Sighthounds4me

Regarding conditioning...roadwork is great. At this time, I plan to buy a bike attachment (the WalkyDog) for spring, when the weather improves enough to bike. We have many nice trails around here, most of them with a limestone substrate, thus not terrible on the joints. At this time, the puppy is outside playing for hours every day. He gets MUCH free exercise, running, jumping, wrestling with my adults. He is rock-solid muscle right now, and has NO FAT on his body whatsoever. I think he is in good shape for coursing, but needs to grow up a bit yet. I think I will try for his JC this year, then let him mature physically a while. *ETA: I also bought a lunge whip, to which I attached a plastic bag. I whip it around, and get him to chase it. He also like to fetch, or at least chase moving balls, so I got a "Chuck It!" toy to throw balls for him. He also gets to chase a frisbee on a regular basis.

Please read Childproofing Your Dog by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson. If you have already read it, re-read it. There is good advice in there, as well as on this thread. I do not have kids, and have little maternal instinct, so I will refrain from posting anything but the above.

I have user Rescue Remedy for years, with success. I have Manero, who used to get VERY nervous at shows. It did not help that his owner/handler (me) was new at showing. So, he and I both got Rescue Remedy at every show, and it really helped. What I find with RR is that it seems to have a very subtle, yet obvious, action. It does not "calm" in the sense that you feel like you are on drugs, rather, it makes you feel more *normal*. I have used it many times before interviews, too, and it really does work. Regarding other natural remedies, many do work, but most are not "homeopathic."

Aside from the indoor dogs shedding more than outdoor, I think much of that has to do with experience. I have seen plenty of light-colored dogs that shed buckets, and plenty of dark dogs that don't. Same with short vs. long-coated dogs (I have dogs with rather long hair who shed a TON!) But, mine are outdoors as much as possible, so that could account for why they shed a lot - blowing coat is a by-product of developing a ton of coat to defend against the cold weather.

One thing to remember about shedding winter coat: dogs respond to lengthening days, not necessarily the temperature outside. Especially those that do not spend a lot of time outdoors. I had a Siberian Husky as a kid. She'd start blowing coat at this time of the year every year, even though she lived outside. She never suffered for it, though! My Borzoi, though, do not usually start blowing coat till about mid-May, and I can usually delay it a bit if I want to, depending on how much supplement I give them, and how often I bathe. Naples blows about the same time.

We've used metronidazole on many occasions here. Naples had giardia years ago, and we've had other troubles, also. Probiotics are a must. Metronidazole is apt to kill good bacteria, as well as bad, so you need to add more. Preferably, an hour before or after the med, so the probiotics don't die, too. Regarding the probiotics, I use the Probios brand, which I purchase at my local farm and fleet store (in the cattle section). I use the powder, and it is WICKED cheap, but works quite well! If you can't find this product, you can use any probiotic pill for humans, at about 1/2 to 3/4 dose. Others may suggest yogurt, but I would stay away from that, because many dogs are lactose-intolerant. And, try to prevent her from grazing the grass. It's possible that is where she got the giardia to begin with, if not at the dog park. We are reasonably sure Naples got it from standing water in our backyard. It can be transmitted by almost any animal.

The first thing I would try is a humidifier. The dry heat that we all deal with in these cold climates is really tough on skin, and putting some moisture into the air really helps. In addition, what do you feed? A food with more fat may help. You can also look into supplementation. I like Hair of the Dog by Doc's Blend. I have not found anything I like better. In winter, we usually double the dose for Naples (the lone Greyhound in our home), but have not needed to do so this year. Another very simple thing you can try is daily brushing. This will help stimulate and distrubute the natural oils found in the skin. *ETA: if this does not work, go back to the vet, and ask if there could be something else going on. This may be simple dry skin, but it could be something more.

I know when I had sutures in my arms a little over a year ago, I was told to keep them dry for the first couple days, then it was fine. It made showers interesting for the first couple days, but was fine after That. However, for a dog, I would go with waterless shampoo instead, to freshen him up a bit, then a full bath a couple days after the sutures come out. I always liked the one in the black bottle, by Miracle Coat - available at any big box pet store!

