Changing Course

FOUND ... and in the blink of an eye
LOST ... to fate.
            ABrown

              

I haven’t written in my blog for many months.  Really I haven’t had the desire or motivation to do much during that time except responsibilities that have had to be addressed.  As you know my greyhound, Kiowa, was stricken with nasal cancer and died in January after which my husband, Wayne, Emma (my female grey), and I traveled to the Florida Keys for two months.  We had a spectacular winter there although Emma was very lonely for Kiowa.  We decided that upon our return from Florida, I would do some serious looking for a new boy.  We arrived home at the beginning of April, and Wayne and I began our spring cleanup.  This is where my story takes a terrible turn.

Two weeks into April, 2019, on Palm Sunday, my dear husband was stricken with a heart attack and at the age of a youthful 73 died a week later.  My world was thrown into chaos, and I've been attempting to find my footing ever since.  I stopped writing and drawing and just concentrated on the necessities of living and getting through each day.  My life had been forever changed, and I've questioned where I go from here.  At times of crisis, we look at our lives and ask probing questions of purpose.  Part of mine has always been my greyhounds.  So, I guess, what I tell you next may be no surprise.

Upon our arrival at the emergency room, Wayne improved and tests were taken.  To pass the time while waiting for the resuIts, I went online and perused the pictures of available greyhounds.  Wayne, feeling better, joined me in my search.   He picked Moe (JS Yung Money).  I had already chosen Moe in my head so that sealed the deal.  I called the rescue and asked them to hold Moe for us until later in the week when we could pick him up.  That night, the unthinkable happened, and the happy choice of our new dog was erased from my mind....temporarily.  An untenable week ensued, and I asked the rescue if Moe could be placed in foster care for a short while until I could think clearly.  It was done. 

Now you're thinking…what's the matter with her?  Doesn't she know she shouldn’t make any major decisions during a crisis?  I had the same thoughts, but something stronger kept poking me.  This was the last decision that Wayne and I had made together.  Somehow, it felt right in my heart even though my brain questioned my sanity.  So a few weeks after my husband's Memorial Service, I picked up my new boy.

Moe is quite the handsome young man.   He is a red with the longest black nose I've ever seen (and I thought Kiowa had a long nose).  He has interesting black markings on top and around his beautiful “puppy dog” eyes.  He is only two years old and quite the baby - a bit afraid of unfamiliar places and objects.  

Emma seemed happy to have a new brother and after a few weeks, he started to feel right at home.  Being young, he learned quickly to play with toys and Emma.  He settled in and has been, along with Emma, a great comfort to me.  I found that Moe was just what I needed.

As one of my greyhound friends told me, his presence was meant to keep me busy.  And busy I’ve been.  Moe came up from Florida having not only tapeworms but hookworms as well.  In all my years of greyhounds, I have never had a dog with worms.  The tapeworms were relatively easy to get rid of, but the hookworms were another story.  The vet suggested I give him Drontal which is thought to be a highly effective deworming medication.  After five dewormings and waiting three weeks each time before getting a fecal check, he still had the worms.  Very discouraging to say the least.  Then, the vet switched over to a medication called Panacur prescribed for three days.  

I called my greyhound rescue to ask if they had been facing this issue.  Apparently, many of the dogs coming up from Florida have hookworms and the vets down there have a protocol they follow.  The rescue suggested that I give the Panacur for five days, then fourteen days off, then give Moe his Sentinel (heartworm med), fourteen days off, then back on the Panacur for five days.  After following this protocol for two months, I did another fecal check.  This also proved unsuccessful.  

The next protocol to be tried was a dose of Advantage Multi followed by a dose of Drontal the next day.  Wait a month and repeat, then a fecal check.  During this time, I also added a natural remedy of a quarter teaspoon good apple cider vinegar and chopped carrots to his food.  Finally, SUCCESS!  After eight months, the hookworms were gone, and he finally gained some weight.

