sarabz Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 Bella stretches. A LOT. Big, long, low stretches that end with each hind leg stretched out and a shake of the tail. She stretches when it's time for food. When it's time for walks. When she's telling us she wants to go for a walk. When she gets off the sofa. When she wakes up. Before she goes to sleep. She'll also stretch almost as a greeting. For example, the other night DH & Bella went out to a nearby bar to meet some friends (side note - good DH, he even remembered her blanket). When I got there, she was snoozing, but got up, stretched and stuck her head under my hand for pats. Does the stretching mean anything or does it just feel good? Just curious and figured GTers would have opinions and insight Quote Dave (GLS DeviousDavid) - 6/27/18 Gracie (AMF Saying Grace) - 10/21/12 Bella (KT Britta) - 4/29/05 to 2/13/20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 I think it's just a dog thing! George is very much the same! Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 Lenny does it too Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KennelMom Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 it's common for dogs to stretch a lot. Feels good and it's good for them. Cats are also known for stretching a lot...it's probably one thing humans could learn from animals. Stretching is good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest caelanarcher Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 Aaron stretches a ton. His routine (whenever he gets up from a nap, gets out of his crate, finishes playing, whatever) is like this: STREEEEEETCH with the front end down. STREEEEEETCH the back until his rear foot thump-thump-thumps on the ground (it's really cute) STREEEEEETCH the front end AND STREEEEEEETCH the mouth/tongue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NJgrey Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 I read somewhere that stretching is a form of greeting that dogs use when they see people they know and like. If she stretches when she sees you you should feel good Ellie stretches a ton too. In all the same circumstances you describe. First her front legs go out, then she does the back legs. Her toes stretch out and spread apart too when she does it. Maybe it's a GFNJ thing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alipac Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 My grey, Jake, stretches every time he gets up. He then follows that with a full body shake. If you are too close, you get ear-whipped. The ear flapping sound is what usually signals me in the morning that it is time to go out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oldNELLIE Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 Nellie does a pefect form Yogini "down dog" and "up dog" everytime she gets up. The first time I saw it I thought "So, THAT'S why they call it down dog!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeh2o Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 Carl and Claire stretch all the time, too. When they get up, when a meal is ready, going for a walk, waking up in the morning, a LOT! I guess they must be very happy dogs. Quote Sunsands Doodles: Doodles aka Claire, Bella Run Softly: Softy aka Bowie (the Diamond Dog) Missing my beautiful boy Sunsands Carl 2.25.2003 - 4.1.2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jaws4evr Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 Our does the same thing, I should count how many times she stretches in a day but it has to be 20-30. First downward-facing-dog, then upware-facing-dog. When we first got her she was so stiff as a board her upward-facing-dog stretch was only leaning forward a couple of inches She's limbered up considerably since not using her racing muscles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kudzu Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 (edited) All my current dogs, 2 Greys & a Shag, stretch more than any other dogs I've ever had. One though, Venus, stretches A LOT. When getting up, just before laying down, as a greeting, when she doesn't want to do something, when she can't figure out what I want her to do, before meals, after meals, when the wind changes direction... OK, it just seems like the last one. We have a saying for her apparent approach to life, "When in doubt, stretch." Edited June 23, 2010 by kudzu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lanielovesgreys Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 it appears (to me) that greyhounds do it more than other breeds. laika farts audibly every time she stretches. lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kydie Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 when my boy started this, I never had a dog that streched so much so I would say "bow to the queen" now he streches, or bows on command Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mattbta Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Our big greys taught our italian grey puppy how to do this. Now all three do it whenever they get up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Spencers_Greyt Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Spencer stretches all the time too. I never really thought about it before. I just take it he enjoys it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Heehoo Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 (edited) All of mine do the get up, then stretch routine, but I noticed with Pipi & Smiley when I take them to a meet & greet, they do it more after we've been there for about an hour. So I inquired with my vet & he said they may be getting back cramps from standing too long. Funny, when he said that, about that time Pipi stretched. He said "like that". I have noticed it a lot more now with other people's greyhounds. So maybe that's what the deal is. Edited June 24, 2010 by Heehoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GreyFan09 Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Glad this topic came up. Mine stretches so much I thought he was suffering from back problems or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lgyure85 Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 Better ate than never, eh? Maddie stretches ALL the time. Super cute, but she ALWAYS wants her front paws on my feet when she does it!. OUCH! She grabs with her toe nails! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 Oh yeah. All of mine stretch a lot during the day. Toni likes to put her front paws on (ME!) my chair where I'm sitting and stretch both ways. It's like levitating! Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfish Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 (edited) Yep, all of mine have, too! Sometimes Sid will do the front leg stretch when he sees me, without getting up from his bed. Just wanted to add, though, that if your dog seems to be stretching a lot in the 'downward dog' position without following it up with the hind leg stretch, it can be a sign of serious stomach discomfort. It happens if they just eat too much, too quickly - you'd probably notice an anxious look in her face then. . If I see one of mine do that, I 'burp' them by rubbing and patting firmly (but gently) on the ribcage. Once they've burped, they'll stop. More seriously, it can often be seen in dogs with bloat - but in that case, it would continue, and get worse, and there'd be other symptoms like pacing and panting, and after a while, trying to vomit unproductively. Edited July 5, 2010 by silverfish Quote The plural of anecdote is not dataBrambleberry Greyhounds My Etsy Shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tbrodzel Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 it appears (to me) that greyhounds do it more than other breeds. laika farts audibly every time she stretches. lol. Ha Ha, Brynna does this too. The first time she stretched and let out a loud squeak from her bum I just started laughing. Before that I never heard her pass gas, I only smelled it. Brynna stretches ALL the time. When she wakes up, when she goes into the potty pen, before she eats, after playing, etc. They say humans should really stretch more, maybe our animals are on to something. I know when I do stretch it sure feels good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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