Yup...been there. Thankfully, I remembered a muzzle. When Naples tore her dewclaw. Now, she is the sweetest, most loving, least likely to even think about biting dog I have known. But I though, if she is hurting, she may bite, so on went the muzzle, and DH held her to calm her a bit. By the time I needed to change the bandage, blood had stuck the dewclaw to the gauze. I soaked it in salilne, and worked slowly to loosen the gauze, but it still hurt (poor girl!). She whipped around, and hit me on the top of the head with her muzzle! She did try to bite! I hugged her, and asked her to bear with me. She did! What a good girl! I felt so bad for hurting her, though. After that, I did not change the bandage again, because she was going in for a dental/removal of dewclaws two days after that anyway.

LOL No, but this is weird, even for him! I am his owner! LOL He is nephew to my adults, thus the reason I refer to him as such! We have a twisted family!

Please DO NOT use your knee in the dog's chest! You could hurt the dog! Instead, try yelping like a puppy would (as high-pitched as possible), and turn around with your arms crossed. Do not restart the game again until the dog calms down. What you are doing is using canine language. This is how a puppy would tell another puppy the game has gone too far. You have hurt me, and I don't want to play anymore. Once the dog is calm, you can continue playing, or giving attention, conveying to the dog that being calm is the behavior that gets the reward he wants. Chances are, he will learn very quickly! The biggest key is that ALL members of the family must do this EVERY TIME. Consistency is HUGE! One slip, and the door will open again. The dog will think "all I have to do is wait it out! Four times, and they will crack!" Good luck!

We have this problem with Naples, too. She is muzzled-with-stool-guard at all times when outside, too. We plan to try something new, when we are able. We want to build an enclosure that all dogs go into before getting the run of the yard. They will do business there before being allowed to run and play. In addition to making it easier to clean up (rather than searching the whole yard - about 3/4 acre), hopefully, it will preven them from finding and eating poop. ALL of my dogs do this, but Naples is the only one that gets sick. Other than that, and the use of a stool guard, I can't make any other suggestions.

I don't think you have become jaded. I probably would have done the same! Glad to hear she's doing well!

Have not sloved the mystery! Still confuzzled! No one has dewclaws, but even when Naples did, they were not as heavy as the nails on her feet. And hers are not as heavy as the one I found. I still don't get it! I even double-checked Manero's feet. Even after he ran around the yard, and wrestled with his brother and nephew, and generally appeared to be pain-free. He still has all his nails! Hmmmmmm...

I was letting the dogs out to potty (and play) just now, and found a toenail just outside the patio door. It looks thick and heavy, like Manero's, and is the same color as most of his nails. He was already out there, so I checked the two that were near me (Henley and Cooper). All their nails were intact.I called Manero over, expecting him to be missing a nail. He was not limping. I checked all his feet, and all his nails were there. So, I went in and checked the girls. All of their nails were intact. Weird. The strangest thing is, this looks like a WHOLE toenail. Not just a broken tip, but the whole thing. Like I'd be expecting one of my dogs to be in major pain, with a bleeding pulp left behind. But everyone's fine! I am confused...

Can't say I agree with that! I have four sighthounds that are not Greyhounds, but, of course, do have the long muzzle. Their teeth are fine, though they do have tartar. I do scale, though, and they come out nice. It has more to do with Greyhound genetics, I think. This is only made worse by the soft, protein rich diet they recieve on the track. Many other sighthounds, though they have the long muzzle, have few, if any problems, unless teeth are neglected.

First of all, I want to say that I don't think it is selfish to want a healthy dog. Especially after what you have already dealt with. Secondly, having a Greyhound with dental issues, I have to say that, as long as you keep on top of it (daily brushing, yearly dentals, regular vet work, and just generally watching her mouth), you should not have a problem. Naples is now 10, and while she has lost a lot of teeth to dentals over the years, she is otherwise fine. But, as others have said, do what you feel is right. If you are drawn to this girl, there is probably a good reason. Listen to your heart!

