Peachie

Good Bummer and, Good! If she is a nervous car traveller, i would put her in a crate, make it comfy for her, add some of her bedding and or toys and introduce her to it before you put it in the car. Get her well used to it inside, let her know it is her own space. Being a small dog you may get away with a soft crate. Also handy if it turns out she is nervous of thunder storms. My two dogs dive into the back seat, spread out and sleep for the duration of any trip. But that's greyhounds. You could also try a harness in the back seat. I dont like them personally, i get too distracted if they are moving around, and worrying they will get tangled. Also with two, as i have, there is the extra worry for me that they will get tangled up together. Fortunately mine behave well in the car.

You have had some good advice here. All the things i would have said. I hadnt heard the nursery rhyme one, i will try that with my girl greyhound who always gets nervy at the vet. We just changed vets too as we moved, and when we went in last week for our annual shots, i thought things may be ok but she was still stressed -but she is getting better. I try and ingnore the behaviour, and correct her when she pulls at her lead to bolt. She is well behaved tho, and will let the vet examine her (she kinda freezes as greys tend to do). Regarding her collar and lead, you must get her used to it. It is against the law to walk your dog off lead except for designated off leash areas, and you still have to get her there. If you carry her to and from the park from the car, you are opening up another whole can of worms. Practice with her in your yard with her collar and lead, with treats and high praise when she is exhibiting desired behaviour. Gently correct undesirable behaviour (bucking, pulling, whining etc). Slow and steady. just a minute at a time initially, and gradually increase it. If you are leaving her collarless because she doesnt like it, that should stop as well. Your dog should have a tagged collar on at all times, as careful as we are, they do sometimes escape. If she doesnt like the collar you have, try and find one that is as light weight as possible, and soft. Just for her to wear around your home. If it isnt strong enough for walking, then get another one for those occasions where you leave the house. Pups are fast learners, she will pick it up. I would also not be allowing her to sit on your lap in the car. It will just cause her to think she is higher up in your 'pack' than she should be. same with carrying her around. And certainly dont pick her up when another dog approaches. Always be calm and assertive, and strive for her to be calm and submissive. I am glad you asked advice on here, there is a wealth of knowledge here, and with the right training, you will have a very well rounded dog. Good luck

I think over 3 years and two greys, we have lost around 5 toenails from 'zoomies'. All have healed fine. The first time was pulled right out at the quick so we went to the vet and got antibiotics etc. since then we have just bathed regularly and applied antiseptic and kept a close eye on them, and watched for infection smells. All have been fine. They do bleed a lot tho dont they. One time, i didnt even know my boy had done it, no yelp or anything, just pools of blood on the kitchen floor when he was waiting for anything i could spare from preparing dinner.... obviously dinner was late that day, and Jefferson was pee'd off as he didnt get any titbits, rather he had to stand with one foot in a bowl of salted water for 5 mins... and he is a boy who HATES getting his feet wet. I'm glad your girl is ok, it is more stressfull for us i think than them sometimes.

Thanks guys. I will probably go with Asquith, as they are a stones throw away, but i will definately look into the greyhound specialists in other areas. I dont mind driving if it is important to see somebody very experienced with them. Fortunately our old vet worked with greys out in western sydney for many years. He saved my boys leg a few months ago, so you can see how sad i am to be leaving them. Thanks again.

Thanks Dogmad. I will check them all out. I am sure they wont have a problem with me 'interviewing' them. Cheers!!

We have just moved to "the country" as my partner says.... Really, we are in Asquith, 5 mins from Hornsby, but it is indeed very 'bushy'. Just wondering if anybody has any good recommendations for our new vet. The people i have met at the dog park have mentioned that Asquith Vet is a good one. I dont know any others around, actually i had never even been to Asquith before coming to look at this house for a rental. The dog park across the road sold it for me, fortunately, the house is gorgeous as well.... The vet must be experienced with greyhounds, they have specific needs as far as general anaesthetics go, heaven forbid one should be required. I am really sad to say goodbye to VetFriends in Chatswood, they looked after our guys beautifully and always got us in immediately for emergencies. I havent enough good things to say about them. I only hope i can find another one as good. I want to find the best around before something happens and it becomes an emergency and i have to use whoever i can find in the yellow pages. Thanks in advance.

I think you will probably get some referrals from here, but you are doing the right thing. Ring around all the vets in your area, ask what would be a good time to pop in for 5 mins chat with the vet as you are choosing one for your dog and want to know who will be attending to him should something happen (heaven forbid). "Interview" them, and see which one you like best. Of course, experience is a factor, but generally, i wouldnt let anybody touch my dogs if i didnt get a good vibe from them. Take your dog with you as well, and watch the interaction.

"Jasper has a really hard time getting down to his bowl because of his hip dysplasia its really hard watching him eat because you can see how uncomfortable he is." That would decide it for me. I would raise it up to a comfortable height for him. If it is dry food and he scoffs it now it is comfortable to eat, just fill the bowl up with water over the kibble - he has to drink to eat the food, which will slow him down. I've always fed our greys on chairs inside, and they have their breakfast outside with their bowls on a step, and they stand on the ground - the step isnt as high as the chair, but i have been planning to get my partner to make up some nice wooden raised feeders for the houndies.

