Fife Greys Forum
This is the place to chat about your rescued Greyhound.
This is from last nights midnight walk. It was a bit on the cool side, but we kept a good pace and they stayed warm.
Majestic creatures of the night....
I am laughing at the de-squeaked squeaky toy incident - made that mistake myself! The thing is, he enjoys it so much I keep getting them, and he keeps wrecking them!
My hound was also shall we say 'interested' in other breeds when I first got him. I suppose if they have never seen other breeds before it's akin to us seeing an alien and being expected to act normally! It just took time for him to get used to them and understand what they were. He's not perfect but definitely a lot less interested than he was.
Glad to hear it is all going so well and they're part of the family already. 
Hello again!
They are definitely part of the family. To the point were they are both getting easier to control, but also a bit more unruly at the same time. Strange combination...
These gentle giants couldn't possibly have a mean or aggressive streak in them.....
I am under no illusion and know that these dogs are trained hunters. However. The sudden outburst of aggression caught us both by of guard. Generally the walks in the park has never been a problem. Just a bit of unruliness when we meet other dogs. All the smaller dogs we meet know to keep a respectful distance from these two.
Now tell me: Is it just me that get's annoyed with all the people walking around with their dogs running free off the leach???? I am sorry, but as far as I am concerned, it way cross the border of stupidity.
During the midday walk yesterday we came met a teenage/early twenties boy with his small female Dalmatian and it was small. I initially thought it was a puppy, but it was not.
Dalmatians are not exactly known for their high level of intelligence, nor are teeagers....
This Dalmation was off the leach, running around freely. It came over towards us. We stopped and kept Booker and Tula close to us. They seemed to accept this and stood a foot with heads down, ears somewhere between back and forward. They were calm. The Dalmatian came right over to Tula and they started to sniff each other. This lasted for a few seconds, about 10 I think.
Suddenly Tula snapped at the other dog. Very quickly. It was more of a warning I think than anything else. Tula was immediately pulled back, but this triggered Booker as well. During this, the Dalmatian had ended up under him and he just leaned down, grabbed her by the neck and started to shake. The Dalmatian was totally defenceless. Nevertheless, despite being on its back and "screaming" loudly, Booker kept shaking her. Greg reached down and pulled him away by grabbing him by the back legs. I then took both dogs and walked away while Greg checked on the other dog.
Apart from being shaken up a bit, no harm was done. Booker had grabbed the collar and it had a whole from one of his teeth through it.
A scary but valuable experience. They must have sensed how we felt about the incident as they were like lambs for the rest of the walk. I can think of a couple things we could have done differently.
Back to the good things.... 
The visit to the vet that same afternoon went well. There was a 10 year old Greyhound there. They just ignored him completely...
A long heard cross between a Spaniel and a collie that kept whining was much more interesting. And of course Tula started to whine too as she tends to do when there is another dog close by and she is not allowed to go to it.
As we were sitting there, this huge big fat man looking like a butch construction worker came out from the office with tiny while poodle on his arm.... 
It was completely still so posed no problem. For some reason they where easier to manage than I had expected.
They got their vaccinations and all is well.
We also got new collars for them and I think they look great. 
Tula with new collar
Booker with new collar
They look really good at night with the lights shining on them too.
During the walks today they also was easier to control with all the other dogs out playing as well. They are slowly learning. We try to keep strict discipline but I must admit it is not always easy. We never thought it would be, so I believe we are well motivated and prepared.
However. Although we have both had dogs before and we have done a fair bit of reading about rescue Greyhounds and Greyhounds in general, we never had Greyhounds before. There is no substitute for actual practice so please feel free to share any of your experiences with us.
I also ordered new coats for them today. I thought the "Faux Leather Greyhound Flying Jacket" would be appropriate...
So far during the cold wet weather, we have given them a good dry off/rub with a towel after the walk. They really love that. We do Booker first as he is the most restless. Tula just slumps down on the floor and wait for her turn. I might have to start address her as "Her Royal Highness"...... Princess Tula....
