sobesmom

Well this thread is the exact opposite of what I thought it would be! When I walk Diana and tell her "walk with me" which is our "heel" command, (as opposed to the wander I allow for sniffing, peeing, exploring) she actually leans into me a little while walking, which gets really annoying. I've tried all the things mentioned - quick starts, stops, turns, etc, to get her a couple inches OFF me - to no avail. I've demonstrated it to friends in the fenced yard, without a leash even, and she's like fly-paper! (BTW - she's DEFINATELY not a spook, and I didn't train this intentionally, other than "walk with me" meaning walk beside me). Apparently she's really good at this glued to my hip thing... - and I didn't even know it was desirable! When you figure out how to glue your dog - tell me how to un-glue mine!!!

She needs more of whatever exercise and mental stimulation she *can* handle. You might consider one of the interactive toys (treat ball, Nina Ottoson game, etc.) for @ 1/3 of her daily food allotment. Teach her what you want her TO do -- sit, lie down, whatever. Reward that and ignore the rest. Might also want to teach her an "Easy" for meeting new people so she has some guidance in behaving around them. Despite her bad leg, an obedience class might be a good option for you -- positive methods, and one where the instructor understands she may need to take a break or opt out of some exercises. That one's easy. Put it where she can't get it. In the garage if you have one, behind a latched door .... Teach her what you want her TO do, such as "Go lie down." Or (what's done in our house), a sorrowful "It's just not time yet" and ignore their antics until the proper time. If we caved, we'd be feeding dinner about 3 hours after breakfast, and we'd have beach balls rather than greyhounds! If she doesn't get a response, she'll likely eventually stop. Be strong ..... Yep, Batmom's got it. I'd just add - OK - you let it happen, we all do stuff like that. Just don't be afraid to fix it. I'm not big on the whole alpha-boss-running-the-world thing - but given lack of rules - every kid will run amok cuz it's fun! Spring break's over now, time to get back into the home routine. If you lead - they will follow.

Give it a shot, in a controlled way. What's the worst that can happen if you set up a good environment? If it doesn't work out (i.e. if she FREAKS OUT if left alone out of crate) - live and learn.

Side note- you may want to consider taking your sisters dog to your house for a visit, or for walks or something, once in a while, so it gets extra attention. Your sister is going to have her hands full - and regardless of how great a dog-ower she is - a little help (and extra attention for the "old" family member) would probably be appreciated. BTW- I have 11 nieces and nephews, and 17.5 great neices and great nephews - welcome to the club newbie!

I'd personally go with the alien theory.

WooHOO!!! Great job!!!! Mind-numbing boredom, and treats - the perfect combo for de-scarifying! Do a follow-up boredom and treats session in a couple weeks, just to reinforce.

I've had greys and foster greys scared of everything from ceiling fans to the sound of frying bacon. I still maintain - greys are weird! I also believe there's a reason for the fear - one that you may NEVER understand. Maybe one time when she walked by the table, someone made a loud noise - so she associates the table with a scary noise. It can be that "random" to us - but makes perfect sense to her, because that's the way her brain processed it. Desensitize. Walk past the table - give a treat. Turn around, walk past the table again, give a treat. Do it over and over until you bore her to death. Start out as far away as you can get, slowly get closer each pass. Make it the most normal thing ever. Repetition of good things happening at the scary place over-rides whatever demon she has associated with it. BTW - desensitizing the foster that had a fear of the sound of frying bacon put a good 10 lbs on every member of this family. Thank goodness it only took a week of daily bacon!!! The upside was - afterwards I could get that dog to do ANYTHING for a piece of bacon!

You have a Nosey Nellie! He's not just a trash-hound, he's a check-everything-out hound! Step up the supervising. Don't let him out of your sight - and correct BEFORE he gets his mits on no-no's. Speak first. When he goes to get up to grab the sponge, say "NO", or "uh-uh" or whatever is appropriate for that dog. He has NO CLUE of the rules. Many fosters error on the side of "over-cautious" - I won't touch ANYTHING. Those are the jems you've had so far - trust me - in their forever homes, the "honeymoon" eventually wore off and they tested the limits. This foster is more curious, brave, and outgoing. It's checking stuff out now. It's not BAD - it's curious. It's a toddler looking at everything and needing guidance. Yes, I think baby-proofing is a good analogy - but TEACHING goes hand-in-hand, and you have to be spot-on with the teaching. Short attention span. Catch and correct. The nice thing is - in my experience - the "curious" dogs also tend to be the "smarter" dogs. Explain the rules clearly - and they get it. Good luck - it sounds to me like you have a REALLY fun foster! I LOVE LOVE LOVE "quirky" grey. The "easy" fosters are boring. ETA: this is also the kind of grey that thrives on training....they have a brain and want to use it. Working on simple training will help establish you as the leader (which the dog craves) - and reward it for behaviours that are appropriate (which dogs crave)... and make it have enough mental stimulation to maybe not need to "explore" so much.

