Zaddy

I tried the solar repellers - I've never seen a snake around my property - until last year, when I hadn't realised that the repeller wasn't working. Once fixed, I didn't see another one.

I had a Weimaraner with rear leg weakness, which was due to cervical instability. However, it really became bad when she had a splenic tumour. Once the spleen was removed, her walking improved too. Although vets told me that it wasn't related, I had read of other owners who had experienced the same thing. I went to Matthew as well - he's terrific - and I seem to remember him telling me that he'd treated a Dalmation that went weak in the rear legs due to a splenic tumour. I hope it's not - but better to be aware than not.

Thank you Alyosha - you've got it right. I was only trying to show why I HAD, in the past, felt negatively. I've never bad-mouthed any breed. If I'd wanted to bad-mouth the Greyhound, I'd have gone to the thread where people were writing of breeds they were worried about. The dog attack happened years ago. Obviously, if I'm still interested in the breed then it's because I've seen something in them that I've liked. GAP have done a fantastic job in changing my opinion. I now see them as quiet, placid dogs with a sweet temperament. Having said that, I met the GAP assessor again and have found her to be lovely. The same dog, in a different environment was completely different. She did a few zoomies just to show that she can run - she was lovely. I loved watching the zoomies and the character of the dog really started to shine. It was terrific. So was the foster dog. I was just surprised that a big dog, that you see racing around a track, can be so quiet. I've even recommended them to quite a few people. I still intend to foster one when the time is right - and that time will be when my old boy finally passes over. GAP have recommended that and I agree.

Dee lee, my first experience with a Greyhound was when I was about 15 years old and had my Beagle - she was attacked by a Greyhound as we came out of the water. The owner of the Greyhound was flipped through the air & landed on her back, whilst the dog latched on to Tammy - it was a nasty wound which needed suturing. There were also trainers (and this is years ago) who used to let their Greyhounds run free on the local oval where I'd walk Tammy. On more than one occasion I'd be walking my dog & they'd arrive & yell out to get off the oval as they were about to let their dogs go and they'd rip her to shreds. So, yes, I didn't like Greyhounds at all. I've since seen & met some rather lovely ones. I never liked Arabian horses but I now own/love one. Life is all about learning and I've still got a lot to do.

I think Cesar Millan sticks up for them on his website as well.

Thank you Greyt & Alyosha. I've decided to go ahead and see what happens with the fostering. I love my Weimaraners, and will always have one but need to broaden my horizons. Mind you, my first dog was a Beagle and she was definitely a challenge, but I still got her CDX. So if I can help a nice dog find a forever home, that will be wonderful. I hope to learn first-hand all about them and be singing their praises here very soon. I used to think Arabian horses were lunatics - now I own one and can definitely say that whilst some may be as I first perceived them, mine most definitely is not. There is good and bad in all breeds. My Arab, by many peoples standards, would be considered boring. So guess a boring Arab and Greyhound will make a greyt team?

Sorry, this is probably all coming out wrong. I had my thumb replanted at the beginning of the year and typing isn't particulary comfortable, so I may not have expressed things very well. I was not thinking of fostering as a way of getting personal satisfaction but to help dogs in need find good homes. I was also trying to avoid getting too attached to a dog again and then experience the pain & grief of losing something when it dies. So I turned to the idea of fostering thinking that I could help nice dogs find good homes. I could say goodbye knowing that the dog was still alive & well, and going to a fresh start in life. After having Weimaraners, the Greyhounds that I've seen just seem rather lazy (perhaps that's not the correct word). I've just never seen a dog lie down as much though. I went along to the Royal Adelaide Show too and saw them and was amazed that nearly the whole lot were lying down. When they did stand up, it wasn't long before they flopped back onto the floor again. Hey, maybe that's a good thing. I've also owned a Beagle & Golden Retriever and competed in obedience trials for years (even had an OC)- just never seen dogs that lie down as much though. So maybe these Greyhounds were handpicked because they were so quiet. I appreciate the photos - your Greyhounds look lovely. The dog in question was house-trained, I was just a little annoyed that the owner allowed it to happen. This was after she turned up 2 hours late, so I was somewhat peeved over the whole matter. Still we're all human, mistakes happen and I'll get over it. Please don't take offence - it really doesn't matter a jot what I think - as long as we all love our dogs, that's the main thing, isn't it? I came to this forum in an attempt to learn more about the breed. I obviously don't know much, although I've tried to learn from reading about them. The best place to learn is on a forum. This was not designed as an attack on the breed - just want to know more about them. As usual, with emails, things don't always come out as intended and I'm trying to shortcut what I'm writing as my thumb doesn't work well. On that note, I shall now leave as my thumb is fed up with being stretched over the space bar and I'm sick of having to retype nearly every word. So frustration also probably shines through because of my thumb too.

Thanks guys. I've had Weimaraners for about 30 years and just lost my old girl at 14 years & 11 months. Still have her brother and just tired of having to say that last final goodbye. Thought I'd give fostering a go. The final straw was when the assessor walked into the house with her Greyhound and the dog peed on the carpet in our lounge room. That really impressed me - NOT.

Yes, realise that every dog is an individual. The person I spoke to was representing GAP & was doing a yard check, so assumed she was speaking with some degree of experience. Alyosha, your dogs look lovely.

This was an adopted one, and had been for a few years. Really it was one of the most boring dogs I've ever met. It would get up, walk around & flop down. I swear she was fed jelly, she just flopped and lay down everywhere. There was such much that I was told that you can't do with them that I seriously wondered what I COULD actually do with them, other than wrap it in cotton wool. Can't let them run for too long or they'll cramp, can't walk for too long as they're not meant for distance, can't crate train them as they don't like it. I'm having second thoughts on fostering them now.

Hi, I'm thinking of fostering a Greyhound, but ... trying not to offend as maybe I just met the wrong one ... they seem awfully boring. All the dog that I met did was to either piddle, poop or lie down. What are they really like?

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I just thought I'd let you know that I have a Weimaraner who had a splenectomy back in July. I was so lucky as it weighed approx 2 kgs and was on the verge of rupturing. Tessie made a rapid recovery and the best thing was that it was benign. She turned 13 years old back in October. I hope that your news will be as good as mine was.