Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with greyhound

Dog Barking & Separation Anxiety Issues

cuando — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:52:31 -0800

How do I get my newly adopted 2 year old dog to stop whining & barking when I'm gone at work? A month ago I adopted a 2 year old greyhound. He's a great dog & when we are together he is totally quiet & seemingly content. Oh but he is a clingy hound and does not like it when he is home alone while I am at work.

I've recorded (audio) him and he'll whimper & very occasionally bark for less than a minute every 30-40 minutes. I imagine this is pretty normal for a dog getting who has never been alone getting used to his new environment and that it'll just take time. The catch is that my condo association has sent me a warning & is threatening to take him away if it continues. We've tried a lot of different approaches to help with the transition:

- Crating/Kenneling him
- Leaving friendly warnings to my immediate neighbors with my #
- Leaving the TV/Radio on
- Kongs, Buster Cubes & other treats
- Toys
- Alone training ( increasing his alone time)
- Rescue Remedy
- Long walks & play sessions to tire him out.

Later this week we'll start obedience school which will hopefully help too. He is only alone from 9am to 1pm, then from 2pm to 6pm and while daily doggy day care would be great, it is not economically feasible and besides he should be able to go 4 hours on his own.

Any & all suggestions are very welcome on how to get our pup to be calm & quiet while he's alone. The quicker, the better! I hate being the annoying neighbor with the barking dog. Thanks!

how can I play with my dog?

canine epigram — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:18:42 -0800

how do I teach my dog to play? We adopted a retired greyhound from a rescue group, and he's an adorable and very mellow boy. He loves his walks (and gets very excited about going) and trips to the dog park (although he's still trying to figure out what to do with other dogs besides sniff them).

Sometimes he grab a squeaky toy out of his basket, squeak it madly and catch it when we toss it around. Then, just as abruptly, he'll be done and walk away without a second glance. If he's not in the mood, he'll just look at you quizzically.

We plan to take him to obedience class soon, and have started some basic clicker training (which he enjoys.) What can we do to teach him how to play or engage his mind in a small condo (or local dog park)? chase a ball? a toy?

Obviously being a greyhound, no rough and tumble games.

I'm looking for a playful way of interacting with him, rather than just filling a kong with treats and watching him go at it (still funny!).

Help me, hivemind! Bonus for grey-specific knowledge.

Deafness in dogs

specialagentwebb — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:24:46 -0800

How can I tell if my dog is partially deaf? I got my first dog this past Saturday, and so far, everything is going great (well, except for his food obsession, but we're working on that). I'm a bit concerned, though, because it's hard to get a response from him when we make noise.

I first noticed it when working on his food obsession. Basically, whenever his nose would get too close to the dinner table, I'd shout a loud "AH-AH" (a la Victoria Stilwell). When that got no response (not so much as an ear wiggle), I escalated to two sharp claps. I can clap really loudly, but again, no response. Then we tried a can of pennies, but again, there was no indication that he even heard it. I've never met a dog who didn't at least look your way when you shook a can of pennies. I would have written it all off as "he's too focused on the food to even care", but it's not only when food is around. If we call his name (or call anything, for that matter), we don't even get a flick of the ear to indicate that he's heard us.

On the flip side, it could very well be that he's not used to listening to humans, and that he's very new and doesn't understand that the things we're saying are directed at him? I find myself worrying more and more about this, and looking at each scenario to see if he could have reacted because of non-auditory cues. Did he hear the door open, or did he smell the whiff of outside air? Did he leave the food alone because I barked "MINE!", or because of my body posture? So far, I can't think of a single time that he's definitively "heard" something, but then again, I'm probably in overprotective new-mother mode. We're going to the vet this Saturday for a wellness check, and I intend to bring it up then.

So after all that long lead-up, here are my questions:
Are there definitive tests for hearing in dogs?
Is there anything I can test out at home, for my peace of mind?
What kind of things should I ask my vet about?
Is is possible that there are just certain frequencies that he's not hearing?
Have you ever encountered a hearing dog that has no Pryor's reflex?

Additional information:
3.5-year-old male retired racing greyhound. Neutered. Tested negative for worms and TBDs, fully vaccinated. Had been living in the track kennel until this week.

Possibly relevant:
He has barked, growled, and whined. He's very uncomfortable walking at night. He has shown absolutely no aggression toward anyone in the house, although we don't approach him while he's asleep. And just to head off arguments, I have no intention of returning him if he is deaf or partially deaf. I made a commitment to this dog, and I am more than willing to put in all the effort and patience he needs.

Thanks in advance for all answers/suggestions/advice.

Lockers in Nashville Bus Station?

ITheCosmos — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:44:05 -0800

Does the Nashville Greyhound station have lockers?