Could it be that she's telling you she's ready to not be crated? I wouldn't go whole-hog and give her free reign of the house, but could you gate her in a room - a big open room (no bathroom or laundry room) - and put her crate in there, open? I didn't read your original post, so I may be off-base. I think a crate is a tool for acclimating for a lot of dogs, they may not need it for life. Some do, though, I understand, due to endangering themselves. My personal experience has been that dogs that hate the crate - are happy and content when they're out.

That's desensitization, as I referred to above. The hugs and praise for her are the "treat". At home - you might want to try the throw-rug trick. It really does work to build the dog's confidence.

Actually - I think some greys can make awesome service dogs. There are many cases of them as working service dogs that you can find online. It's not for all greys, certainly, and it depends on what you need the dog to do - but it sounds like you've got the right dog for the job! Booties are a decent idea, but I can't give you advice on that. I would suggest desensitization training. It involves repeated, limited exposure to the "issue" with rewards. Our kitchen floor gives almost every foster trouble. I put 2ftx3ft throw rugs at close intervals. I start taking them away, one at a time, over time. Gradual acclimation, until the dog does the floor no problem, and doesn't even realize he's acclimating to it. I'd suggest finding a place that replicates the super-slick floor, and do the same. Start off easy - with lots of throw rugs, treats for crossing... and decrease the rug - increase the distance between. This will take days or weeks, not hours. If it's feasible - do daily trips into Walmart- take a few steps on the scary floor, PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE - give a treat - and leave immediately. NOT a shopping trip - a training trip. The next day - a couple more steps - PRAISE - treat - leave. Repeat. Increase just a bit each time. Always reward and END before the stress starts. I'm guessing you'll be getting dog treats from the greeters in a few days! BTW - 4 yrs. old is just a young un'. I personlly consider greys a puppy/teenager, both mentally and physically, until they're 3. (Not data - just my experience). I've taught a LOT older greys slippery floors and such. You can do this. I think it's awesome - please keep us posted!!!!! I'd LOVE to show my grey, Diana, that yes - you CAN get a JOB!!!

I've found that males tend to be more "sticky" - so if you've only had girls that could be part of the difference. Most fosters we've had have adjusted quite well to transitioning into real family life - the ones that have had issues - weren't because they "missed" ME - just had trouble adjusting to a new situation. Greys are amazingly adaptable - and DO live in the moment. A nice person is often interchangeable for the next nice person. Ego bruising it is! I have had just a couple fosters DEFINATELY remember me. One nearly ripped its owner's arm out of the socket at a group picnic when it saw me get out of my car - and dragged her several feet to get to me. That was kinda cool. But that's the exception - that foster had been with us over a year. Most fosters that I see later on - treat me like any other stranger they meet. That's just the way it is - and I'm glad. Our current grey, Diana, has been with us for around 3 years now, and although she adores us, if she had to be re-homed, she'd be fine. She's just happy and easy-going. My first grey, Sobe - would've died if we re-homed him after living with us. It depends on the dog - but 95% of them - are 100% fine with moving on. Greyhounds are the Forrest Gump of the dog world.

That's GOOD stuff right there! You were right to give it to her in her crate - I don't crate or raw-feed - but when I give raw bones, which I do as often as possible - it's outside - I don't want raw ick all over the house. Raw bones are FABULOUS for protien and teeth cleaning. I've quit buying bonesless chicken breasts, and now buy bone-in - (half the price) - take the meat off the bone myslef - and give the ribcages to me grey - HAPPY DOG! I'll also hack the bone out of a beef roast before it goes in the crockpot, or the bones off pork chops - and give them to the dogs before cooking. You certainly can buy bones specifically for your dog - but if you can incorporate de-boning before cooking into your family meal - all the better! Your dog will LOVE you for it. And - bone in meat is a lot cheaper than bonesless. If you have a good knife - just cut it out yourself. Good for your dinner - good for your dog!

