How are we all Doing?
Getting to Know each other...

Well, we have got to know each other very well, and we gel as a pack now. The behavioural problems of Lily are practically non existent and we have had obedience, good toilet behaviour, and excellent recall from her and she can be let off on her walks! Not advisable for ex racers though, so I don't recommend this with a dog like Dizzy. Ex racers run in a straight line and can run for miles and end up running in traffic. Lily never raced, and being nervous stays close and does what we call a circle of joy, and her little smiling head bobs up and down as she dashes around us. If something spooks her, she comes in for the security of the pack and looks to us all to defend her rather than run away.

A greyhound will grin, and this is not at all a sign of aggression
but more a sign of being totally relaxed

No more fear or aggression and lots of Nose kisses....

So what about the biting, the backing off and the throwing herself against the wall? Most of the anxiety causing this has been greatly reduced. Lily adores Steve (and he is a man) and she is curious about strangers, rather than terrified. She still paces around and wants all escape routes open when we have a new visitor, but little Lils will wait until the visitor is concentrating on us with his back to her, and she will trot up and do what I call a 'nose kiss'. The nose kiss is used for her to show her approval of a new person, just one touch on the hand or the back of legs with a cold wet nose and then she retreats. She will then come in for more nose kisses, each one lasting longer than the last and eventually she might even let someone stroke her neck.

What would we advise for nervous dogs when visitors come?

I would advise, if your dog is like ours, that when a visitor comes in and the dog shows signs of anxiety and stress like pacing, circling, panting, that your visitor does not look at the dog or pay any attention to it. This would just re-inforce the anxiety. What seems to work with us is for the visitor to completely ignore the dog, and allow the dog space and freedom to back off. Never let your visitor corner a dog like this, or like my father keep badgering and chasing after a kiss or a cuddle. Some new visitors will say they love dogs and have experience and lunge in for a cuddle, or pester the dog. However, the dog does not know of experience. Their anxiety tells them to exercise caution, they will see the visitor approaching as a sign of dominance or aggression and this can have disastrous results. Your dog always uses the pack mentality rules, they will look to other members of the pack, especially the leaders to see how they react to a visitor and if they see the visitor relaxed, facing you, chatting, invading your space rather than theirs but see that you have accepted them, then they become curious and even start wanting to come and say hello themselves.

Nosy Girl!

Other meanings of the Nose Kiss...Learning to speak 'Dog'

Lily also uses the Nose Kiss to express her need to go to the toilet outside. The Nose Kiss means 'Attend to Me', that cold wet touch on my hand alerts me to her, then she looks me full in the face and I say "Does she want to go out?" and she nods her head upwards in the air, sometimes with a suppressed "Roo" and that means "Yes". Then the Nose Kiss may be used again if she is desperate for a 'toilet' but I am not moving fast enough. She dashes ahead, circles around, and touches my hand faster and more frequently, which hurries me up.

Dizzy learns to come down the stairs, as well as go up!
Greyhounds from kennels, may never have attempted stairs, so make sure you can lift them down as they will climb up and get vertigo and 'statue' i.e. freeze and get stuck!

Eager to please...the difference between collies and greyhounds

We have found that greyhounds can be very willing to please, they may pick things up at a slightly slower speed than our previous border collie but then there is a fundamental difference in how they use the learning. Border collie's quickly learn to do something, and then quickly learn ways of not doing that thing if it doesn't suit them. They manufacture loopholes in the contract. You might ask them, for example, to go and do their toilet in a paved garden on holiday and they will say "Ah, but last time you asked me to go on grass, I don't see any grass here, so perhaps I can forget that rule?" A better of example of that is begging at the table. We said categorically no to that trait with our BC, but, he would beg at the table of my parents. He might argue that we taught him not to beg to us, and when there are new people, the rules do not apply, and if they did they must be reinforced by my parents.

Greyhounds as creatures of habit

Greyhounds, take their time taking in the meaning of what you ask, then they modify their behaviour slowly to adjust to what you really intend, and then bingo, when they have hit the jackpot, they can't stop doing that thing. Creatures of habit, once you have made them learn a command, they will want to carry it out and the only thing that over-rides the command, is not a desire to find a loophole around it and then displease us, it will be the overwhelming instinct of FOOD only that breaks down a greyhounds behaviour into mayhem.

