Being Best Friends Means Sharing A Bed

These hounds keep me so busy, I rarely have a chance to update the site it would seem

Shadow has been home a month now, and Joe for nearly two.  The time does fly!  They have both become such a regular part of daily life around here, and yet, it still seems like only yesterday we were making the drive home from the farm, first with Joe and then with Shadow.

The boys have become the best of friends.  Given the choice (and a large enough bed) they will sleep together, sometimes practically on top of each other!  There is no growling, no food aggression, no possessiveness of any kind between them.

Joe is certainly the more playful of the two.  At times I could swear that Shadow rolls his eyes at the ridiculous antics of his younger half-brother.  Joe and I will play and run around in the yard, while Shadow is content to flop down in the shade and watch us have all the fun.

The fence around our yard was finished early this week, and the boys are loving the ability to sniff around without the restraint of a leash.  They are also free to go to the bathroom without distraction, which I’m certain has contributed to the success of house training them.  No accidents in the house now for ten days!

Joe’s separation anxiety has improved dramatically.  He never soils his crate anymore, even when he’s been in it for longer stretches (the longest thus far has been six hours).  He still barks for a few minutes after I’ve initially left the room, and then he settles down.  I’ve noticed that as soon as he hears the front door close he stops, as he knows we’re not coming back to let him out right away.  I think the presence of Shadow is very soothing for him.  Bill certainly was right when he told us that they do better in pairs!  We should have just brought two home right off the start.

Another of Joe’s littermates came through the GRA this week.  His name was Cousin Willy, and I had the opportunity to meet him last Sunday while Jay and I did turn-out.  He’s a really sweet dog, similar in temperament to Joe, although less shy.  He’s already been adopted by a really great family who have promised to keep me posted on how he’s doing.

I’m glad to know that he’s on his way to a great home! We were tempted of course to ask Bill if we could have him, but at the end of the day, I don’t think we are quite ready for a third.

Some weeks ago I put in an order for a pair of new collars for the hounds. They each came home with one from the GRA, but if I’ve learned one thing about greyhound owners, it’s that they like to collect collars for their hounds like it’s going out of style

Here is Joe’s new collar:

And this one is Shadow’s:

I’ll have to put up some photos of the guys wearing them, once they arrive, which should be this coming week. I’m sure they will look very handsome in them!

We also recently ordered them each a Cool Coat from Must Luv Dogs, which is a Toronto-based company (shop Canadian!). The ‘coats’ are made of a shammy material (think Shamwow) and are designed to keep dogs cool in the heat. You wet the coat, wring out the excess water, and it will keep your hounds cool for up to four hours. Shadow, being black, seems particularly sensitive to the heat, so I am certain he appreciates his swanky new cooling coat. One feature in particular that I like is that the material holds the water away from their skin/fur, so when you take it off, the dog doesn’t feel wet.

Here are some pics of the boys in their coats.

While we are still perfecting a routine that works for both us and for the dogs, the week has been smooooooth sailing. They really respond well to a more regular schedule, and while I didn’t understand the importance at first, I see now that a little extra effort goes a long way toward every ones sanity!

Hounds Around The Town

It’s been almost two weeks since we brought home Shadow, and he has settled in beautifully.  He mastered the stairs in two days, and although he marked (peed on things) in the house his first day, he caught on to house training quickly.

Since he’s been home we’ve exposed him to a number of situations.  He’s been to soccer practice with the kids, to the school to pick them up, to Woofstock on Sunday, and to Petsmart, where the slippery floor made him look like a little deer attempting to skate for the first time.  He’s taken each in stride, his temperament is so even, and he’s eager to please.

After establishing that Joe is the Head Dog in this house, the pair of them have become good pals.  They’ve begun to learn how to play with each other, and I can’t wait for the fence to be completed so that they can bounce around outside and not just in the house.

We’re really glad that we decided to adopt a second hound. Although Joe’s anxieties aren’t completely resolved, he seems happy to have a friend. Shadow hasn’t experienced any anxiety and he’s equally attached to everyone in the household. We call him ‘Helicopter Tail’ because when he’s really happy to see you he waves his tail in a circle, like a helicopter propeller.

He’s a little higher energy than Joe, but just as easy going. He’s also wonderful with the kids, and since he’s not as attached to me as Joe is, I think they feel like he’s more of a family pet, and less just my pet.