A little cream cheese is fine! I agree with others - buy the cheap brand - and the low-fat or non-fat if they have it. I'd also suggest FREEZING the Kongs. Just stuff them at night and toss them in the freezer - the dogs love them just as much - and it takes a LOT longer to get all the yummieness out. A big boredom-buster! Have you tried plain yogurt yet? Your non- PB dog might LOVE plain yogurt in the Kong - DEFINATELY frozen, cuz it's gooey!

I guess I don't completely understand - I haven't read anything that says garlic is good for dogs. In fact, it can be quite harmful. A little bit to a big dog won't hurt - but I see no reason to intentionally give a dog garlic. Garlic to a small dog - can be quite toxic - and if a big dog is given it regularly - it can be toxic also. Not trying to be mean - but I've read absolutely nothing that indicates that it helps with fleas or ticks, and it's NOT good for a dog's general health. Please re-check your sources... it might not be a good idea.

I LOVE Kongs, and they were an ABSOLUTE necessity with our first grey, Sobe - he had SA - and they helped keep him occupied in that crucial 15 minutes after we left the house, in addition to all the other tools and training. I've used them for other dogs too, and recommended them to friends. We're a 1 grey house now, and Diana has NO SA. We do give her a rawhide strip when we leave, as a token "busy-thing" but usually it's still intact - in her mouth when we come home. She carries it more than chews it. That's fine. She gets a "new" one the next day - and we recycle the "old" one to her the day after. It works. It's probably more of a comfort to me than to her. 2 rawhide strips last a weeks then I thow them away. She does like to "get" them and "carry" them. Not eat them. Diana's THIN. Has been for the 3 years she's lived here. I've tried every trick in the book, and every suggestion from GT, and she stays THIN. Looks like she walked off the track at a light racing weight yesterday. That's just her way. She's spunky, and healthy, and her coat is lovely - so I quit worrying about it a long time ago. She will NOT eat one mouthful more than she feels she needs. (She's just one of those skinny bitches!) So - the other day - I saw a Kong in the store. I haven't had one around in a long time. I bought it. I filled it with Old Mother Hubbards treats, and natural peanut butter, froze it - and gave it to Diana when we left for work the next day. IT WAS CLEANED OUT!!!! This from the dog that will turn up her nose and walk away from 1/4 cup extra food in her dish! She chomped down extra calories! And - I assume she enjoyed it! She had to work a WHILE to get frozen PB and treats out of there! Maybe she's having fun with it too! A few extra calories won't hurt her. At all. And - if she's doing something during the day, that's good too. She like no-fat yogurt and banana too, I'll have to try that frozen. I just never thought of giving a Kong to a dog that didn't "NEED" one.

Holy cow - that seems like a LOT of dogfood to me. My 83 lb. grey never ate that much. I know you said it was a good food - but maybe look at the calories and find something higher? I hope it's just worms or something - they can elude a test. But - it's possible - maybe a cancer? I don't mean in ANY way to worry you. But some cancers thrive on carbs. The more the dog eats, the more it thrives, and the dog looses. Maybe try a "cancer diet" for a while - total meat - no carbs, and see what happens? An all-meat diet certainly won't hurt, in any case. If you're not in a position to do raw - do a crockpot stew - meat and sweet potatoes for fiber. It's not hard, or expensive - you just make up a crockpot full of cheap fatty hamburger, chicken, whatever, and a sweet potato, once per week, keep it in the fridge, and dole out daily. Assume it's NOT cancer, it probably isn't - but put the dog on all meat with some fiber, for a while, and see if it helps. A meat diet is great for ANY dog. It might help sort out the issues. And - your dog will LOVE IT!!!!

I personally detest E-collars. Experience from a couple dogs with BAD exteriences. The loss of sight range, plus the muffling of sounds fruited mine out BAD. One time turned a perfectly normal dog into a terrified - snarling snapping crazy! Take the collar off - she was fine. For a face injury, I'd monitor, and if scratching seems to be an issue, tape socks on the feet (that will be hated too) but not as traumatic as the collar. I KNOW they work fine for lots of people and dogs - but I've never had a good experience with them, and have found them to cause more harm than good - just in my experience.

Diana's a bird-zapper. She's had a couple in her mouth in the yard, and I don't know how she got them. One I witnessed. From a dead standstill, right beside me, she jumped straight up, bird well above my head level, and plucked a young robin out of the air. It was gross - but the most amazing vertical leap I've EVER seen. And the chickens that wandered in from the neighbor's yard ... well that was just no contest. He's got a better fence now.