Besides the hookworm issue, my sweet Moe developed a phobia.  Moe became terrified of the dark.  Who knows what caused this, but I have worked with him by giving both dogs a short walk at dusk ending when it’s dark.  He didn’t like this at first, but after a while he felt comfortable with it.  He now runs out into a dark backyard with Emma at night and is fine.

Moe is one of those velcro dogs who follows you everywhere.  Stop walking suddenly, and I’m bumped in the rear with a dog head.  Or he walks in front of me and stops to check if I’m there, ultimately tripping me.  He definitely has been a challenge, but I love him dearly.  When he stands in the middle of the living room with a dog toy hanging from his mouth looking at me with those puppy dog eyes of his, I tell him that it’s a good thing he’s cute.  That’s the only think he had going for him for a long time.  

Being a baby, Moe needs to roll objects around in his mouth to taste their possibility as a snack.  Many of these objects have no business being in his mouth.  For example, he loves wood.  Yes, wood.  He has eaten my special drawing pencils not just once, but twice so I’ve had to replace them.  (He is soooo sneaky.)  One day, he found a #2 pencil on my desk, sauntered out into the living room with it hanging from his lips and thought he would chow down on it. No, no, no!  He also loves mulch.  I’m sure that he thinks it was placed in the yard only for his dining pleasure.  I constantly follow him around outside saying “Leave it!” or “What’s in your mouth?” as I stick my fingers between his teeth to retrieve the object.  I’m sure my neighbors think I’ve lost a screw or two.  Oh, and he also finds plastic to be a delicacy.  A few of my plastic containers have been swiped off the counter to be found later chewed to a frazzle.  I will continue to educate Moe on appropriate edible substances.

Moe seems happy and comfortable in his home.  Emma and he love to run in the backyard doing their “zoomies” and play comically together with their toys.  Moe, Emma, and I have traveled a rough road, but our road seems much smoother now, and we are hopeful of only good things ahead.  My friend was right that Moe was put in my life to keep me busy and focused.  He is a blessing, and he and Emma continue to help me find my way.  They have reinforced that part of my purpose which is greyhound.

PS.  I've been writing this in stages, and it's now March of 2020.  Moe has developed into the most wonderful companion.  He still is a momma's boy, but doesn't follow me everywhere (just most places).  He and Emma have decided to be my watchdogs and bark at the mailman, etc. (I've never had barking greys before so it's a new experience.)  I count my blessings everyday that I have these  two wonderful dogs.  

Emma's Solo Vaca

I love the porch.

It’s March in the Keys.  As most of you know, we spend February and March in the Lower Keys whenever we can.  Wayne and I and Emma are still healing from our loss of Kiowa in January to nasal cancer.  We have often remembered his funny ways while here, and it has helped us cope with his loss.  

Choosing a toy

Emma has gone through changes as have we.  We’ve always been a two (sometimes three) greyhound household, so we feel the empty space left by our sweet boy.  Emma has had to mourn the loss of her friend, travel with us to Florida, and inhabit a new house upon arrival.  She was a bit skittish the first day or so but started to mellow out when she realized we’d be here for a while.

Pup Crawl fun

We’re in a different place this year in Cudjoe Key.  It’s a two bedroom, two bath stilt house on a canal.  It has a wonderful and large screened-in porch upstairs.  Although there is no fence around the property, Emma loves the upstairs porch and often is found out there soaking up the warmth.  She likes the fact that we are forced to take her out for walks.  She gets lonely when we can’t take her places, so I made a big effort this year to research dog friendly spots.

Emma has been privy to all that Key West has to offer.  Since it’s only about a half hour away, we go there often.  When we walk about town, we always stop in Fat Tuesdays, a frozen daiquiri bar, to get liquid refreshments.  She, of course, garners a following of humans who miss their own dogs and want to love on Emma.  She approves.  