Food V Good Behaviour

However, even when the battle between wanting your food and wanting to please you is going on, you can still find that greyhounds after an initial feral fuss over the food on your plate, will go and quietly lie down whilst you eat.

I would strongly advise, never feeding straight from the table (I know we all crack up and do that occasionally) but if your hound is on their bed, lying there with big saucer pie eyes, and they are quiet (suppressed rooing doesn't count, nor does any faint nose whistling) then you can reward them with a treat on their bed, whilst reinforcing the command "On your bed, what a good girl/boy, On your bed". This is so much better than throwing stuff to snapping hounds from the table.

Dizzy is allowed on the sofa as a very special treat. Remember that in Dog Language, sit on my sofa is interpreted as, you have been promoted to pack leader, and you might find a greyhound's behaviour becomes bossy or unacceptable in other areas. E.G, we had a few snaps when we tried to get the dogs off the sofa for any reason, and this was out of character so we had to regulate when and where the dogs sleep.

Patience is Key...Not all greys like to sit

Your greyhound does have endless patience, and a sense of nobility and loyalty. Some people may find their greys do not like to sit, and with ours, it was causing great distress and Dizzy even screeched and snapped at my head thinking I was trying to hurt him. We decided, after a couple of months trying, that we would not enforce the 'Sit command'. Our greys behaviour was more advanced than the sit command, but not being able to sit easily held them back and way behind the smallest of puppies in training classes; we didn't find it dignified in the end. If you are trying to teach them something, and they don't seem to be getting it, don't abandon your efforts. They will surprise you and suddenly get something you would have thought impossible.

Table Manners

An example of this, is teaching our hounds to behave respectfully over their dinner habits. Our dinner behaviour went something like this:

Day 1: Cupboard and food noises in the kitchen causes hounds to dash frantically underfoot and climb the surfaces like mountain goats and snapping at anything going like a couple of turtles.

Day 2 onwards: We decide that the hounds must give us time to prepare food without tripping up and snapping at any crumbs in the air. Steve holds the hounds on the kitchen step, outside the kitchen doorway, and I use the command out.

Day 3: We keep repeating the 'Out' Command, and keep them there even when the food is put down for them to eat. Steve puts a hand in front of their chest but not touching, and lets go of their collars whilst I say 'Out'. First of all they charge forward as soon as they are let go, but his hand stops and corrects them and pulls them back

Day 4 onwards: Steve increases the time he releases them and then corrects them.

Day10 onwards the hounds finally get the idea they must stand outside the kitchen, and must only come for their food when released.

Day 14: After about 2 weeks of this training, the dogs can stand quietly (but saliva dripping) on the step, outside the kitchen, and we can put their bowls down and they can stand their waiting to be released. The self control, when food is down there on the floor, is so powerful.

Peeep! Peeep! Peeep! thunder, thunder thunder (8 paws in motion)

Day 30 ish: Once they understand their need to be respectful at dinner times, they start to enjoy doing this and then when released, their food is the best and biggest reward they could have. We introduce a dog whistle, we blow on the whistle for three long peeps after mentioning their name, and we stand near their food, so this reinforces the recall and introduced a whistle command which means "Come her as fast as you can" as whistles will carry across the park on a windy day, and will excite them but not trigger the prey instinct as much squeakers and squawkers.

We all Speak Dog...

Training for our two greys, is quite relaxed. Lily is quicker than Dizzy, but has slight BC traits of picking and choosing when to hear a command. On the whole, we have got to know each other, and we all speak Dog albeit with slightly different dialects (Greyhound Dog, Human Dog, Border Collie Dog).

Playbow T-Shirt available on http://www.greytwear.com/

Will You Play With Me......

Many dogs from kennels, will be buoyant and playful, but not actually know how to express that apart from rushing around like a mad thing. I have always felt strongly that dogs learn to behave the way we would like, not by fear and punishment but by play and reward.