Since the rainy cold weather lasted for over a week, they now expect the deluxe spa treatment every time we come in from a walk.
Earlier this evening I decided to exercise my right as "pack leader" to lay down in their bed. It is comfortable after all....
The idea was that they would lay down on it as well and we would all have a happy cuddly snooze. The following onslaught of the never ending death by licking made it impossible.....
Finally I am ready to stop before we go out for our final walk. One final thought first. Greyhounds are a pure breed. Grand poodles are being crossbred with Labradors, Golden retrievers etc. with very successful results. Guess where I am going with this....
We could call it a Greypoodledoodle. Or a Doodlegrey. How about Poodlehound or Greydoodlehound.....
The list is endless....
With this disturbing though, I wish you all a good nights sleep. No nightmares please...
I think Booker is developing a taste for alcohol...
Last night he ceased the moment to slurp up some white wine from a glass sitting on the table. Today he was licking the top of the empty bottle sitting on the floor...
Must be careful so he does not turn in to an alcoholic... LOL
Todays walk was good. We came across the same Dalmatian cross breed from the other day. It kept far away and we were a bit more assertive and kept them turned away. It worked.
As I said before, there is slow improvements every day.
For some reason they have never tried to get in to the couch. Until today that is when Tula in her usual way was sneaking one leg at the time and curling up with her head resting on my stomach. There she went to sleep while getting her ear stroked.
Don't think I can make this Sunday's walk as I am on duty. I will either be away or on call. If I am here on call, I have 1:45 hours to get to Glasgow airport if called. For that reason I don't expect to be there although I would love to. Regardless of the weather lol...
There is however a Greyhound walk in Strathclyde park as well this Sunday. That is close enough for me to make the time. If I am home on call we will probably do that one.
On the afternoon walk today we got overtaken by a guy on a bike with a Labrador running after him. That got Booker and Tula exited as well. They were really pulling on the leash. Pretty sure they wanted to run as well. I stopped them and we stopped completely and waited until they were out of sight. Tula sat down (sort of) and they both started howling like wolfs.
Incidentally, Tula does this howling every time Greg's mobile rings. We manage to answer a couple of calls as a result already. Should you wish to try this at home; It is the "Sony Ericsson tune".
Booker tried to have another lick of my wine glass. Red this time...
Anyone ever tried to type while your dog licks your hand and lay his/her head on your keyboard.
Finally for your nightmares, a couple of name suggestions for the cross breed's:
Greyhoodle or Greydoodle, how about Groodlehound.... Thats it. I am done with the subject now. Promise. lol 
HI STEVE!
You are absolutely right. Since then, I have been using the muzzle when walking them alone, but we have left them off when we are both walking them. I find that thy get a lot more exited when I put it on. Is this normal? Make me wonder if they are getting associations with their racing training. I am just guessing here. They also spend a fair bit of effort trying to get them off during the walk, which I correct as soon as I see it.
On the early morning walk today, I saw 2 people with 3 smallish dogs off the leash in the distance. Looked a bit like small Pitbulls, but not sure. Booker and Tula saw them as well. I thought about carrying on past them and maybe let them have a sniff as they were both muzzled, but decided that they need a bit more obedience training first so I turned around and walked walked back instead. I also want both of us to be there when starting to socialise.
We are walking them 4 times a day, usually around 45 minutes each time. Sometimes more sometimes a little less. We both agree that each walk should be at least 30 minutes as a minimum. We try to keep a good pace with the occasional "pit stop"...
I think they would like us to carry them up the stairs after the walks. Not happening!!!!
WHen we feed them after the morning and evening walk, Tula just slumps down on the floor and waits while Booker is a little moore exited and stands up and follows me around the kitchen. He is much calmer now though and does not try to get up on the counter top anymore if I walk away from the food bowls. I make a point of being relaxed and take my time as I prepare the food for them and completely ignoring them as I do so. Booker still needs the occasional correction. That is until this morning. For the first time ever, he laid down on the floor too while I was making my preparations.