One of our first doggie jaunts this year was a Pup Crawl (not a pub crawl for you people who think I misspelled the word).  It was a PUP CRAWL put on by the Key West SPCA, and it encompassed visiting six drinking establishments that were all doggie friendly.  At each pub, a different event for dogs and humans was held such as pick a dog toy, a dog-human look-alike contest, or a splash in the puppy pool, etc.   During our crawl, we met a couple with an Italian Greyhound in their arms.  She and Emma got along famously.  After a full day of pup crawling and meeting new doggie friends, we decided to go to dinner at Blue Heaven, a tropic, eclectic outside bar and restaurant.  We were led up to an open, airy porch where Emma promptly collapsed into her sleep pose and closed her eyes.  She remained that way even when a fellow diner stepped over her to his chair.  I think we wore her out.

Watching the conch blowing

A weekly happening for us here is the Thursday Bocce party.  It’s a free wheeling fun time where everyone brings something to share and, of course, we play bocce.  Dogs were in attendance so I asked our hostess if Emma could come.  Emma loved bocce.  She even tried to follow me on the court (maybe to play), but dogs can’t grip the bocce ball.  She again became the belle of the ball and tried not to make a fuss about her popularity like some celebrities do.

Conch blowers

Last Saturday, we journeyed to Key West to go to a Conch Blowing Contest.  (A

What??)  Yes, you read right.  Emma enjoyed the conch blowing people in all their craziness.  It presented a different and fun side of KW.  After which, we moseyed to an Art and Music Festival at the Wharf.  Again, Emma was a star.  Dinner at a pet friendly restaurant was next where she collapsed into sleep, unfortunately using the area where people had to walk.  (You know these greys think they can sprawl anywhere.)  She felt disturbed when we moved her to a better location.

It is possible that we are making our Emma a little monster.  She is quite used to us taking her with us and when we cannot, she has a little tantrum.  Nothing destructive, but for example, when we leave, I always tell her to guard the house - (FAT CHANCE OF THAT HAPPENING), and I give her a treat.  Lately, when I do that, she refuses to take it, even when it’s a favorite.  (“You eat it, Mom. I’ll show you I don’t like you leaving me.”) Unfortunately, we must leave her home occasionally, and she needs to understand that.

Relaxing at No Name

One of our last adventures took us to the No Name Pub.  It resides on the approach to the bridge of No Name Key, of course.  And where is that, you ask.  Well, you travel to Big Pine Key and at the light, you make a turn toward the gulf.  After following a crazy road, you’re there.  Not the easiest place to find.  The three of us stopped there to have a snack and sat outside at a colorful picnic table under a huge tiki hut structure.  No Name is very keysie.  Emma gave it her stamp of approval.

We found it!

We have about two and a half weeks left in paradise.  Plenty of time to experience some more adventures.  Then we pack up and head north to Virginia where I hope spring will have sprung.  (I can always hope.)  We feel lucky each year to vacation with our pets, and by the way, miss the horrible weather at home.  I hope your winter has been mild and filled with its own blessings.  Hug your pups.  They think every day is a vacation with you.   

            
        Keys Good-Bye

                      By Alice Brown

Fiery sunsets, frenetic activity, 

key lime martinis

Jazz, cross dressing, cruise ships

Sunglassed dogs and cats

peddled by long haired locals

Happy Hours everywhere

Boat trips to nowhere,

Toes in the sand

Hooks in the water

Lost in Fantasy…Fest.

Keys

Scorched marl yearning

for cool celadon water

Multicolored coral undulating 

through translucent waves

Opalescent fish 

swimming above and below the

twisted mangroves confused roots

hide geckos, iguanas, snakes, 

going about their business

Pelicans soaring, manatee moving

with lumbering grace below.

Beauty

Cleaned out, Packed up, Brain cleared

And Reset 

Back to reality

But...return imminent.

                                                                

A Sorrowful Diagnosis

                                         

                                           When we lose a friend, only time and precious memories ease the pain.


