A boy or a girl? Advice please.

[polly]

Hi. It's just over a week since we lost Rowan to cancer, and my little whippet, Willow, is still not anything like the dog she was before. That's despite me being with her constantly. Now I have had her from a pup, we bought her to replace the lurcher girl we had to rehome after she wrought havoc in a field of sheep*. Rowan was pining. She has never known anything but love and kindness here, she is the perfect dog. Perfect recall and obedient, loving and funny. Ro's big bed went with him on his last trip to the vet ... I don't want it back, so I bought her a new whippet sized dog bed of her own, which she has taken to. She still has her crate to go to if she wants it. I have shamelessly used emotional blackmail to get OH to relax (AKA jettison) the "No Dogs Upstairs" rule.

She isn't eating unless I tempt her with tidbits, and she seems really really nervy, shaking and crying. With Rowan, she always took his lead .. so he would be fed substantially more than her, which he would wolf down. When he had almost finished and she was about half way through, they would swap bowls ... she would clean his up and he would snaffle whatever was left in hers. She would wind through his legs .. he was a very tall boy (33" ats) and she is a very small girl. When going out for a W-A-L-K they would both get ridiculously excited, altho after his amputation, Rowan couldn't manage very far at all. I always felt as if she was his cheerleader. "Rah Rah Go Ro!"

So, I am seriously thinking about looking for another dog to keep her company. We have cats and hens so I cannot have anything with a high prey drive*. Rowan was a total gent with all his feline and feathered compatriots .. one of my fondest recent memories is him standing back and letting the little flock of fussy girls walk in front of him, totally unbidden. We do have a very large and safe (*now) garden including a patch of orchard. After going through so much angst with Rowan I do not know if I would want another full greyhound ... so many of them seem to fall prey to bone tumours of various types. I know other breeds do succumb, but with a greyhound I feel as if I would be on constant alert.

So .. is it too soon? Should I give it more time, see if she settles? And if we do decide to look for a new friend, should we be looking at boys only? Most of the dogs hereabouts she comes into contact with are male, tho she does play quite nicely with my friend's border terrier girl, Daisy.

Any thoughts, musings or reflections gratefully received.

[alexandsteve]

I know exactly how you are feeling. My dearly loved Whippet Baxter went to the Bridge in September, he suffered frequently from pain from disc disease and it just got worse and worse.

At first Cerys (our lurcher) seemed ok but as time has gone on I feel that she has lost confidence, she also doesn't eat at times unless she has run her leggies off and then she will eat dinner.

Im with her all the time and when Im not in my husband is, we take her on long walks at the beach, play ball, she sleeps next to me in our room, we do what we can to make her life as full/exciting as possible now Baxter isn't here to be her constant companion. We have cats too although I don't think they are much companionship for a dog in my opinion.

Cerys lacked confidence when we first had her at times and when Baxter came along it really did just give her a boost, they really were a wonderful match, the best! I do feel she took his lead and I didn't realise how much until now. They too used to do a food bowl swap, although Bax had usually eaten his and fooled Cerys into thinking otherwise lol

To be honest there is nothing in the world that could replace Baxter to me, he was just my very best boy BUT... there is a Whippet sized hole in all our hearts and if I was in the position to have another dog (im living with my parents at the moment!) I would for Cerys especially.

I don't think it matters what type of hound it is, if its the right dog for you, you and Willow will love it no matter what. I have no idea about boys or girls either but I guess if I have the chance to get another friend for Cerys It would be a boy.

And if you do have another Greyhound it may live a long and healthy life with not even a slight illness

Im trying now not to focus on the feelings I had when Baxter was ill and when we made the decision to let him go to the bridge because if I keep them in the front of my mind i'd never have another dog - it hurts so much to see them in pain and it hurts even more when you have to make the decision to let them go but the love and happiness you get from them is just the best thing ever and that's what matters the most.

Let us know if you do get another friend for Willow and of course pictures are a must.

Hugs
Alex xxx

[vickyb]

Personally I have always filled the 'hole' immediately. I know some people think it's wrong that I adopt another with indecent haste (I have been known to adopt 'in advance' when I knew one would be leaving us soon) but because I would only ever have rescue dogs I very firmly believe that it's a way of honouring the departed one - allowing another dog to experience a loving home and a soft sofa and thus making space in rescue for a dog in danger of loosing its life. I think the dog that has left us would be looking down and smiling in approval but I absolutely respect the views of anyone who doesn't feel able or choose to do that. It is a personal choice.

We've got 3 girls and one boy and don't find it a problem. I'd say that it's just whichever dog she gets on with irrespective of sex - although I do have a soft spot for lads despite having 3 girls. It wasn't planned that way, they just needed us and we had room at the time. We've never had set out to adopt a particular sex and luckily never had a problem. Yes the girls do fall out now and again but it's very very rare now but it's just posturing and shouting and I shout louder which stops them in their tracks.