A fantastic book to take a look at for coursing is Sighthounds Afield by Denise Como.It descries conditioning, training, feeding, injuries and how to treat them, and various coursing venues (AKC, NOTRA, LGRA, etc). There is also a chapter about retired racers as pets, as well as a section that details each sighthound breed. It's a fascinating read, and a must for beginners in coursing! I have not yet done lure-coursing, but plan to with the new guy. I have, however, taken my hairy dogs' breeders' Whippet to straight-racing events. That can be interesting!

It is very possible that it's the dry air. Heated air (aka use of a furnace) is notorious for drying the air, and thus, the skin. You can try using a humidifyer. That helps around here. You can also try a topical spray. It won't solve the problem, but will act like a lotion on human skin, and moisturize, reducing the itch. I like Quicker Slicker, by Nature's Specialties. http://www.naturesspecialtiesmfg.com/ It's tough to find, but VERY worth it! I use many products by this company, and have never been disappointed! You can also look into a more comprehensive skin/coat supplement. We use Hair of the Dog (www.docsblend.com). This stuff is amazing! The difference it has made for our Greyhounds is fantastic! Hope this helps!

I should mention, as well, that when you bathe, use lukewarm water, a moiturizing shampoo, a deep moisturizing conditioner (left to soak in for at least 5 minutes), dry with towels, then follow with a moisturizing spray, applied liberally, then rubbed into the skin. Products I like include Plum Silky shampoo, Aloe Remoisturizing conditioner, and Quicker Slicker spray, all by Nature's Specialties (http://www.naturesspecialtiesmfg.com/). These products can be hard to find, but SO worth it! The best part is, the shampoo and conditioner dilute like crazy, enabling them to go further, and saving you money! They smell amazing, too, and the shamppo cleans like none other I have used!

I adore this product! Doesn't hurt that we are close friends with the manufacturer (also the breeder of our hairies), but I digress. The truth is, though,k a newly retired Greyhoundmay not need supplementation. A food with more fat than the track ddiet is likely to produce an improvement in the coat, in and of itself. Additionally, bathing no more than monthly, if at all, and daily brushing with a zoom groom or hound glove will help distribute the natural oils. We also humidify our house. Dry heat in winter is a killer on skin, on the humans as well as the hounds. If you live in a climate where you need heating in the home, this is something to consider. It must also be said that dogs that are nervous or unsure can blow coat, which produces dandruff. A newly retired Greyhound, in a new home is VERY likely to be nervous and/or unsure. Therefore, that may be a contributing factor as well.

Many scars fade over time. A good, fatty food will help many skin issues, including scars. If you feed a skin/coat supplemnt, even just fish oil, that could be helping too. I know I personally have scars that have faded over time. A little over a year ago, I dropped my grooming table, and the legs or leg braces got me in three places, teo on my arms. The scars were nasty for a while, but they look much better now. I highly doubt they will ever fade completely, but They have become far less noticable, with time. Amazing how the body works, actually!

Ditto. Having four LBHS other than the Greyhounds, I do have a little experience. I can tell you for certain that Cooper has a very different body type than Manero, his litter-brother. Some of that is just that he is a different dog. Bit some is also that he was neutered at about 12 months old, and Manero is intact. However, my Indigo was spayed at about 9 months old. She is now 8 years old. Other than being longer-limbed, very little is different about her, and an intact bitch of similar type. I do not see her having any trouble with normal movement (other than a little arthritis), or generally being a pet. If we wanted to do agility or lure-coursing, something, I probably would not choose her, but other than that, she is fine.

Welcome aboard! I also hav Borzoi (and a Greyhound). Be careful: like Greyhounds, Borzoi can be addictive! I now have FOUR! I love them all to pieces, though, and would not trade them for the world! Feel free to email me if you wish: I am Sarah, from Green Bay, WI. My email is sighthounds4me at gmail.com

If you start to see stomach problems with it, talk to the vet about halving his dose, and using carafate to sooth the gut. We had Gunnar on Deramaxx for his arthritis. He did well for a few weeks, then started to develop stomach upset. We took him off for a couple days, and gave him pepcid. Then we started him back on it, and after a few days, we halved his dose (at the vet's suggestion), and he did well. We would have done carafate, if needed, but did not need to. That was about 5 or 6 years ago, though, so my memory is rusty about dosage.