Who among us hasn’t felt a strong love and a lasting connection with our pets.  They give us unconditional love and support when it’s needed the most.  We call them beloved pets, members of the family, or our pet soulmates.  And when that pet becomes sick, we want the best treatment for them that we can provide.

Being his goofy self

In late September, 2018, a friend, Lori, and her greyhound came to visit.  She and I were talking “greyhound” when Kiowa, my white and red brindle grey, hurried over to see if any food was involved.  My friend noticed that Kiowa’s left eye looked funny.  Upon looking closer, we realized that something seemed off about its appearance.  The week prior, I had taken him to the vet for another reason, a reverse sneeze.  The vet thought it could be an allergy or something irritating his nasal passage.  Nothing serious.

After my friend left, I made another vet appointment.  This time to look at Kiowa’s eye.  At this visit, the vet examined his eye and did his blood work which came back normal.  He suggested I take him to the veterinary ophthalmologist.  A week later, we were in the office of the eye doctor who had worked on Emma’s cataract two years before.  This exam included more tests, aspirating some cells, and an ultrasound.  The ophthalmologist sent the cells to a lab for testing.  Another week dragged by.

Relaxing on a friend's bed

His buddy, Ducky

Finally, the results of the lab work arrived.  I kept telling myself that it was nothing serious, and Kiowa would be fine.  I was wrong.  The test revealed that he had a cancerous tumor in his nasal passage, and the sneezing, a symptom.  The vet referred us next to a veterinary oncologist to learn our options.  Again, we had lag time waiting to see this specialist.  Now it was the beginning of November.  The oncologist explained that Kiowa had Adenocarcinoma, a cancerous tumor in his nasal passage.  Because of its location, surgical removal was not an option and radiation, the preferred treatment.  An x-ray of his lungs taken showed them to be clear.  Without treatment, his prognosis was 3 to 5 months, with radiation, 8 to 12 months.   We left the office sad, drained, and with a decision to make.




With this diagnosis, I began a course of investigation.  I researched this disease to understand what was in store for Kiowa and us.  This disease can present in different ways.  With Ki, his left eye looked strange, and he had the reverse sneezing, but it can also present as a nose bleed, nasal discharge, loud snoring, pawing at the face or possibly a seizure as well as other symptoms.  If your dog has any of these, it is best to get him checked out.

So handsome

I also looked into the radiation treatment.  The oncologist told us that he would need radiation 3 times a week for 3 and a half weeks.  The closest location for us was 3 and a half hours away.  The best option for the dog going through this procedure would be to do it on an outpatient basis.  Side effects to radiation can be unpleasant as well.  It is not a cure but in some cases can prolong life.

Sleepy boy

Our main concern has always been with Kiowa and his comfort.  After all the research and thinking through the information, we decided against radiation.  We wanted this to be about him and not prolonging his life for us.  So I began another search.  This time for other treatments that could make his journey more comfortable.  I had heard about CBD oil (scientific name: cannabidiol) and some good aneccdotal reports of its uses.  Since my vet is not holistic, his knowledge of it was limited.  I spent much time looking into CBD oil, what to look for in product, and finally decided to give it a try.

CBD oil is a product of the hemp plant but has no psychotropic properties.  (The internet has lots of info about this.)  He has been on CBD oil since the end of November and his behavior, appetite, and energy has remained the same.  I don’t know if it is due to slow disease progression or the CBD oil, but as long as he feels good, I’m happy.

Emma decided she wanted to share the bed

Lately, Kiowa has had some bleeding from his nose.  I had heard about a chinese herb called yunnan baiyao (YB) which can stop the nose bleeds.  Since at first, his bleeding was a spot here or there, I felt no need for it.  Then one morning, we woke up to blood everywhere on and around his bed.  I immediately iced his nose to stop the bleeding and gave him a YB capsule.  It slowed and eventually stopped the blood.  He remains on this as well.