It is strange isn't it? How a little thing like that can make us soooo exited? Lookin forward to tonights feeding time... 
When I do present them with the food, he is up and ready to eat right away. Tula can barely be bothered to stand up. I think she wants me to give her the food where she is so she can eat while laying down. Just like the old Romans used to do.... Thats another thing thats not gonna happen!!! 
You are absolutely right. Since then, I have been using the muzzle when walking them alone, but we have left them off when we are both walking them. I find that thy get a lot more exited when I put it on. Is this normal? Make me wonder if they are getting associations with their racing training. I am just guessing here. They also spend a fair bit of effort trying to get them off during the walk, which I correct as soon as I see it.
I've always found that dogs tend to try to avoid having their muzzles put on! They then spend half their walk trying to rub the muzzle off on the ground or rubbing up against your leg to try to get it off
That's quite some exercise routine you've got for those dogs - no wonder they're so tired
Thats exactly what they do. lol. You don't think I walk them too much do you? They have to go out at least 4 times a day in order to cater for physiological needs... Might as well walk a bit too.
They seem to cope ok as far as I can tell. Booker in particular has the most energy of the two. If Tula shows signs of wanting to slow down, which she has, we slow down and walk home at a more leisurely tempo.
By the way, I am getting as tired as they are. I sleep great at night these days. That is until I get a wet tongue in my face, but then I get back to sleeping well again. I have to say, we are really enjoying this exercise as well. Think I've dropped 1-2 kg's...
During the evening walk today they saw a fox for the first time since they came to us. We saw it before them and were prepared for a wild reaction that never happened....
They did see it, but maybe it was too far away. It was completely unaffected by us and just carried on in the sam direction and soon disappeared.
Maybe they just were not that interested in the first place.... We were certainly surprised.
At the moment they are passed out, Booker on the floor in the living room with us and Tula in the bed, (hopefully her's) The last 2 days, they have not been in our bed. We are impressed by how quickly they pick up on things. (some anyway)
The gas leaks continuos. (The repairman could not fix it) However. It is a good indication that maybe it is time for a walk.... lol
Still the odd accident inside, but a lot lot better than expected. Tula still tells on Booker when he does something wrong like having a pee inside. It is just one or two short barks.
The day before yesterday she barked when Booker jumped up in our bed. When we walked in to the bedroom Booker was innocently jumping off our bed and walk over and join Tula in their bed.
Typical brother and sister...
If all goes well, we are planning on attending the walk on Sunday, subject to me not being at work that day.
We are very much looking forward to it.
Hello all!
This has been a great day. Greg and I enjoyed the walk and meeting those of you that were there. And so did Booker and Tula. It was nice to see how much they were attached to some of you. I think they were especially happy to see their sister again. At least it looked that way.
I have never had booker pull so hard on the lead. Walking in the back of the pack was clearly not an option... Once we got to the front he relaxed a little more.
After the walk we went to the kennels and let them have a run. That was great. Booker got about 10 yards and then had to go. Right on the mud near the fence where they run. Tula was about the same, except she chose her space better.
With a by now well trained hand and lightening speed, we pulled out our Lavender & Sandalwood scented M&S poop-bags.....
Of course as I was cleaning up Booker came flying back, missed me and the poop with about an inch and splattered mud all over me. They only wanted to do one run. Lazy buggers. But I started to run (If you can all it that) down the hill thinking I could motivate them to run. It never worked. They just trotted along leisurely at the same speed I was doing. 
Booker stayed behind sniffing around at the bottom wile I wen back up. There I turned around and called him. He cam flying up directly at me at full speed. Miscalculated the stopping distance, (severely) knocked me over, and went well past me. Deep skid marks in the grass...
We went inside and stayed for a while. They were tired and stretched out on the floor. Here is a pic of the two them resting at the kennels. Tula on her back with Booker resting his head on Tula's stomach.
When we got home we tok them for a short walk. AFter feeding they crashed on the bed. Got a couple of pics. My favourite is the first one. Tula looks like she is about to pass to pass out from tiredness. She almost looks like she is drunk....
