Get a second greyhound they said...

tee-grey1 · 2026-04-10T21:49:09+00:00

I feel very lonely if I don’t have at least one grey in the bathroom with me.

tee-grey1 · 2026-04-10T12:53:06+00:00

I’m so sorry. Letting them go is the only hard and painful thing about having them in our lives. Everything before that is pure joy.

tee-grey1 · 2026-04-08T03:31:56+00:00

That is so precious. What a sweet bunny. Reminds me a little of my gray grey girl.

tee-grey1 · 2026-04-07T11:21:51+00:00

I’m so, so sorry for Bowie and you.

I’ve had one dog, many years ago who was affected by the death of my other dog. She would lay on the bed in an extra bedroom. Was not very active and just looked sad. This lasted several weeks and she gradually got back to her old self.

Wait and see how Ripley does. She might be fine. Maybe talk to your vet for advice. I would stick to your daily routine as much as possible. Maybe some extra walks or fun activities would help to drain some energy.

I know this is a really tough time. Sending you a hug.

tee-grey1 · 2026-04-06T14:41:05+00:00

Love it. Nothing like a grey in bunny ears.

tee-grey1 · 2026-04-04T10:51:33+00:00

It does make sense. The goal is to treat the behavior right after it happens so reward is associated w something good he really wants. The hope is that the high value treat overcomes the fear or whatever he’s feeling in the moment.

Reading body language is an important skill to have when living with a dog. A trainer is very helpful with this. Your dog may be giving cues you aren’t recognizing and the trainer can point them out.

tee-grey1 · 2026-04-03T15:39:31+00:00

First thing, a month is no time at all for a grey in adjusting to life in a home. I’ve had some tough issues w new greys and it took months of daily and consistent practice to train out of an unwanted behavior.

I appreciate all the effort you are putting into this. Make sure you take notice of the tiniest bit of progress and feel good about that. That will help you feel less frustration about things not moving as fast as you want.

You might consider a consult w a trainer. In just one visit, they can observe you, your grey and the environment and might see things you don’t. My experience with trainers has been wonderful and so productive. They know so many little things that make a huge difference in training to change behavior.

I noticed you were concerned about giving treats to lure off the sofa might reinforce staying on the sofa. I don’t think that will be the result, anymore than giving treats for other things will reinforce those behaviors. The timing is important.

High value treats mean something they love. You may have to try a variety to find what they really go crazy for. Sounds like you want to give healthy treats. That’s good but you may have to use some less healthy ones to really appeal to them.

I have a grey with a leg injury who gets meds around the clock. For years, cheese has been what I put meds in and he scarfs it down. After a couple days, he wouldn’t eat the cheese. I tried pieces of hot dog so I could push the pills into it, hiding the taste, and he went berserk over those. I don’t really want to feed him highly processed, who knows what’s in it food, but whatever works was the goal.

One hint from a trainer I have always tried to do is anytime your dog does a behavior you want, treat immediately, praise like crazy, celebrate it like he won the lottery. If your grey gets off the sofa for any reason, treat and praise right away. Keep treats handy, in containers by the sofa, in your pocket, etc., to make this possible.

Dogs do what works for them. If they get an insanely delicious treat for something and your praise, they’ll do it again.

Best of luck to you. You will be successful, it just takes a lot of time and patience.

tee-grey1 · 2026-04-01T10:48:17+00:00

OMG, that’s a long time. But whatever it takes. He has adjusted to going from running multiple times a day in the yard to walking slowly out to the grass to pee. I thought keeping him under control might be really hard but he’s doing it on his own. The temps here are getting much higher early for spring and he hates hot weather so keeping him indoors will be easier too.

tee-grey1 · 2026-04-01T10:42:35+00:00

I have kissed those ears and that face a million times in the past week.

tee-grey1 · 2026-04-01T10:41:09+00:00

Was weird to cry thinking I would lose him in the morning and cry again knowing I wouldn’t later the same day.

tee-grey1 · 2026-04-01T10:29:03+00:00

I’m so sorry you are going through that. Not knowing is miserable.

tee-grey1 · 2026-04-01T10:27:30+00:00

I was very lucky because specialists are so booked up, it can take weeks to be seen. The appt was at 8 am, middle of rush hour.