In his normal position

Kiowa has been on an anti-inflammatory eye drop and also Previcox for inflammation and pain management.  I am hoping by using prescribed medication and the holistic medication, he  will remain comfortable.  We take this journey day by day, although worry is constant.


Kiowa did very well into January when the beginning of this piece was written.  We hoped that the progression of this horrible disease would be slow, and he would be able to go to Florida with us when we left at the end of January.  Although his energy, appetite, and behavior remained normal, the disfigurement of his face must have been uncomfortable for him and his nasal bleeding increased so much that I was constantly following him to clean up.  The third week of January, something changed.  His breathing was more difficult and his behavior changed except for his love of eating.  When he awoke on January 23rd, we found that his left eye was now bleeding.  In that moment, we made the hard decision to help him cross the Rainbow Bridge.

My beautiful boy

When we walked into the vet's office, Kiowa wagged his tail.  He knew he was with people who loved him.  He laid on the furry bed on the floor almost like he knew he was going to a restful place.  Our hearts broke that day.  Kiowa (Kiowa Stop Matt) was a dog of our hearts and will never be forgotten.

Emma stayed close at the end

Afterward, one of our friends sent us this sentiment:  "It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them, and every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart.  If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." ~Anonymous~  We will adopt again in a few months, but right now our hearts are trying to mend, and our thoughts continually settle on a white and red brindle spotted boy who's short life touched us so deeply.



Resources:

Nose Cancer in Dogs (Nasal Adenocarcinoma); petwave.com

Nasal Cancer in Dogs; petcureoncology.com

Nasal Cavity Cancer in Dogs; petcancercenter.org

Nasosinal Tumors; National Canine Cancer Foundation; wearethecure.org

Greyt Holiday Fun

Looking for the sleigh

google images
The rest of Santa's team

  

Where are our gifts?

   MERRY  MERRY  MERRY  MERRY  MERRY

Looking for Rudolf

Pixabay.com

JOLLY  JOLLY  JOLLY  JOLLY  JOLLY JOLLY

Health, Happiness, Love

      HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO GREYT PEOPLE!

A New Life for Florida Greyhounds

This is just to inform.  I am neutral on this issue.  My concern is for the greyhound groups 
who will have to place many dogs.

opinionzoneblog.palmbeachpost.com

This past election day, Florida voters took a stand on what has been a source of contention between greyhound advocates and greyhound track owners for many years.  With the passing of Amendment 13, greyhound racing became banned in the state.  This was a long hoped for victory for many greyhound advocates.

orlandoweekly.com

 There are two sides to this story.  The obvious side is that  many of the Florida greyhounds, but not all, will not have to work anymore and will be adopted.  Some of the greys will still race and will travel to tracks outside of Florida.  Other states such as Arkansas, Alabama, Iowa, Texas, and West Virginia still run greyhounds.  And, of course, there are tracks in Mexico.

The majority of the Florida greys will be picked up by greyhound rescue groups.  Unfortunately, the people responsible for this legislation did not write into it a contingency for funds to help greyhound groups with this onslaught of dogs.  Most groups exist on donations and fundraising events.  This large amount of dogs needing homes will tax the resources of most groups.  Rescue groups have been trying to prepare, and, hopefully, the number of dogs will not exceed their capabilities.

foxnews.com

 All Florida tracks must close by December 31, 2020.     Thousands of dogs (up to 8000) from the tracks will have to   be placed in the course of 26 months, and that number does  not include puppies on greyhound farms not yet old enough  to race.  Many people will have to open their homes to  fosters and adoptions to alleviate the influx. 

floridagreyhoundassociation.com

I don't have strong political feelings about greyhound racing in this country.  I did know methods embraced by the sport were not in the best interests of greyhound welfare.  Crated for many hours a day, the possible administering of drugs in some cases, and the injuries and broken bones that plague greyhounds running at high speeds on a track were concerns for me.  