We have not seen them much tonight at all. They came in and laid in the living room for a while. But that was it. We are just in from last walk. It was a bit shorter and slower this time. Just long enough for them to do their things + a short walk leisurely walk. As mentioned before, I think they wanted to be lifted up the stairs. They had their dental sticks and are now crashed out. So will we be shortly. Think we are as tired as they are.
Sorry kids...
We will definitively come back for more walks. We both enjoyed it and so did the dogs. At some point they had been at different parts of the "heard" for a while and they called for each other. Booker pulled hard on the lead to get to her. I said it before, it is great to see how attached these two are to one another.
Have a good night.
Thanks for that Joan.
It's funny how the limp suddenly disappeared when a little puddle walked near by...
We have checked the leg thoroughly and not found anything. I will ask the vet tomorrow when we go there for microchipping.
They are sleeping at the moment. How long does it take to recover from a long day with lots of walking and a bit of running?
And on top of that, Booker pee'd on their new bed today. Did not expect that one. Changing the bed sheets (as one does) was almost impossible as they both insisted on laying on it. That is clearly their bed.
Just to clarify, he pee'd on the corner of the bed, but got a fair bit on the duvet as well as it was hanging down over the corner.
Ah, the joy...
Booker and Tula are aloud in to two beds in the house. Theirs, and the one in the room we use as an office. Thats the bed we first gave them before we got them their own.
They are not allowed in our bed, but as leaders we can lay in theirs. Cuddling with them in their bed is impossible as death by licking, as mentioned before, would occur. So I decided to lay down in the office and called them in.
Booker came in first and made himself comfortable by using most of the duvet (on top) and as close to me as he could get. Not much room between me and the wall. After a bit of pushing and pulling I managed to create some more room. He laid with his back in to me and facing away. The gas leaks are still not fixed.....
Tula came in as well. She likes to lay next you with her head on your shoulder, licking your ear. We all relaxed like this for a bit.
Speaking of ear licking. I have frequently seen Booker take great care in licking Tula's ear thoroughly and in a very tender manner.
I wonder if I can get them up for a stroll....
Tula is sick! 
She is still limping. This morning it was worse than yesterday and she would not go down the stairs. We took Booker for a quick walk first and then I carried her down the stairs. HEAVY... 
Once down she limped to the park (Only across the street) She was much better when walking on the grass, but started to limp more again as soon as we hit the pavement. We did not walk her as normal, but just let her wonder around on the grass until she was ready to go back in. She was happy to go up the stairs by herself.
We called the vet and asked to have our 4pm appointment moved forward, the idea being to go there before we had to go out again in the afternoon.
At the vet they both got microchipped. Booker howled and cried like crazy during the 2 seconds it took. Tula hardly made a sound. Only a little noise. I wonder who is the bravest..... 
The vet then checked Tula's leg and paws thoroughly. She was crying a little as she seemed to anticipate the pain. Her leg seemed fine. The vet found a small slightly darker spot under her paw arising the suspicion of a splinter or a tiny peace of glass causing an infection.
As she had already had food this morning the vet did not want give her any kind of anaesthetics in order to possibly remove a foreign item. We got antibiotics and painkillers and a new appointment for tomorrow morning. on a fasting stomach.
When we came home Booker pee'd on our neighbours pram blocking the hallway... Ooooops... 
He clearly needed to go out. She did not want to. I took him for a walk while Greg then had the peace and quiet to give Tula her medicines. He then laid out the housetraining pads that we got but had never used. Tula decided that they were nice and soft, so she just laid down on top of them... 
She eventually got the idea and when we were not looking, she used them and then went to sleep.
We have just been out for our evening walk. I think Tula is feeling better from the medication. She did not want me to carry her down the stairs. Once downstairs, she limped away almost faster than I could walk pulling the lead. Once on the grass.... Guess she was desperate... 