However, dogs often come home and initially do not know how to play. It took a while, but we got our dogs to play. I would recommend, having something soft like an old sock, and throw it high in the air, then catching and running with it, the movement often triggers their chase and play. You can let them mouth the sock, but with supervision only as my vet says a grey left alone with a sock will chew the whole thing and can get obstructions.

Rhinestone Grey T available from http://www.greytwear.com/

When your dog it in a playful pose, front paws down and tail in the air, you can go and pat the bum lightly, or give it a gentle nudge and in dog, this means "Will you play with me? Chase me go on!” Get down on the floor with them, even do a play bow yourself, get their interest focused on you, and control that toy, letting them have it, then them letting you take it away. Don’t stand for any aggression or territorial behaviour over a toy, either with you or other members of the pack. Playing can all turn a bit nasty if the dogs have pent up energy and turn on each other, so do distract them from this if you can! If you make sure as well that you don't play close to dinner, either before or after and leave about an hour and half, this is safer for your dog’s metabolism and they won't get bloat. Each day, you may get a slight bit of interest in play, and this will increase each time. A dog that can play on its own, with toys you have provided (and you know are safe to leave with them) is a happier dog and won't miss you so much if you have chores to do in a different room.

Welcome Greyhound Lovers to my Blog about
Gorgeous Greyhounds

We have adopted two gorgeous greyhounds from ex racing backgrounds although neither one was suitable for racing. Dezzie, Desmond who we are calling Dizzy is a confident if a little over exuberant dog and Lily is a very nervous bitch, wary of men and is hand shy. But since meeting her, she has improved by the hour.

This blog is their story, this welcome post will always appear on top (postdated) and you will find the most recent post just beneath it, do come here often. You may have a nervous dog yourself and find my tales inspirational but please, be sensible as what works for our dogs may not work for yours. I am not an expert by any means, and here I just explain my techniques and describe the progress the dogs have made.

Most greyhounds are very laid back and do not have the behaviour of our dogs so don't be put off either! We have specifically chosen a dog with lack of confidence and a dog with overconfidence as we welcomed a challenge of this kind and you may not, so talk to people who know your dog best before making a decision about committing yourself. I was 25 when I got my last dog and 42 when I lost him and that is nearly all of my adult life with one dog, so I am grateful I didn't make a hasty choice.

However, if you do choose a greyhound or greyhound cross, do visit this blog often as you may find that you are not alone if you are experiencing the same challenges as ourselves and you may find our dogs' stories supportive and useful. Of course, I will try to make sure this blog is very photo heavy with gorgeous greyhounds and try to write it from their point of view.

I will also introduce dogs who are looking for a home who have either been rescued by the RGT or by Essex Greyhound Rescue. Occasionally there will be dogs who are not ready to rehome and who are not improving in kennels and these dogs will be looking for a temporary foster home either with or without other pets present. These dogs may have challenging behaviour that needs to be addressed in order that they can compete with all the other dogs in finding a forever home. They could be nervous

All rescue organisations will want to meet you, match you with an appropriate hound and then check your home and all members of the family including other pets.

Comedy Duos separated at birth

Who does the pair on the left remind you of?
Dizzy and Lily?
Well no, the big blue brindle is actually a girl, and her name is Bella. The blue and white hound is Bully.

Both ex racing greyhounds are looking for a permanent home, You can find their details here. I have it on good authority these dogs are very cuddly, especially Bully who likes to jump up for a cuddle!

Even if you can't offer dogs like this a home, giving anything you can will help them have good food and get their vets bills paid. You can find out how to donate on the Castledon Kennels website, or if you prefer I can collect a donation from you for Essex Greyhound Rescue (where my babies come from)

I the meantime, marvel at the likeness between these two hounds and our own two. Uncanny isn't it?

Pics of the hounds in their new collars, coats and PJs.
Very cute, need I say more?

Dizzy Lily
A Snood for a Hound

Pezdiva with her snood for Maggie is the first pic I have seen of my pattern for rescue hounds. I won't tell you where Maggie is, it could be anywhere in the world, as I don't want to advertise the whereabouts of dogs for security reasons.

