Brandiandwe

Greyhounds often come to toys late in life. Hermon is still getting the hang of them.

I guess right now, my dogs got me through a severe depression from which I am still emerging, and probably saved my marriage because they slowed the slide and helped pull me out. Having said that, I accuse myself of some hyperbole. It will feel unbearable, but I count every day with them as a blessing and a joy. I wouldn't be without them. But I do tend to plan ahead......

I have only younger/ middle-aged dogs, but I have thought about this. I have decided upon cremation. That it is better to send them one day early than one day late. And that my life will be unbearable without them. This next bit might be upsetting, so I've whited it out. A site I found earlier today might be of interest: Whisper in the Heart. It is for a woman who makes pet cremation and memorial jewellery and urns. The pendants can have some fur or ashes placed in them and sealed so that you can carry your pet with you. Some may find it macabre, but it is something I think I will be doing when the time comes.

As for muzzles, it is possible to wedge treats through them. It's the only way I've found of redirecting Paige's prey drive. She would fixate, whine, shake, give this completely unearthly noise which made my hair stand up, then explode on the end of the leash barking and leaping. All this while the other dog was the other end of the oval. I discovered that when she fixated and whined, her mouth was open just a little and, if I was quick, jerky could be firmly wedged through the muzzle and between her teeth. This prevented her from escalating if I was quick enough and if it was chewy enough, she had something to do while watching the dog. Now, she tends to go to prancing, dancing and capering on the end of the leash, with a quick eye flick at me and occasionally a quick bark to hurry me up with the treats. It's more of a game but I still would never trust her off leash, or Brandi either. So I'm very sympathetic with everyone here. I work damn hard to keep my dogs away from others and to socialise them where possible. We manage with some dogs, but there's one locally that all if mine dislike because of the rushing, but the owner is oblivious. Then I'm in the position of having to sort mine out because of them. Mind you, when people shout out 'Don't worry! He's friendly!' the response 'But mine aren't!' tends to focus their attention, especially when the girls get going. And they settle as soon as the rusher is about ten feet away.

(Waves at fellow sufferer). Brandi is now also protective of me thanks to the stupidity of others. So I have two reactive greys and one who also carries on between me and the person screaming abuse at me for having dogs who react poorly to being rushed by others. Thankfully Hermon is bombproof

Did I meet you and Brandi at Pet Expo at Rosehill? If so, I'll agree, Brandi is the lovliest girl... T. No. I was at Pet Expo but Boo wasn't. But it's very easy to fall in love with greyhounds.

Brandi, my first dog ever by two weeks. Paige followed soon afterwards and I can't imagine my life without them. Brandi was never good enough to race, but has more love in her body than she knows what to do with. She sits beautifully, works as a therapy dog and keeps me warm at night!

American Diggers? The only thing my gang find seems to be the poop not plucked up by others.

We have three. I couldn't manage another one with Paige's prey drive. But we've had another one who was just like Hermon - a big boofy boy- and it was just a matter of putting down another food bowl, removing another greyhound from the bed/ couch/ underfoot generally. So I could manage four if they fit in with the existing pack and were the right dog. Until they come along, I'm happy with three.

I'm so sorry, but glad for the gentle and soft passing.

Sorry, didn't see that you were having problems till now...... Glad you found it. Let me know if you buy off there - I'm always looking for different collars and trying new ones out.

If you go onto a forum called Greytalk and look under pet merchandise there are a lot if collar manufacturers there who do beautiful work. Many do collars lined with velvet, satin or silk.

Thinking of you today.

Thinking of you today.

I use the harness from 2houndsdesign.com for Hermon and will get the same ones for the girls this year.

I've used a front fastening harness on my high prey girl who used to take off after everything...... It's also been good for her pulling towards potential prey or hiding places. Basically, when she pulls, she gets swung around to face me, so she learned pretty quick that to continue moving forward, she needed to not pull. Unfortunately, she isn't food motivated, but treats fed regularly or held in a hand in front of the nose has worked with my garbage guts.

I use Acacia Lodge. Deb is an ex-greyhound owner. The dogs have their own kennels and are let out into runs three times a day. The runs are from fairly small to a reasonably sized paddock, and the dogs are supervised at all times when outside. I've always been happy with how they've come back and Paige actually eats when there, which is an achievement because she generally only ever eats for me.

Today I'm still feeling a bit sick. This morning we had quite a nice walk, with several new greyhound fanciers coming out of the woodwork, but we were also rushed by a SWF off leash. The elderly owner couldn't get it back, and even though I crossed the road in plenty of time (think 50 metres)before my greys had a chance to react, it nonetheless crossed the road at us. And was missed by a car by less than a foot. The owner screamed, I swore and the car driver was very shaken up. And even after that, she couldn't catch it, and it just missed another three cars wile trying to get to mine. A neighbour ended up putting himself between me and it and grabbed it (a braver man than I). The owner was very upset, as I suspect this dog is her main companion. And this is what makes me furious and sick. I don't understand why it is that, if you love your dog, you don't keep it safe, not only by not allowing it to approach three greyhounds, two of whom are not small dog safe, but also by not leashing it near cars! This is the second fluffy I've seen nearly be killed because it was off-leash and crossing the road to get to my dogs. While they are not my style of dog at all, I don't want to see any dog killed in front of me, and certainly not in an easily preventable incident.

Had a great time. Met some amazing dogs, including the Anatolian Shepherds, the Leonbergers and the Springers. My absolute favourite was the Rottie girl. I might have one on my breed wish list someday. The joint joy of the day were the bull terriers who took DH back to his childhood and were complete loves. Very nice. Find of the day was the Azawakh Hound. Lovely to look at.

It's a start..... And those involved who want to do the right thing and already are doing the right thing, will support these moves.

One of the things that sold us on greyhounds was that they were 'low-sheddders'. Uh huh. (Examines the fur tumbleweeds blowing across the floor and contemplates the accessorising of my entire wardrobe). In future I will go for dogs of only one colour - the mainly white, all black and the red brindle combo make wardrobe choices impossible. I read somewhere once that if you don't consider dog hair a condiment, don't get a dog, and I really think that's a fair enough statement.

Except two greyhounds! :laugh:

Sending healing vibes and white light to Astro.

I've teared up. But I'm a little bit tired as well....

My two girls are both intelligent but in different ways. I have watched Paige work out how to tilt the lid of a clam pool so that water caught in it runs towards her so she can drink it. She is quick to solve problems but I suspect t that most of that is directed towards taking over the world. Brandi is biddable and trainable, as well as food motivated. She can open doors, steal food, solve puzzle toys, works to please and never forgets what she's been taught. Completely different.