Tula and I just wondered around on the grass while Greg took Booker for a proper walk. Tula took about 20 minutes before she was ready to go back inside. We stayed on the grass the whole time. When inside I gave her another painkiller with her food so she could eat in peace before Booker came in. That being said, feeding has never been a problem. They eat an drink out of each others bowl at the same time regularly. Competition between these two is almost none existent although I have seen it surface in a fairly light format a few times. Usually around pigs-ears time... 
Booker knows she is not well and is constantly checking on her and licking her.
At the moment they are both snoozing on the bed in the office. Tula does not act or look like she is in pain.
I will report on the result after the vet in the morning. 
Hi Greg & Nicolai,
We are sorry to hear that Tula is under the weather.
Tula is in the best possible place with the care and love that you two have given both Booker and Tula.
We hope Tula will get to the bottom of her limp problem after her visit to the doggy doctor 
tomorrow and it is not to serious and that she returns to full fitness quickly.
We have all our fingers and paws crossed in this kennel.
Will watch this space for good news!!
George, Morag, Billy & Lassie
Hello again.
We don't think it is too serious yet, but could be, and very painful if not fixed. That is assuming an infection from a foreign object in her paw.
We are getting ready to go out again. I wonder if I'll have to carry her...
Here is a pic of both of them crashed out on the floor and 3 of Tula on the couch feeling sorry for herself. She is playing the sympathy card for all it is worth...
And finally:
We bought a hatchback for proper transportation... 
Tula has been left at vet for the day.
As said before, she was much better today, making it possible for the vet to have a good poke around with a sharp needle.
She laid for the most part still on the floor while the vet worked on her paw. She did find a tiny little peace of something that she removed. She said that at this point that was all she could do and that I had 2 options:
Take her home to see if she got better
Leave her there for them to have a proper look under anaesthetics to make absolutely sure they got everything.
We opted for the latter as waiting to see (hope) is not an option when you can be sure the problem is fixed properly.
On the positive side, we know for sure it was a splint or something, maybe glass from a footpath, and not anything more serious. She will be back home tonight.
Booker is on the floor resting. probably wondering where his sister is. I fed him, a bit later than normal today and the first thing he did after eating was to pee inside. Not even on the mats that we had laid out...
For now all is well and a claim has been registered with the insurance company...
The vet just phoned. He said that Tula was in the operating room and that they had removed a small stone from deep inside her paw. X-rays looked fine.
He suggested to do her teeth as she was already under the anaesthetics. He anticipated having to remove some of them. We gave the go ahead as it seems like a good idea. She already had some removed a few months ago as well. 
Booker is wandering around the house regularly looking for his sister. Poor thing. I am taking him for an extra walk.
Tula is back and feeling very sorry for herself and she has very good reason to.
The dental check turned in to 6 teeth removed. 3 on each side. She had 5 min on the grass and then back inside. At the moment she is in her bed. Her ears were a bit cold, so we covered her up and turned the on heat in the bedroom. She does not want any food or water yet and she is still bleeding from her gums.
Booker is in there guarding her at the moment and we are of course regularly checking on her well being. It is shuttle traffic between the living room and the bedroom...
I would be interested in hearing about other peoples experience with removing teeth.
She had a big surgery today with teeth and paw taken care of. I am now wondering if I should have her subjected to another surgery next month (neutering) or if I should wait another 8 months as it has to be half way between heat. Any thoughts?
We will see how well she recovers and of course consult the vet about this issue.
I have to say, picking her up at vets in her poorly condition was not a nice experience. We are both distraught with her condition and all the blood still dripping from her mouth. We put puppy pads under hear head to collect all the blood and we covered her in her favorite old robe with our scents on it
No one ever wants to see blood on their children. And for us, that is what they are!!!!!!!!!
I think we have been pretty good at not humanise them and treat them like the dogs they are. However. That has not stopped us from already developing a deep love for these two precious animals. It obviously becomes more difficult when they are in distress...
We just had a pizza delivered even that has not interested booker at the moment. He is concerned and protective of his sister.
A bit of wine is easing the stress.....
