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Thursday,
January 07, 2010
[Cable Muse Network, LLC]
Our new hound is Lakota, a beautiful brindle girl weighing in at about 60 pounds. She is our 10th greyhound
so we didn't have to undergo much in the way of an application process since Judy is familiar with our circumstances. We have
been adopting ex-racers since 1994 and usually have three or four at any given time. When we heard about the closure
of the tracks in WI and AZ it seemed a good time to bring our pack back up to four, that is the limit the city puts on domestic
animal ownership and given the space in our home we wouldn't keep more than that or they could feel too crowded.
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| Lakota Waiting to join The Phoenix Six from the race track |
When
we contacted Judy she already had potential adopters for the original 6 dogs but somehow she managed to get one more at the
last minute to come with the group. We didn't even know for sure that she was coming until they were en route.
They arrived in NM late in the day so we decided to wait til morning to bring her home so she could
check out the yard and the other hounds in the daylight. She was very friendly and affectionate to us right from the
beginning but the tricky part is to integrate the new dog into the existing group at home without upsetting the existing dynamic
of the pack. Since the ex-racers have lived in individual confinement cages their whole lives they have to learn everything
about living in a house with humans and other dogs from the ground up. We usually stay with the dogs 24/7 until we are
comfortable that they are getting along and to facilitate teaching the new one about the home environment.
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| Click to Enlarge All images |
Right from the start we could tell that Lakota seemed to have a few more IQ points than most of the other
hounds we have adopted. She learned to go through the dog door with just a few lessons and was navigating it herself
by the second day. Also, she conquered the stairs with no hesitation, just followed one of the other dogs without any
prompting on our part. It took a few days to convince her that the kitchen counter was not a large doggy buffet and we
have also trained ourselves to be more careful to put things away so that the dogs are not tempted into bad behavior. It's
pretty hard to resist a tasty treat left unattended and within reach, especially during the first weeks. One rough patch happened
during the third day. Our big male (Jake) accidentally stepped on Lakota's bed and startled her while she was sleeping.
She lunged up and bit him quite severely in the side but I put it down to a reflexive action rather than a vicious one. After
that, we obtained a crate and Lakota stays in it when we are away from home and sleeps there at night. The rest
of the time, I am keeping an eye on where she is sleeping to make sure she is out of the traffic pattern and am working with
her to become accustomed to having her space encroached upon.
With multiple dogs, [our dogs] must get used to being together and sharing the space, the
beds, toys, drinking bowls and our time and affection. The main thing we have found is to be consistent in our reactions
to the dog's behavior, letting them know what is acceptable and what is not and then sticking with it. After a few days,
it became apparent to me that "Lakota" was not the right name for this dog. She has since been renamed "Daisy"
after Dagwood and Blondie's dog in the comics. When she perks her ears up the tips flop over to the front and give her
a comical and inquisitive look. She is becoming accustomed to her name and now comes when called about 75% of the time.
The second week she was here we were watching TV and the program "Sunday Morning" was on. The very
end of the show was a scene in the wilderness and when two wolves were shown trotting across a snowfield; Daisy started crying
and howling and tried to get into the TV screen. Luckily, the set is up on a high shelf or she probably would have succeeded.
Since then, we have noticed that she is interested in TV whenever there are animals, especially wolves and foxes on the program. She
is the only dog I have ever had that has taken any notice of the TV at all.
Given that Daisy seems to have a rather assertive personality combined with her intelligence
I am seriously considering taking her to an obedience class. I think it would reinforce the message that she is the dog
and we are the leaders of the pack. What potential adopters of greyhounds have to realize is that at first, getting the dog
acclimated to its new environment can be a full time job, whether it is drawing out a timid and shy dog, winning the trust
and affection of one who may have been treated roughly, or as in Daisy's case, damping down her assertiveness without ruining
her personality. We are rewarded every day a hundred times over for our efforts when we enjoy the affectionate companionship of
these "grey" dogs. Our only sorrow is knowing that there are so many other dogs that are waiting for a
home. They all have so much love to give and are so appreciative of love they are given. It is heartbreaking to
think of the many dogs that are still at the track, kept locked in wire boxes for so many hours each day, when the vast majority
of them could be wonderful family members if just given the chance.
Yours truly,
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Jean Wubker
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