 I have never been to a greyhound track or kennel so I don’t really know how greyhounds are treated there.  But I do know that although I’m sure that running is their favorite thing to do, occupying a crate for most of their days is not healthy for a dog.  And although  they can break bones in the backyard (I know because it happened to my Kiowa), the possibility of breaks increases running at high speed on a track on a regular basis.

winknews.com

 It’s unfortunate that people in the  racing industry will be affected by these closings.  But the Florida greyhounds will wake up to a new life, one with loving families and warm beds. And they will only dream of chasing a mechanical rabbit around the track.

Resources:

Greyhound Racing in Florida will end soon.  What will happen to thousands of hounds?, Richard Bennet, greytarticles.wordpress.com

Victory For Florida’s Greyhounds!, Stephen Wells, Nov. 2018, thebark.com

Future Unclear for Thousands of Greyhounds That will Need Homes Following Florida Racing Ban, Devan Stuart Lesley, Nov. 2018, people.com

Falling for an Older Dog

Falling in love with an older grey,

not so hard to do.

One look into those beautiful eyes,

leads to what is true.

Waiting for dinner

Sitting pretty

Adopting a dog to add to your family may, at first, seem very cut and dried.  The person visits a shelter or greyhound rescue, in our case, and their first choice would probably be a younger dog, craving their wild antics and exuberant energy (of course, not so much with a greyhound).  Reasons for this choice can be varied.  People desire a dog with energy or they feel a younger dog will live a longer life with them.  For whatever reasons, the young dogs have a head up on any dog that comes into the rescue being a bit older.  

When I adopted my first greyhound, I felt the need for a younger dog so that we might share a long life together.  That first baby lasted with us until 12, so we were lucky that time.  I have also had dogs die earlier than they should have from a terminal illness or some weird ailment that happened overnight.  These dogs were vibrant one minute and deadly ill the next.  In reality, we are never guaranteed the pleasure of our companions’ company for as long as we want them.   

Most of my lovely greyhounds have been 3 or 4 and even 5 when adopted.  However, my latest and youngest girl had just had her 2nd birthday when she came into our home.  Some of my dogs have lived to 13 or 14, but it still it is never enough time to love them.  The point is no matter at what age we adopt our dogs, their time with us is finite.  

Squirrel watching

Through the years, I have met adopters who consistently adopt older greyhounds.  I am in awe of these people.  They know up front that their new friends may not be with them for very long.  But still they ignore their own needs and focus on what they can do for these older creatures who still have a lot of life in them.  These greys could have been brood mothers, or dogs whose owners died and were returned, or older dogs that people gave back to the rescue because they didn’t fit into their lives anymore. (Please tell me how that happens?)  They want to give these sweet greyhounds a chance to live out the rest of their lives loved and cared for.

A pretty pose

An older greyhound may not have as much energy, but they like their toys and can still do an impressive sprint now and again.  They may be a bit slower running around the backyard, but the one thing that remains the same is the greyhound rest period.  We all know that phenomenon - sprint 30 seconds, sack out for an hour or two or three.  The older dog gives love and companionship, and perhaps because of more life experience, can impart a depth of feeling that has taken time to develop.

An older greyhound can be a perfect fit for an older adopter.  Since all greyhounds love walks, this dog can be an incentive to get out, smell the fresh air, and get some exercise.  Older dogs demand less of their people because their rest period may be a little longer than,before.  Some seniors also worry about the dog they adopt outliving them.  If a dog lives a good 10 years or more, its rehoming would happen at an older age making it more difficult for the dog.  Adopting a dog at 8 or older would give that dog a chance to live a happy and fulfilling life with the same companion. 

Ki's not too happy

Good profile

All greyhounds are precious.  They all look at us with the same expressive eyes, give their love unconditionally, and are happiest when they are bringing joy.  The age of these exceptional dogs creates no difference in how they love us or improve our lives.

True Nature

Sweet faces they possess

with calmness they express 

only part of who they are.

The other part, a hunter keen

who watches stealthily a scene
of small game to catch. 

