A Greyt Time to Adopt a Greyhound!

     April is "Adopt a Greyhound Month." And I'm glad to say we have two greyhounds--Ace and Dottie! I had wanted a greyhound for years before we adopted Ace in 2008. So when we lost our 13-year-old, little, mixed-breed, dalmatian on Christmas Eve of 2007, I began to revisit that plan. We found our hounds at Greyhound Pets of America Springfield, Missouri (GPAMO)--online at  http://www.s387960324.onlinehome.us/
     I had been told previously by a "friend," with a so called high IQ, that I should never adopt a greyhound because they were too large, required a lot of activity and needed to be exercised often, and "I just didn't have time for that." Fortunately, that is so far from the truth!!  Greyhounds are known for being 45-mile-per-hour couch potatoes. They are sprinters not long distant runners. Their running endurance lasts for about 30 seconds during races. They are not hyper, snow-mushing dogs who can run indefinitely. Their favorite thing to do, is to curl up in a nice soft doggy bed while snuggling with their comfy blankets and myriad stuffed toys.
      

Dottie Mae, snuggled in her blanket.

     I like to tell people that greyhounds fold up nicely! I've found greyhounds are remarkable. They are very mannerly, don't often run in the house, they love to be with you and will follow you and lay down beside you. And when they do lay down, often they curl up and don't take up much space. Also, they aren't very vocal and don't shed much and make wonderful companions. They are very obedient. Greyhounds also have a universal blood type and are often used as blood donors for other dogs. They have large physical as well as figurative speaking hearts. Their large hearts help pump all that blood for those 45-mile per-hour sprints. Their large figurative hearts learn by kindness not harsh words and reprimands--they learn best by using positive enforcement. They love treats! 

Ace and Dottie celebrating their birthdays with the Grandkids.

     Ace is the exception to the rule about being vocal.. He loves to sing/howl or as we call it "Roo." This is his signal of ultimate happiness, and he expects us to sing with him too!  Because of their mild dispositions, greyhounds aren't usually thought of as guard dogs, but Ace breaks this rule too.

   

Ace loves to "Roo."

     Ace will bark and alert us if someone comes to our door or yard. With his loud bass voice, 75-pound frame and dark almost doberman-like stature he makes me feel safe!! 

     Greyhounds like schedules. Ours are fed twice a day, and you'd think that they could tell time. If I'm a little late getting up on the morning or a little late with the evening feeding Ace lets me know.

     Most greyhounds love to go for a walk. And, once you begin the walking on a schedule, they will know exactly when it's time to go. Dottie runs to the laundry room and stands beside the leashes hanging on a hook.

     I've found that Ace loves kids. When we adopted him, I was told by Alane Shultz of Greyhound Pets Of America Springfield, Missouri that males usually consider little children their siblings. Females on the other hand, think of children as their puppies and will try to discipline them. We've found that to be true when we adopted Dottie in December 2011. But, overtime she's warmed up to the grandchildren and considers them now part of our pack. She runs to the door with Ace to greet them when they come to our house.

Ace has a friend with my little granddaughter.

     Greyhounds love stuffed toys and love to collect them. Beside Ace's and Dottie's beds are a collection of stuffed alligators, ducks, footballs, gongs and Ace's most favorite--a de-stuffed (thanks to Dottie) octopus missing most of its legs!

Ace and his de-stuffed octopus--wearing it like a wig!

        Other neat facts about greyhounds are: they are the only dog type mentioned in the Bible, and being a very old breed, their history also traces back to 12,000 B.C. were they are painted on cave walls. To learn more interesting facts, like these, read this imformative book, "Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies," by Lee Livingood. If you'd like to adopt a retired racer, contact your nearest adoption agency--in Missouri that would be GPAMO at http://www.s387960324.onlinehome.us/ or visit them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Greyhound-Pets-of-America-Springfield-MOOzarks/203652152993644?fref=ts
      

Dottie our sleeping "yoga" girl!

Dogs, Dirt and Part of the Pack

     I woke up at 5:00 a.m.--my head hurt, my arms hurt so by 5:30 I decided to get up, go take an Ibuprofen and try to sleep in my office on the futon until 6:00. I knew at 6:00 both greyhounds would wake up like clockwork and be ready to go outside. Prancing, dancing with their tongues hanging out in fresh faced grins! The cat, Mallory, came into the office with me --just to monitor my whereabouts. Honestly I think the cat and dogs work together.
     Soon she jumped off the futon and went into the back of the house--and then I heard the click-clack of Dottie's feet. She loves my office, and she was coming in gently, quietly to check on me. It was 5:48 a.m.....Ugh! Daylight was creeping through the blinds--sleeping was finished. Might as well face the day with my happy hounds.
     Well she gently sniffed me with a most pleased look, and of course, I couldn't just lay there and disappoint her! As I got up she wagged her tail. But, down the hall I could hear Ace laying on his fluffy bed whining--I'm guessing the cat heard Ace whining, so she went to investigate--Dottie very tired of hearing Ace cry in his bed decided to find me herself and take care of the situation! Just like a woman! For some reason it hasn't dawned on Ace that he can come find me too--he just lays there and cries.
     Anyway, I'm up early with swollen eyes (allergies I guess), the hounds eat, play in the yard, and chase and bark at squirrels and Mallory sits in the grass daring us to come get her while Roy and I have coffee on the deck. Then we all go for a 3/4-mile walk. Except the cat.
     Walking makes me remember how when we first got Dottie, last December, she wasn't fond of the grand kids, although Ace loves them to death. Over the last several months she's began to recognize them as part of our "pack." She has her special spot by a large tree in the backyard where she and Ace try digging to China everyday. She also loves to lay in the dusty hole/holes they've created. Well, yesterday Drew was using the Tonka trucks to dig and load "Dottie's" dirt. She observed him for a while then came over and curled up in her dusty-hole.  I figured she was going to be incensed and make Drew leave but no--she apparently thought he was a pup who loved to dig, and that was quite all right with her, and she wold share her dirt.

Drew is now part of Dottie's "pack!"

     Sometimes I think I should have been an animal behaviorist--I just love watching how they all interact with each other. Actually my childhood friend told me last year, that instead of me wanting to be the "kid" when we played house as children, I always wanted to be the dog or cat!! I would crawl around on my hands and knees either meowing or barking. She told me laughing, "We never could figure out what you wanted, you wouldn't speak English!" Strange...I don't remember that at all--but it fits my personality to to tee. I'm just glad they let me be part of their "pack!"

Summer begins!

     So today, summer began--the grand kids are out of school for their first full day and they spent it with me! We took the greyhounds Ace and Dottie for a walk, ate Popsicles, harvested leaves from the "Magic Tree," (a  catulpa), made a tent with sheets, water colored and played in the dirt (dug by the hounds.) Actually the kids did most of these activities--except for walking the hounds. I thought that might end badly if the hounds decided to chase a squirrel! 

     Miss Mallory the cat came outside for a rare view of the world and she decided to play and roll in the dirt too!! Yay for me! Shiann and I tried to pat her clean and puff her clean but to no avail!! So to the tub she went, yes the tub. The last time I tried to scrub a cat, I was 4 and was almost clawed to death. I also at the same age, out of curiosity, put a clothespin on a cat's tail, but that's another story....So needless to say I was a little worried, but she was fairly cooperative. Shiann helped me dry her and Miss Mallory is no worse for the wear.
     Now we wait for Mama and Poppy to come home so we can all go out to eat and then to Drew's (age 8) first ever baseball game.