I think you have to do what you feel is right for you all but it does sound as if Willow needs a friend. I do find it hard in some ways adopting another so quickly - they won't be Rowan and all you want is for him to be back with you but you have another dog that desperately needs you and they will never take his place in your heart but they will soon give you a piece of theirs to add to it.

Good luck whatever you decide

[greybeard]

Kizzie really pined after Tillie went to the Bridge.They'd always been together - and Kiz just kept looking for her everywhere.Took a while to convince Chris she needed a new friend,then going through the adoption process.We did want another grey or lurcher.1st hound that was suggested(Perry)she got on with,so he came home from the Gap show.She's a lot happier now even if not the same relationship she had with her sister.And she still looks hopeful if she spots a fawn grey or lurcher that looks very like a grey.With Kizzie she is happier with other hounds - just needed for her to choose 1.Cath

[jenjanjo]

We had our girl Tilly 5 weeks after we lost our old girl Jaz....I can honestly say that it was looking through photos of Jaz and realising what a great life she had that made us realise we had room in our lives to give another needy dog a good home and life.. It was the right decision and Tilly has been with us 4 years and has since been joined by Maddy, another girl. I personally think it depends on the nature of Willow and whichever dog she gets on with. Tilly is very easy going and was very accepting of Maddy from day one.

Good luck in whatever decision you make...we'll be watching for updates from you...and photos of course!

[Nettie]

It's never too soon if you would like another hound it is entirely your decision, some people wait and some don't, only you know the right time. As others have said it's not the sex of the hound that matters but the right personality for Willow and you, obviously cat and chill friendly too.

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[Lisa]

I've got a lovely 17 week old pup polly needs a fantastic home which you have and needs ger confidence building

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[jenjanjo]

Nov 11, 2013 13:39:30 GMT -5 Lisa said:

I've got a lovely 17 week old pup polly needs a fantastic home which you have and needs ger confidence building

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That made me laugh as Maddy was 17 weeks old when you handed her over to us ...... I still can't believe OH gave in to a second hound...and he loves her to bits...best thing we ever did!

[lilypie]

Awh we waited 6 mths after losing Abby last year. We thought that Harry was coping better than he was and I wouldn't wait so long again. However it is a personal decision best of luck with whatever u decide xxx

[polly]

A girl Lisa? What's in her mix?

[Lisa]

Yes female saluki x greyhound she is stunning. Definitely needs bringing on but she is as bright as a button and learning quickly. Very calm puppy now but you can already see the madam streak. I love her she's very special. Check dog talk an eventful couple of days thread. I'll get better photos tomorrow

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[Lisa]

Oh and it is safe to say the puppy has now landed! We had a 4.30am interlude but after weeing and pooing outside she went straight back to her crate and slept again! This morning my under confident poopie is playing with the big dogs and is having a bounce and a shout at them. Her confidence rises each day and its lovely to see! Never seen such a shut down pup before.

[polly]

She is stunning, lovely eyes. Not sure I could persuade OH to another Saluki rich Lurcher tho ... as it is, she looks a lot like Lola, the Lurcher Willow followed into the family. Lola was great in the home, but the first time she spotted a sheep when we moved here, ALL she wanted to do was rip them to shreds. After the first incident I spent the best part of £1k getting the garden dog proofed ... and it had previously been used as a GSD rescue! She found the one spot where the builder had overlapped fencing rather than abutting it. I had to pay 2 very angry farmers off and get Kaye to re home her miles away from sheep country. I will have a chat with him. BTW, Willow complains at having to go out when it's wet ... we have a glass roofed canopy on order, to cover the area outside the kitchen door and log store ... as much for her benefit as mine!

[Lisa]

Was Lola socialised around sheep as a pup though Polly? It makes all the difference and the cross is no more likely to be bad around sheep than another. My opinion is that whippets whippet crosses especially saluki x whippet and whippet x collie are likely to be the worst jumpers. Bella is going to be a big dog and definitely has the greyhound shape and height. It's only the face you can see the saluki.

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[polly]

No, she wasn't, there weren't any where we lived when we got her, just cattle & horses, and she was nervous of them. The first time she saw a sheep, she went for it. Then sHe managed to squeeze through a tiny gap where the builder had overlapped the fencing between us and next door ... Ro couldn't get thru but he showed me where she'd gone. I couldn't credit that she'd got thru, but she was a skinny thing. The hedges here are between 5 and 6 feet high, plus they're on top of a Devon bank that runs at head height along the lane, so it'd be a hell of a drop for anything without wings .. Will chased a rat that jumped off a fence post and it killed itself when it landed. Yuckety yuck. I will have a word with OH ... there is a lady just over the border in Somerset who offers sheep training, but she said it was too late to help Lola, she had already tasted mutton. How tall do you think she will make?