                      Alice Brown

In the search to determine what I was going to write about this month, I came across an interesting article in Greyhound Articles Online (greytarticles.wordpress.com).  The article was written by Megan Robertson and asked the question - Why Don’t We Talk About What Our Dogs Really Are?  Sounds ominous, doesn’t it?  In reality, the author wanted us to look at our greyhounds realistically not from a romanicized version of the breed.  Yes, they are beautiful and fast, lazy and quirky, mellow and sweet, but they are also hunters with a keen sense for prey.  The author wondered why, as people who love these magnificent creatures, we don’t address that part of their nature more with adopters.  

When doing Greyhound Meet and Greets, I explain at length the virtues of the breed.  I do ask the interested party if they have other animals, and emphasize the importance of listing all animals in their household on any application. I explain that some greyhounds have a high prey drive and should not be with cats or small dogs.  Ms. Robertson’s article explained that whether we call it high prey drive or low prey drive, as a hunter each of our greyhounds has it.  Therefore, we need to clarify this issue more with any new adopter.

When a new grey comes into my house, I make sure that it is cat tolerant (this means, when tested, the dog showed little to no interest in a cat).  However, that does not mean that I should stop paying attention to the dog’s behavior.  Even a cat tolerant dog has prey

drive.  Three years ago in Florida, I was privy to an event that, even after 27 years of caring for greyhounds, surprised me.  My husband and I had gone to a dog park where we frequently brought our dogs.  This park had a large dog area and a separate small dog area.  Unfortunately, the small dog people insisted on bringing their dogs into the big dog area of the park.  This had never seemed to be an issue for our dogs.

That day, we were meeting friends at the park.  As we arrived, there seemed to be a mass exodus.  My friends and their chocolate lab were still there as was a gentleman with two small fluffy white dogs.  As we came in, I asked my friend what had happened to cause most everyone to leave.  She explained that there had been an aggressive dog in the park, and everyone got upset.  My friend’s dog was jumping around and wanted to play with my dogs, but the two small dogs were emitting weird undoglike sounds as one of them perched his front paws on Kiowa’s face.  I did not realize what these dogs were communicating.  After looking Kiowa in the eye, the dog got down but continued to make squeal-like sounds.  That is when my gentle, laid back dog turned his head and attacked one of the small dogs.  

Chaos soon reigned.  As Kiowa, went after one dog, Emma’s excitement escalated, and she began chasing the other white dog.  We finally separated the dogs, but one of them was injured.  Luckily, the injured dog, after veterinary care, was fine.  Later upon meeting those two dogs again, neither one made that prey-like sound, but barked normally.  Perhaps that sound transmitted as prey to our dogs with their fluffy white appearance adding to the illusion.  Something happened in the park that day that changed its very air and feeling, and the dogs special senses picked that up.  Our dogs have lulled us into this false sense of security.  I forget that they are hunters, and have the potential to act on it.  

Emma is our squirrel and rabbit dog, and she enjoys chasing them when an opportunity arises.  I don’t like this side of her, but this is what greyhounds were originally bred to do.  So why then does it offend me?  My greys are so sweet and easygoing that this sudden fierce side of them startles me.  It’s hard to fathom that within them they carry this trait.  

Since the event in the dog park, I am much more careful even when leashed small dogs approach my guys.  I watch carefully and pay close attention to body language. I will never underestimate my dogs again or go to a dog park. 

The fact that all greyhounds carry this inclination need not prevent adopters from loving them.  But we must realize that they are dogs, and this is a part of their nature.  It is neither good nor bad, but a part of what makes this breed special.  The greyhound is a hunter, but he is also a cuddler, a lover, a sleeper, a sprinter, a clown, a friend and a companion.  We need to embrace all of what this breed is and share it with people who want to love greyhounds as much as we do.      

  

Resources:

Why Don’t We Talk About What Our Dogs Really Are? by Megan Robertson, Greyhound Articles Online, greytarticles.wordpress.org