Speaking of the kids, I’ve talked to them quite a bit about why it’s important to help and adopt greyhounds and are they ever cute when they explain it back to me. I may have to film them to share here. I figure that I might as well just be honest with them about what happens to greyhounds who aren’t lucky enough to be adopted. I didn’t get graphic about it, I just said that when a dog is done racing, if nobody wants him or her, then they get put to sleep. That’s why it’s important to talk to people about greyhounds, and for us to adopt hounds, because otherwise those hounds would be put down. Now they are miniature greyhound advocates

I found some photos of Joe that were taken before we brought home Shadow, so I wanted to share them. We took him to the lake one day and he seemed to enjoy wading out into the water.

On Sunday mornings I get up at 7am and drive the hounds over to Waterloo for a weekly run with other greyhounds. Other owners from the GRA bring their dogs and we turn them loose in a fully fenced baseball field for a good romp and run around. It’s amazing to see them run for the pure joy of it.

I took these photos of Joe a couple of weeks back, before Shadow came home. Some of them are poor quality, as I just took the little camera and not the good one. I plan to take the big camera this weekend, so I can get photos of both boys, but for now here’s Joe and some other greys having a wonderful time.

On Saturday we attended the GRA Reunion Picnic, where I picked up some new muzzles for the boys. They are Australian style nylon muzzles. Much lighter and less likely to cause injury than their current muzzles. I’ll put up some photos of them next time, but the boys seem to be less irritated by them.

Shadow also likes car rides, which makes it super easy to travel with these two. The two of them just curl up and enjoy the ride.

This Sunday I get to go to the kennel for turn-out and their getting a truck full of new pups this weekend, so we’re really excited to see them! I keep teasing Jay that Joe’s other littermate, Bonecrusher, might be on this truck. Hmmm… I’m certain there is room for a third hound in out home and in our hearts

Shadow’s Homecoming

Shadow is home now

Jay, Sarah, and myself drove out to the GRA  last night to turn out the dogs, and to pick up our new hound!

Doing turn-out is a lot of fun.  We got to play with all of the dogs, including Shadow, who seemed particularly happy to see us.  Once everyone had gone to the bathroom, run around a bit, and been tucked into bed for the night with their cookies, we pulled off Shadows kennel collar and slipped his brand new martingale over his head.  Heather had laid out his muzzle and his paperwork for us, along with a note wishing us well with our new addition.

Shadow is quite a bit larger than Joe, so getting him into the SUV was more of an armful than I’m used to.  He weighs around 80lbs I would estimate (his racing weight was 75lbs but I’m certain he’s over that).  Jay sat in the back seat with him and calmed him during the journey home.

When we got to the house the boys had their little reunion out on the back lawn.  They seemed glad to see each other.  We let them hang out together for a few minutes before taking Shadow inside to check out his new home.

He was a lot more nervous than Joe during his first hours inside.  He paced a lot, panting the entire time.  He’s also afraid of our hardwood floor, which fortunately isn’t really an issue.  He marked (peed) in the house three times, but fortunately we caught him in the act and were able to correct him each time.  He hasn’t had an accident so far today, so I’m hopeful that he’s caught on.

After he’d looked around plenty we decided that it was time for bed.  The stairs were an issue, and he very slowly climbed up, me pushing him gradually from behind the entire way.  I’m sure he’ll catch on quickly enough.

We had hoped that they would be able to sleep together on the opposite side of the bedroom, but it was apparent we’d be pushing our luck there, so Joe’s bed was moved back to my side of the room, and Shadow got a spot beside Jay.  We muzzled them both and then turned them loose in our room.

Shadow harassed Joe a fair amount, which resulted in some minor growling, and so we made sure they were kept separated during the night.  Every time Shadow got up, Jay called him back over and coaxed him to lay down again.  Joe settled right in, but it was quite some time before Shadow really went to sleep.  Aside from that, it was a very good night.

Today they are muzzle-free, roaming about the house together.  Joe barked/snapped at Shadow only once, when Shadow showed too much interest in a toy that Joe was playing with.  I have been keeping them both in my sight all day, just in case I need to break up a little ‘arguement’.

Ronnie and I took them for a good walk this morning and once Shadow calmed down, he walked very well on a leash.