What happens if we don't give our dog chemo?

misskaz — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:11:03 -0800

My dog has just been diagnosed with lymphoma. For various reasons, my husband and I are probably not going to do the chemo and radiation treatments outlined by the oncologist. If you have made a similar choice with your pet, can you tell me what happened? Our dog is the sweetest, most wonderful 10.5 year old greyhound. The form of lymphoma she has (T-cell) is more aggressive and resistant to chemo than the more common form of lymphoma. Given her age (although before this she's never acted or felt like a senior dog), the cost, the potential for it to not work at all, the emotional trauma for us and the physical trauma for her, and everything else, we are probably not going to try the chemo and radiation treatments. We have heard that prednisone can keep the swelling down and her appetite up for a little while, so we may try that. The one really swollen lymph node was already removed a couple weeks ago when we and the vets thought it was just a stubborn infection. (The first biopsy only showed an infection.) That's when they found a mass on her tongue and the subsequent biopsies revealed the cancer.

She has been somewhat lethargic for a while now, and we have to encourage her to eat. It seems like she will eventually eat a regular amount of food, but does it in several small meals rather than wolfing it all down at once. Unfortunately, with the antibiotics and surgery and everything else (she had a hard time eating dry food prior to the surgery, so we had to try soaking, pureeing into a gruel with a blender, etc.), she has lost a few pounds and as a greyhound, she doesn't carry much extra weight. She still seems happy and loves being with us and cuddling. She doesn't play as much on her own, but still gets excited to see her doggy and human friends.

Basically, we want to know what to expect in terms of her health - Will she have a long, slow decline or feel mostly ok before things go downhill quickly? What signs should we look for that she's unhappy or in pain? What kind of treatments, medicine, foods, etc. are available/should we be prepared for in terms of pallative care? We know that the timeline without treatment is short, but we just want to be prepared. If you have had the misfortune of a lymphoma diagnosis in your pet, and chose not to do chemo, would you mind sharing your experience?

By the way, we do have a call in to the oncologist to ask these questions as well - hopefully we can get some answers without having to pay for another consultation, but we will pay if needed. We know that chemo in dogs doesn't have as bad side effects as in people because it is administered at lower doses, but we think (hope) we are making the right decision here.

Help us give a retired racer a good home!

canine epigram — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:14:00 -0800

My wife and I are looking to adopt a rescue greyhound from Greyhound Friends or Greyhound Welfare - what do we need to know? I know the basic breed information from handouts and googling. I've read the thread about the poor guy who was thinking of giving his greyhound back after just a week.

We live in the Boston area, condo, no yard, with a dog park just a short walk away. From my reading (and seeing many other greyhounds on the streets of the 'ville), I think a greyhound might make a great dog for my wife and I.

I've grown up with dogs, but never been 100% responsible for one. I plan on taking it to training. I'm a bit anxious about house-training it, but figure that will come in time.

We're hoping to get one that's been fostered, so at least some of the initial socializing has been done, but wondering how hard it will be to teach my dog things that most dogs already know - how to play tug of war, how to bite a Kong. Some of the dogs at the rescue we visited were sweet enough, but very aloof and passive. From what I can tell, once the dog settles in a new home, they'll relax and you'll see more of its personality.

Any greyhound socializing or training advice, anecdotes, warnings or encouragements gratefully accepted.

One wrinkle:
Our upstairs neighbor is allergic to some dogs (mostly longer haired ones.) To not be a dick, we're going to try to find someone in the area with a greyhound to pay a brief visit to see how she reacts before we bring a dog home (we have completely separate HVAC systems, so she'd only have to worry if she visited us or ran into us out front.)

Cheap travel from Delaware to NYC?

viewofdelft — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:23:54 -0800

What are the cheapest ways to get from Newark, Delaware, to New York City? I'm a research assistant at the University of Delaware and as part of a long and wonkish I-95 corridor project, we've decided to produce a map or informational pamphlet letting students know the cheapest ways to get from here (Newark, Delaware) to New York City.

A few things to keep in mind:
1. Any mode of transportation is fair game (air, rail, highway, seaports, etc.), as is any type of vehicle (plane, train, automobile, bus, shoes, etc.).
2. Be creative, but within reasonable limits of safety (i.e., no airmailing oneself).
3. It's alright if many of the suggested travel methods begin in Philadelphia (and maybe even Baltimore) if these departure points are more familiar to you.
4. Cost is the most important factor, although I don't want to discourage that outlandish teleportation idea you've been waiting to uncork.

After we've completed the map or pamphlet, I'll contact each of the contributors about mailing them a finished product. Thank you.

Help me get my little brother back!

mhz — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:49:01 -0800

What's the best way to get my little brother (16) home (NYC) this weekend, from Street, MD? My brother is in summer camp in Street, MD. I need to get him home by Thursday afternoon, and he'll leave again Sunday morning. The closest and seemingly best option I've found is a Megabus leaving from the Park n Ride at White Marsh, MD.

So assuming that is the best option:

-I've narrowed down the White Marsh Park n Ride (at the White Marsh mall) on Google Maps, but is there an address I can give him, so he can be driven by an inexperienced counselor who is unfamiliar with the area? On the same note, are there signs etc. nearby that will help the counselor find the area?

