overnight accidents. It might take five minutes, it has on occasion taken half an hour but it means that he won’t poop in the house unless he has a poorly tummy (not unusual for us as Buddy likes to eat poop touch wood, he hasn’t done this for a while). We deposit our poo bags in any waste bin available, not just designated poo bins. This should be fine wherever you are in the UK.

I am really enjoying the updates. They are way better than Love Island or other reality shows

No training, Buddy has decided on his own which are his favourite parts of the garden and now if he has a poop in the garden, we pretty much know where it will be (it’s where the grass is long enough to tickle his bottom )

Your boy’s behaviour sounds a lot like Buddy when we first got him. We didn’t really know about separation anxiety at that time so we just ploughed on with getting him adjusted to our routine and after six months or so, he had stopped following me to the door when I left for work, or trying to block my way when I went upstairs (since he doesn’t go upstairs). So you may find that a establishing a routine helps, but I would continue with the alone training, as this certainly can’t hurt. A diverting and long lasting treat might also work, so he associates you leaving with good things. Now when we try to leave him outside our normal routine he is more concerned that he won’t get his rabbit’s ears than the fact that he is going to be left alone for a few hours. I can’t comment on leaving him outside beyond it not being something I would do. I would be far too worried about him escaping if someone accidentally let him out, or theft as there are lots of horror stories about it in the UK at the moment. I suppose you have to make your own judgment.

He’s a handsome guy

Congratulations on being adopted! What’s your boy’s name? So far your dog sounds pretty bomb proof and you will probably see some changes over the next few weeks as your dog’s real personality starts coming through and he begins to feel more at home and more comfortable with you. But it sounds like you and he are doing really well. Buddy’s favourite toys are a bacon-scented ball by DuraPlay from B&M and the standard issue honking hedgehog (size large and extra large) from Outward Hound. I have copied a link here so you know what it looks like but you can get it from loads of places. We have a small stock at home for when one goes to the rainbow bridge. https://wufwufshop.co.uk/products/petstages-cutie-chewies-hedgehog?variant=39778700951747&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvNDhnZbZ8gIV4mDmCh0YSwM_EAQYASABEgI8k_D_BwE He tears it to pieces and one of the things he loves about it is being able to pull the stuffing out. We let him do this and we rested it for him. He’s never shown any interest in eating the stuffing, but you will have to watch your dog and gauge how he behaves before you decide to leave him alone with it. Of course, your dog might not like either of those things. One common thing that Buddy does love about new toys is them having long bits on them that wallop him when he shakes them. But he always returns to Honky and the bacon ball We also give Buddy a dentastix after tea. I suspect your boy’s gums are still a bit tender after tooth removal which may account for the redness/spotting of blood, but this will lessen over time. If it doesn’t, discuss it with your vet. We do clean his teeth too. Originally we used a doggy tooth brush (it has two ends, one with a larger brush, one is smaller) but we have recently switched to an ultra soft human toothbrush and he lets us brush his teeth for a bit longer. We try and brush his teeth every night, but we don’t always manage, and so it is more like 4-5 times a week. We also have a giant tooth brush toy that we cover with tooth gel. He is supposed to chew it, and clean his teeth that way, but he normally licks all the gel from it instead Farts. You learn to live with them. You probably need to live with him for a while before working out what is normal for him. We have spent most of the three years trying to improve our dog’s stool before accepting that soft poop and paint stripping farts are his normal. What I would say is - if he has poops that are pretty solid and you can pick them up, don’t mess with it! If he has two or three poops on a walk which become looser with each poop, that is probably normal and don’t mess with it! You’re in the UK and I don’t think that we have the same problem with hookworms that owners in the States have to deal with (thankfully!) but he can still have parasites so if you’re concerned you can get some stool samples for analysis. Our last full screen cost us over £100. Have lots of fun with your new boy! Also, it really helps to have a picture of your dog when thinking of answers to your queries

This is true. I would much rather have Buddy on the sofa than have to sit on the floor, but he won’t get up! I tried to get him on the bed when we were on holiday…I lifted his front legs up, and his back legs promptly gave way so I gave up. He doesn’t like anything that is not solid ground

sorry, I was judging Rocket by my own standards. If I had been following that truck, I would have stopped at every McDonalds we passed. And I do not eat McDonalds more than once every few years. I will! I don’t think Grace lives too far from us. And Grace and Buddy are cousins

I would try the Citizen’s Advice Bureau as they might be able to help you, or at least direct you to someone who can. And, as someone else has suggested, try a greyhound adoption agency who might be a bit more savvy . This all does seem a bit excessive. I agree with you, I wouldn’t be happy about signing a document that says my dog is dangerous, after all, lots of dogs dislike cats. I know that this is someone’s pet, but from the dog’s point of view, it’s no different from going after a squirrel or rabbit. Good luck

I wonder, did Rocket already have a love of fries when you moved, or did he succumb to the subtle power of advertising?

I’m sorry for your loss