We plan to give Shadow a sponge bath this afternoon, as he can’t have a normal bath until Thursday, due to his surgery area. He has a vet appointment tomorrow evening as well for heartworm testing and microchipping. We’ll also find out exactly how much he weighs.

So far things are going well. As much as Joe seems semi-annoyed by his new brother, I think that he’s also relieved to have another greyhound for companionship.

Keep your fingers crossed that his tests at the vet come back all-clear tomorrow. More photos and updates to come I’m sure

Recipe: Chicken Liver & Veggie Cookies

I love baking, and so it seems natural that I would want to cook and bake for my dogs!  I found a really easy and versatile biscuit recipe in EcoDog, and I’ve been testing it out on Joe.

The first batch was banana cinnamon, and he was NOT a fan.  Fortunately my kids liked them, and so a fair number got eaten before they began to spoil.  This time I decided to try a combination of pureed chicken livers and veggies (peas and carrots specifically).  I cooked the vegetables and the liver, and then put them through my food processor.

If you’re not wild over the idea of pureeing meat, you could just use organic baby food if you like. Basically any puree will do: bananas, apple sauce, strained peas, turkey baby food, etc.

The only other ingredient involved is 100% natural wheat germ.  I also plan on experimenting with brown rice flour and other grain options.

Easy Dog Biscuits:

1 cup natural wheat germ

1 cup puree of your choice

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

- Combine ingredients thoroughly.  Roll into grape-sized balls and flatten slightly onto a parchement paper-lined cookie sheet.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.

- Allow to cool completely before storing in a sealed container.  Refrigeration will help them keep longer.

These new liver cookies are a big hit with Joe! He loves them. I’m planning to try apple sauce, other vegetable combinations, and perhaps some other meat purees. Maybe Shadow will like banana.

You can make these treats as large or as small as you like. If you make them larger I would bake them a little longer. I’ve found that bite-sized are nice for training treats, or as tasty additions to the kong. They are so easy to throw together, and even if you aren’t into baking, I promise you’ll have success with these.

Our First Off-Leash Outing

I frequently take photos of Joe, although I’ve been a little slow at getting them posted here. Recently he and I went to a tennis court for his first off-leash play outing. I was so nervous to release him and see what would happen.

As there were no other dogs to play with, he stuck pretty close to me at first. While he was sniffing something I would sneak off across the court and then call him to me, and he would come bounding over.

I’d brought a tennis ball, even though I had no idea if he’s be interested at all. He actually fetched the ball and brought it back half a dozen times before he became bored and refused to chase it again. It was good to see him stretch his legs and play a little bit.

Last week his new hoodie for cold weather arrived. It’s not designed specifically for greyhounds, but it fits pretty well. Unfortunately this is the largest size, and I’m certain it’ll be too small for Shadow, so we won’t be able to get a second one for him. I’ll just have to see what else I can find for the big guy

Jay and I are discussing sleeping arrangements for after Shadow arrives, as currently Joe sleeps on the floor beside my side of the bed, but I’m not sure that there is room for the two of them there. We are thinking we’ll put their dog beds on the other side of the room and see how that goes.

He always does the cutest things at bedtime, and I rarely remember to take my camera upstairs with me. It will be interesting to see how our little routines change with the addition of a second hound.

Betcha Can’t Have Just One

Ever since Joe plunked himself down in our living room on his first day home, I’ve been harbouring a semi-secret desire to adopt a second hound.  Apparently greyhounds are addictive, like crack, except with fur, and minus all the bad stuff that goes along with crack addiction.

We missed out on adopting Joe’s sister, Prize, and although I was quite sad that I didn’t get the opportunity to at least consider her, I’m pretty certain that these things happen for a reason.

Enter Shadow King, who was actually our second choice when we looked at adopting Joe.  He and Joe were turned out together during Joe’s time at the rescue (meaning they were put out into the yard as a pair in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings).  He also happens to be Joe’s half-brother, although they don’t share any family resemblance.  Shadow is taller, heavier set, and black with a white chest/belly.  He’s also missing the tip of his tail, and he’s a year older.  He has a sweet disposition, and while he seems a little more rambunctious than Joe, he’s also great with kids.

He’s been at the rescue since December at least, and he’s been passed over time and time again because for one he’s black, and for some reason people don’t want black dogs.  For another, I suspect his tail being minus an inch is a deterrent.  How sad that he’s had to watch dozens of other hounds come and go, arriving and being adopted, only to be left there for months.  Maybe we’re crazy but Jay and I can’t pass up a sad story like that, and so today we went out to the farm and adopted Shadow.