-About Megabus:

--Are there prices likely to rise in the next couple of days while I figure al of this out? Currently they're at $18 on the 7/31 (MD-NY) leg, and $17 for the 8/3 (NY-MD) leg.
--Is the code really all he'll need? No ID, no credit card? I ask only because of Greyhound wanting to fleece me $15 EACH WAY for booking a ticket for a kid without his own card.
--Will a (pretty street-smart) 16 y/o kid have a problem? It's a direct bus, but is there anything I should have him look out for?

And of course, if there are any options better than this Megabus, what are they?

Thanks!!

Greyhound or VaMoose from DC to NY and back?

XQUZYPHYR — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:24:48 -0800

Round-trip bus ride from DC to NYC - Go Greyhound, VaMoose, or other? I have to head up to New York on Sunday morning for a Father's Day lunch. I also have to be back in DC that evening. Amtrak and airplanes are prohibitively expensive, and I'm sans car this time around. So it's the bus for me.

I know of Greyhound, VaMoose, and the Chinatown busses- and I know enough about the Chinatown busses to know I'm not taking one, and certainly not two within a twelve-hour period.

Greyhound and VaMoose seem to be similar in rate, but I hear pros and cons of both: Greyhound doesn't guarantee a seat, Vamoose does; Greyhound stops near Union Station, VaMoose drops off in VA and MD; etc. Between those two ticket cost isn't that big a deal; I'll pay $20 more for VaMoose if it's a safer, cleaner, faster ride, and vice-versa.

Any advice on which line to book? Is VaMoose a better quality bus line than Greyhound? Is it more reliable? Is one faster? And so on. And of course, if there's a mysterious third option, I'm anxious to hear it.

How do I build a cheap, temporary fence?

zaebiz — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:35:44 -0800

Temporary fencing question : I'm going to foster a retired greyhound for a few weeks but have to somehow put up a fence on one side of the yard so he won't get over. The length needed is around 8 metres and runs along some hedges on the border of the neighbour's place. Probably needs to be about 5 feet high. I want to do this myself as cheaply and quickly as possible. Any suggestions?

Commuting from NYC to Berea, KY

lorimer — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 01:51:04 -0800

NYC to Berea, Kentucky. Best ways to travel back and forth, about 6 roundtrips over the course of 3 months? Low cost is very important, but not quite so important that I could stomach the 19-hour Greyhound ride every time. Can't find any budget airlines that go NYC-Lexington. Some cheap flights BWI-LEX and some NYC-Dayton -- maybe those are my best choice even with the added time/cost on bus legs? Finally, anybody know approx. taxi cost Lex-Berea (for times when Greyhound schedule doesn't fit with my plane)? Thanks!

Cheap and leisurely cross-country travel?

myodometer — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 14:30:27 -0800

Is there such a thing as a Greyhound bus pass 'designed for independent travellers who want to get the most out of their travels in this great country' - similar to a 'Travel Oz Pass,' but for America? I've got a friend who has spent this spring semester studying abroad in Europe and he's looking to fly back in mid-July. We were thinking about trekking across the country from Orange County, CA to Northern VA. The original plan was to hitch rides the entire way, but I'm a little too much of a control freak to leave it at that.

In studying up on the Greyhound bus system, I thought that there might be a plausible way to go about seeing some good sights in the crossing while saving a pretty penny on the travel price. I also stumbled across a thing called the Travel Oz Pass - it seems to be a Greyhound bus pass that will allow you a great deal more freedom than booking all of your bus rides beforehand.

My question: Is there such a beast for these vast American bus routes, or should I settle myself into a steady thumb-focused exercise routine before I bum my way back to Virginia this summer? If not, is there something similar that might help me out in my trek?

Sightseeing between Chicago and PA

nylon — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 15:51:04 -0800

Is there much to see out of the window of a Greyhound between Chicago and, say, Pittsburgh? Or will I die of ennui en route? I'm going to be travelling around Pennsylvania early next month doing an art project. My only two options are as follows:
1. Fly into the States via Chicago, in which case I'll likely get a bus to Pittsburgh. It's an 8 hour journey, and a round trip is $100.
2. Fly into the States via Washington, in which case I'll likely get a bus to Philadelphia. It's a 3 hour journey, and a round trip is $50.

Given that I have no time pressures, is it worth spending a day each way (and an extra $50) travelling cross country just for kicks, or will it be a thoroughly boring journey? Interesting scenery (pastoral or/or urban) is my idea of heaven: concrete freeway embankments and strip-malls is my idea of hell.

Long Bus Ride Tips

arcticwoman — Sun, 03 Jul 2005 13:10:51 -0800

How can I keep myself occupied for 31 hours on the greyhound bus? My partner and I are leaving on Thursday for our vacation, but we are travelling to our destination via greyhound, and it is a very long ride. I love to read and listen to music, but I get bored of those. I can sleep on the bus, but not too well, and I am resistant to taking drugs to knock myself out. Any ideas for bus activities for two adult women?

Is Greyhound really that bad?

Nikolai — Mon, 06 Jun 2005 12:07:17 -0800

Is riding Greyhound buses really as bad as the horror stories would make you believe?