DH (aka Stinky fish hater) was rummaging in the cupboard the other night, ran across a tin of sardines and said "this has been in here forever - give it to Diana and get rid of it".... um.... not the same tin, he saw last week, or the week before, little does he know . But anyway, I said OK, and the next evening we were going to leave the house, so I gave it to Diana on her dinner - with him there (which I never do). She obligingly slurped down fish and food - walked up to seated DH - and BURPED IN HIS FACE! He about DIED!!!! It was AWESOME!!! Diana was VERY HAPPY! I don't think he'll "complain" about tins of sardines lingering in the cupboard any more.

I only read your initial comment, not other posters, but my feeling is - when you're dealing with the bed - do what feels right. It's YOUR place for rest. If you felt uncomfortable - kick the dog off for a while. Try it again in a week. I don't mind dogs in my bed - but it's got to be on MY terms. It's simple - until you're comfortable - no problem saying "off".

My neice has an 8-week old puppy - and needs to go away next weekend. I offered to puppy-sit. Yes, just shoot me now~ I'm NOT a "puppy person"..... and I have a greyhound. Our grey, Diana - is high-prey. But she's mellowed a LOT in the last couple years. So - I told my neice to bring the pupppy for a visit one night this week - and we'd see how it goes - then decide for SURE if we could keep the puppy next weekend. I certainly don't want the puppy to be in any danger from Diana. This is a BIG puppy - it's a mix of Bull Mastiff, St. Bernard, (mom's side) and German Shepard and Golden (dad's side). A lovely mutt they got for free from a total "oops". The biggest pup in the litter. It's a BIG puppy that I don't think Diana could ever confuse with a rabbit or cat. It's just too big and....slow. So - I think I'm right on the "trial run" visit - but how do I handle it? Muzzle on Diana for sure. Meet them in the front yard for an outside sniff? Or let the pup come in? Then very careful watching in the house? Last weekend I saw this puppy meet an adult dog at another house, and it worked out ok. The puppy got a little rowdy - the older dog corrected calmly (they'd just met) and the puppy backed off. So - I "think" the pup understands "dog language". Any tips? Ideas?

You knew the answer before you asked the question. Trust your gut. If he enjoys it - go for it. When MY time gets close - I hope somebody gives me Big Mac's and french fries and beer and ice cream whenever I want it! I don't have that very much now - but when my time comes - I'm going to GORGE on it if someone loves me enough to give it to me! When my grandfather was dying - in the hospital on Hospice care on his last day - he KNEW it was his last day - he asked to drink a glass of wine with me. (Red wine is death to a dialysis patient). I brought a bottle of red wine to the hospital, and glasses, and drank it with him - in his honor, and to his enjoyment. Same thing for your dog. What are you going to hurt at this point?

I can't give you specific answers on body changes, others can. I know, in my personal experience, when my grey Sobe was terminal (different reason) - I worried about "how would I know when it was time" - I did everything to keep him as comfortable and happy as I could - and that extended his happy life beyond what the vet expected - but I worried if I'd know when the time came - because I ABSOLUTELY did not want to keep him going just for MY benefit. Well, when the time came - I knew. One day - I JUST KNEW. I could see it - I could feel it. He was done. He could've probably lived on a couple more weeks - but one morning - I KNEW. HE KNEW. It was time. Quality of life is a hard thing to define - but an easy thing to see and FEEL if you love an animal. Trust your gut. Trust your dog. Be brave enough to call it "DONE" what it's the right thing to do. It's VERY hard. But you'll know. Do the right thing when the time comes. Hugs to you - I've lived it - and it was so hard. But I think I did it right for my family and my grey.

I actually do give my dogs rawhide - strips - unflavored. Not giant bones, but every few days, I'll give a 2inch by 4 in strip... and we've never had any issues. It depends on the dog, and how they deal with it. 5 years - no issues. But - it depends on the dog, and if they woof and swallow it, or just leisurely chew it. Lots of times, when we get home from work, there are half-chewed soggy rawhide strips lying around. My dogs never seemed to go crazy with them.... just chew a while and leave them. Eventually, I throw out the soggy mess. For dogs that got crazy on them , and devour all of it - I'd back off, or not give it. Like most things - common sense rules - depends on the dog.