 

How could you say no to those eyes? Especially when they are watching you from behind the wire bars of a crate, just waiting for someone to say “You’re the one”.  We couldn’t resist, and so he’ll be coming home to us in a week or two, and then Joe will have a brother, and hopefully it’ll help alleviate some of his separation anxiety.  If not, well it can’t get any worse, so we’ll just roll with it.

In His Former Life

While looking for information on Joe’s life as a racer, I found a video of one of his races.  It was really neat to see him run like that, and he finished second!  You can take a look if you click on the link below.  He’s #4, the dog wearing the green racing vest.

Joe’s Race

I have other updates and photos to post, but this is all I have time for at the moment.  I promise to put up another entry soon though

Yesterday Totally Went To The Dogs

Yesterday was a busy and dog-filled day!

In the morning Joe and I participated in the Guelph Wiggle Waggle Walkathon, to raise money for homeless animals in the area.  We walked the full 4k, and we made some friends along the way.  Joe was very calm and well-behaved.  He’s so respectful when meeting other dogs, and he seems to have taken a real liking to children.  It was really wonderful to see him interact with other dogs again.

We didn’t see any other greyhounds there, but many people remarked on how beautiful he is.  It was a lot of fun.  Unfortunately we over-did it a little, and later in the day Joe developed a slight limp in the foot that’s missing a toe.  After some observation I’m not too concerned, but he’s going to take it easy for a few days, and then we’ll gradually work on building up his stamina.

Last night I went out to the GRA for my first volunteer turn-out.  My friend Sarah came with me, and Heather was there to show us what to do.

When I went inside the kennel I looked for Eye On The Prize, and when I found her name on the wall, I discovered that she has been adopted.  I still got to meet her, she’s a tiny and shy little thing, but she’s headed for a new home in Montreal, so I’ll probably never see her again.  While I’m so glad she’s found her forever home, I couldn’t help but feel some sadness that she wouldn’t be coming home with me.  The other female I was interested in has also been adopted.

I’m just going to tell myself that it’s for the best anyway, since when it comes right down to it, Jay doesn’t really want another dog.

Doing turn-out was really fun.  We got to play with the dogs and watch them run around the yard.  It’s a really easy job at night, since I just have to let them out, check their bedding, and remove their bowls.  Then when they go back in to their crates, they get cookies.  It’s only difficult in that I can see how easy it is to fall in love and want to take one or more of them home each time you visit.

A Brief Update

I still haven’t convinced Jay to let me adopt Joe’s sister. Part of me still really wants to, if only because it could help Joe with his current anxiety issues (more on that later).

I wish that I personally knew someone with a well-behaved hound, who would be willing to let me pet-sit said hound for a weekend, to see if it made a difference for Joe to have company. If I knew for certain that having two dogs would help him, I would adopt her in a moment.

Ah well, I’m not sure what is going to happen as far as that goes. I think Jay is mainly worried that having a second dog will only make the situation worse.

This weekend Joe and I are going to participate in the Wiggle Waggle Walkathon, to raise money for homeless animals here in Guelph.  It will be interesting to see how Joe handles being around so many other dogs.  I am sure it’s going to be a good experience for both he and I.

I’ll hopefully have some photos for my next post!  Just wanted to put up a brief update while I had a moment.

All In The Family?

Little Joe was born into a litter of 3 pups.  His siblings are known as Eye On The Prize (female) and Bonecrusher (male).  He’s a brindle like Joe, and she’s black with some white markings.  You can imagine my surprise when I checked out the list of available hounds at the GRA today, and saw her there, clearly listed as Joe’s sister.

It’s not uncommon for littermates to race at the same track, and for them to arrive at the same rescue, especially if they retire very young.

I know that it’s totally crazy, but I really, really want to adopt her. Maybe it’s excessively sentimental, but they were raised together, and I think it would be really wonderful for them to be able to live out the rest of their lives together.

Naturally there would be a number of considerations. We would have to see how she and Joe get along, what she’s like with kids, how her temperament is. I realize that just because they are from the same litter, that does not mean she’s anything like Joe.

She has such a sweet face, and it would be nice for Joe to have a companion, and I know I sound like I’ve totally lost my mind.