If you would like a free pattern for your own rescue dog, then email me telling about your hound. If you don't have a rescue hound, tha pattern is for sale at $3/£1.50. Even if you have a rescue dog, donations are most welcome as Julie from Essex greyhound rescue says she is going to make sure that all the dogs in the rescue kennels and the ones fostered at her home will get a special Christmas dinner made from some fresh meat. The remainder of donations is needed for food, collars and leads and the most biggest expense the vets bills as some dogs arrive with broken limbs and all sorts of conditions that need treatment before they can be put up for rehoming.

Doesn't she look cute and snuggly and warm? I will be keeping pics of all the rescue hounds who get one of these, that is if their owners send me a pic. Then I am going to stick up a gallery of them on Flickr.

Knitting Patterns for Charity

Dizzy Lily
A Snood For a Hound

I used to think that clothes for dogs was a silly idea. Until we got greys and I realised just how much they feel the cold (just feel their icy ears and nose on a cold day!). I noticed that the indoor kennel coats just didn't keep Lily warm and she kept burrowing her head under pillows or behind Dizzy. Poor Lily though has a bald neck, so it was time to cover it. I came up with this shaped snood knitting pattern. I didn't adopt greys just so I could knit for them, I promise! I think Dizzy will only need his snood when it is really icy outside as he is a warm boy.
I am selling it for £2.00 GBP and donating 100% to the Essex Greyhound Rescue service (or Lurcher Link if you are a lurcher owner). The Dizzy Lily/Snood Pattern can be downloaded from the sidebar via PayPal which will convert to any currency.

Can anyone give a temporary foster home to Macy?

Talking of Essex Greyhound Rescue, they have just had a dog come into their kennels called Macy who hates kennel life and is not eating due to anxiety. Julie feels that if this hound was given a chance in a foster home, she would be able to put weight on and become more rehomeable because at the moment she is a bit thin. I would so love to give a temporary home myself, but last time we thought of doing that we had decided on one dog and would foster another, and what happened? We ended up adopting both dogs anyway. Now our plans for fostering are over as 2 is the max amount of dogs who will fit into this home.

If you think you can give little Macy a foster home, I think she gets on OK with other dogs, then do contact me and i will put you in touch with Julie. Obviously you would need to be in the UK and being in the Essex area is going to help greatly.

Lily is going Bald

Alopecia is quite common in rescued greyhounds. Sometimes it is because they have been lying on hard surfaces in kennels, sometimes it is due to diet, and other times due to thyroid, stress or hormones.

Lily had a tiny patch of fur missing and bald legs when we got her. The legs have a much better covering of hair now but the patch on her neck has got worse.

The vet's opinion is that she has a mineral deficiency and that she has seasonal hormonal inbalance. The cure, is to try taking PetTabs as a vitamin and mineral deficiency so that is what we are doing.

Dizzy's paw update

Last night was Dizzy's last chance, to see if the ulcer on his pad had healed (it has been there for 4 mths now!) whilst taking the extraordinarily expensive antibiotic Marbocyl. The verdict was to let him have another course of these antibiotics, this is his 5th course (or more) and 3rd or 4th of Marbocyl, I can't bear to look at all the bills in total, it costs £116 for each packet for 2-3weeks.
Our bill last night was £230.

Dizzy relaxing in my knitting boudoir..ahem some rules have been relaxed

Someone somewhere made a silly mistake allowing that to develop in the way that it did and now we are paying the awful cost. However, I decided to make a decision with regards to treatment without taking finance into the equation, just to see what is the best way forward. So, we could have opted for 4 days on 4 days off to see if that would be just enough to control any infection but having skin ulcers myself, that take years to heal, I just wanted to give him the best chance of healing, he deserves it.

The paw has cost us at least £500, if not more and he may eventually have to have another operation to debride it. Apparently, when he was returned from his first owner, who said she 'it's not him, its me, I just can't share my space with him', he had a wound and we were told that it was because she had walked him so much, didn;t have a car and so it was a blister from pads on the hard surfaces. The vet was not sure about this, he thought it was unlikely to have been a blister from walking and more likely to be a wound where a foreign object penetrated, he did find a stone lodged in there during surgery.

Well, we just have to press on, and it doesn;t look anywhere as bad as it was, but it is quite deep and makes him limp.

Poor Dizzy Rascal!