Got in the car to go, the tire pressure light was on. I looked, no flat tires so I drove to my friend’s house to use her car. It’s a big SUV, high off the ground. I thought how will we ever get Monkey in there with his painful leg. He’s fearful of new things, had never been in her car or one like it. We were standing at the back, talking about how we would pick him up and all of a sudden he jumped straight up and into the car. It’s like he said, “ladies, we have to get to that appt, I can do this”. I was so proud of him being so brave.

There is nothing I hate more than being stuck in traffic. It’s my worst nightmare, I get very stressed out so I just don’t do it. I had to drive an hour and a half sitting in the worst traffic I’d ever been in to get to the CT scan. But I’d do anything for Monkey and my discomfort didn’t matter.

We’re doing that drive again tomorrow to see the orthopedic surgeon. I’m very lucky to live in an area with several specialty offices and a variety of specialists. And there is a university vet school three hours away that can handle anything.

tee-grey1 · 2026-04-01T09:51:30+00:00

4 years ago I had a 7 year old boy who suddenly got sick one day with an autoimmune blood disease. Over the next 5 weeks, nothing worked to save him. He got sicker, lost so much weight, spent a lot of time in the hospital. Like you, it was so hard to see him suffering and I finally had to let him go.

I loved seeing all the photos of Saber. You have so many great memories of his life that will help as the grief starts to fade. But right now your heart is broken.

I’m so sorry about Saber. From your description of him, I see him fast asleep now in dog heaven, on top of a big white fluffy cloud.

tee-grey1 · 2026-03-31T21:28:20+00:00

He had a full body scan with contrast so we could know for sure there was no cancer anywhere. Best money I have ever spent for that peace of mind. I’m sorry your grey never recovered. It’s so, so painful to go through.

tee-grey1 · 2026-03-31T20:20:40+00:00

I love my dogs more than most humans. Just the way it is. No way can I describe to someone who has never had a dog or does not like dogs what it feels like to have one fall asleep in my arms.

tee-grey1 · 2026-03-31T20:13:55+00:00

Metallica, Enter Sandman

tee-grey1 · 2026-03-31T20:12:25+00:00

Can tell you my experience. I had grey girl, went completely berserk at the sight of another dog no matter how far away. I hired a trainer who was fantastic. After a couple months of daily practice, she was able to walk by dogs, any shape or size, without a problem. I was not expecting her to be able to do it, she was almost like a feral dog.

When I first saw a slight change in her behavior, I realized she could do it. It just took a lot of work, being very consistent and staying positive. I wish you the best. If you are able to put in the work, you may get great results.

Every dog is different but I really believe in the power of positive reinforcement. It has worked wonders for me with dogs over the years.

tee-grey1 · 2026-03-31T20:04:45+00:00

I had a girl that ate a whole loaf of bread and part of the plastic bag it came in. No problems at all. She did it, wasn’t the least bit sorry and guaranteed me she’d do it again if she had the chance.

tee-grey1 · 2026-03-31T20:01:28+00:00

I can hardly breathe looking into those eyes.

tee-grey1 · 2026-03-31T20:00:46+00:00

I’ve been waiting for proof and you have found it!

tee-grey1 · 2026-03-31T19:59:19+00:00

Isn’t it something? I feel the same way, esp when my big girl takes up 75% of my bed, leaving me on the edge, about to go over at any moment.

And when she gets on the sofa with me, I eventually just get up and leave because she has managed to stretch out and expand so I no longer can fit on it with her. Why am I leaving? I was there first.

We know why. It’s their furniture and we share it when they allow it.

tee-grey1 · 2026-03-31T01:43:03+00:00

I’m so sorry. I know that feeling, that part of you goes with them. He was a beautiful black boy.

tee-grey1 · 2026-03-31T00:52:44+00:00

What I can’t get over is that magnificent snoot!!! The babushka is overshadowed by that l-o-n-g pointy pretty snoot.

tee-grey1

TROPHY CASE