Assuming you are talking about the Keeshond in your pic, first, as suggested i would have gone right back to the groomers and checked what they used. Also that they rinse thouroughly between baths (tho they will say of course they do), tell them the problem. Another thought i had is perhaps they went too hard with the slicker - that can scratch up the skin. Just yesterday i was brushing out a very knotty pair of cavalier ears, at the ends, and the slicker kept hitting my inside forearm - i have a few scratches and a rash from that. (dogs ears are fine, they were too thick for the slicker to get to the skin. IF it was me (the groomer) i would offer to instantly rewash her in your choice of shampoo. Obviously the aloveen works best for you - take yours along in case they dont use it. The rashes you mentioned in your last post could be either an allergy to the shampoo, or as mentioned above, too heavy handed with the slicker. I know this post is a couple of days old, how is she now? Did the groomers wash her again in aloveen for you?

My dryer is a liberty, which has served me well for 7 years, and it was 2 yrs old when i got it with my business. I have retired it now, not that there was anything wrong with it, for one i got on ebay with a narrower nozzle, which works faster for me. Cost around $250. There are others on ebay atm, i just looked. Am about to go into a heated oldfield, when i get my new business started in a few weeks. Not sure how it will go but have heard good things, and some bad. Fingers crossed mine isnt a dud.

If you smooth the hair back above her tail backwards, so you can see the skin, look out for any tiny black dots - that would be flea dirt. Also turn her over and look at her tummy and under the base of their tail - that's where the fleas like to hang out. If she doesnt have fleas, and loves rolling in the grass, it may be an allergy. Check the spots she loves to roll and see if you have any wandering dew - some dogs can be really allergic to it. You can pretty much wash her whenever she needs it. If you are doing it frequently - as in, more than monthly, keep a close eye on her skin, if it gets dry or irritated then decrease the frequency. Just use a very gentle DOG shampoo - perhaps aloveen or similar, as the oatmeal and other ingredients are soothing.

My blue fawn greyhound (cream colour - lighter than the average lab) girl loves to roll in the grass on mowing day - she will do it before, and zoom around during mowing (yes, we are careful about her getting too close and being out of the way of the back), then she adores a good roll after it is cut. Of course, that is when she gets green. I usually dont worry as we dont show, and she loves it - but from memory it tends to just wear off. I would just wash him in ordinary dog shampoo and see if it works - get some full strength on your hand and lather it in to the green bits. If that doesnt work well, go for the whitening shampoos. If you are anywhere in the northern beaches - up to forest area, pm me - i might be able to help - and as an assistant dog he can have a freebie.

Poodle, dont know if it was me he loved or the bath.... i think both. I just thought it was hilarious as he was not hydrobathed regularly, and i had only been there with my trailer twice before, and more than 3 years before. He is a funny character - definately loved his life to the full. Jules, i have several regulars like that - mostly labs - they just dive in and wait for their tub. MM - i would have a slicker brush handy and just run it through his ears daily to ensure no knots start up. After eating and drinking of course, but you seem to have that nailed with the bobble. Any other long bits, feathering on legs and his tail, just keep up with the brushing with a slicker and you should be fine. It's way more than some of my clients do... I guess their presumption is that since they pay me once a month or whatever, they dont need to brush them in between... ah well. Good on you for taking the little fella on.

Turned up to wash a newfy today, beautiful big black boy called Sampson. He is about 4 yrs old and they rarely wash him as they dont feel it is good for him. Meaning, he hasnt had very many hydrobaths. I washed him a couple of times when he was about 11 - 12 months old, and he was very lively, tho a pretty well behaved boy. Anyway, i pulled up, opened the back of the trailer, and in front of the gate to my hydrobath was a big storage container holding my blow dryer, i dont have it mounted to the trailer as on rainy days i can move my 'drying station' into a garage (nothing worse than trying to blow dry a dog in the rain..... kinda doesnt work). So Sampson comes charging down to the trailer, remember i havent seen him for over 3 years, and dives headlong into the bath - over the back step of the trailer and large storage container and just sat there. I wasnt even ready for him. He wasnt moving until he had had his bath. I hadnt even said hello to him let alone 'come on boy, into the tub'. It was hilarious. He stood quietly for me for his tub, which he thoroughly enjoyed, and then stood on the back step of the trailer for his blow dry without even a murmer. Of course, when i got his 'good dog biscuit' out of the container, all bets were off and i got newfy cuddles aplenty - complete with front paws around my shoulders and slobbery kisses to boot. I have to say it was a lovely way to end the working week - covered in newfy slobbery biscuit crumbs and a big smile on my face. Gotta love those big hairy beasts!!!

Shame you arent in sydney, i have just bought a new one and kept the old liberty as a backup which i would have happily loaned you. Perhaps try some of the mobile dog groomers in your area, there may be one who may hire or loan you one on their day off or something. If not, check out ebay - my new one was under $250. Not a bad price and has so far proved to be a really good dryer.