The first raw purchase

In the past, my parents were nice enough to buy several turkey necks from a local turkey farm. They only did it once and bought $20 worth, but it lasted quite a while. I gave Ferguson a neck every week or so, but beyond those occasional necks, I never gave any more raw food.

I've recently done a lot more thinking and research on raw food, or at least what goes into my dog's food and battling with finding reasonable costs. As you may know from my previous posts, Ferguson had really started to lose his luster for kibble. And can you blame him? How could you be excited for brown pebbles every day of your life? Unfortunately, paying for raw, or even dehydrated raw, is fairly expensive until you find a good source and can buy in bulk (or so it seems). I think the raw diet takes some practice when it comes to shopping.

Regardless, I figured it would be worth trying to get at least some of the benefits of raw, similar to what Jennifer feeds her hounds. I mean this in the sense of giving half a dozen or so raw meals a week, feeding a high quality kibble/wet dog food for the other meals. That way, we're in far less danger of missing any important nutrients. The key word though, is try, I think, for now.

Today I bought the dogs a special treat: a whole cut-up raw chicken. The whole thing was about 5lbs, so I put the pieces of relatively equal weight into separate zip-lock bags, about 4 total: enough for 2 meals for 2 dogs.

As I said, I think it will take some practice, and some finding of some super deals at Costco or a friendly butcher, but I'm willing to try and make it work as much as I can. We'll consider it a work in progress. Until then, meal time is getting to be Ferguson's favorite thing again :).

The Lull of the Shore...

So, while nothing is set in stone yet, my family has recently made an offer on a beach property in New Jersey. While the rest of Jersey I essentially detest, the beach is...well..it's the beach! The seller has accepted their offer, but due to various other complications, we're still waiting to hear back with the final word.

They've been looking for years, but not until recently have I really grasped the awesomeness that it would be to have free access to a beach home year round. If you remember, Ferguson, Eric and I were lucky enough to visit Dewey Beach for Greyhounds Reach the Beach:



It was a lot of fun, but both of us felt like it'd be more fun if we were there for a few days as opposed to one afternoon. So, perhaps this year will be filled with fun beach fun with the puppies!

Unfortunately, I've spent a lot of today finding fun beach ideas, toys, and accessories, as well as doing things like looking up local dog daycares for day trips. Some of my favorites:

^Hey, they'll need new collars to wear the beach house's address and licenses on it!




I'm also loving the extent of dog-friendly activities there are. One of my favorite things to do is go whale and dolphin watching, and there's a boat that allows friendly dogs aboard for no extra charge. Did I mention they also have season passes available? Not to mention the large number of outdoor eating areas...

Man. I'm already excited for this summer, and it's not even March...

A problem I've had with Ferguson for a while is his lack of appetite in the morning. While Winry happily eats anything put in a dish in front of her, Ferguson sulks in front of his soaked bowl. If I mix it with wet food, he will pick out each little chunk and leave the rest. To get him to eat, he must be confined to the pen with his food, and even then, it takes him around 45 minutes of picking.

Unfortunately, I think much of it is Ferguson associating eating with me leaving in the morning. Because of the way our schedule tends to work, it's a little inevitable. While he can now tolerate me leaving with not crying or harming himself, he still loses his appetite at the thought of me being gone -_-. Yet, if he's offered wet food, raw food, or something other than kibble, he gobbles it right up. Figures...

Anyway, because as his foster once told me, "Food=Love in the dog world," I've decided to give some reasonably priced dehydrated food a try. I like the benefits of raw, but it is admittedly rather time consuming to find and prepare beyond the occasional turkey neck. Apparently food companies have thought of this and have freeze dried raw food so your pet can have many of the benefits of raw with ease. I found some after much searching on amazon that is comparable to one of the dry brands I use right now, so we'll give it a go and see what happens.

In the evening, I still plan on feeding him kibble as he eats fairly well at night. But, if feeding something tastier makes him eat more and feel happier, than so be it.

While things are still looking decent on the potential job-change front, we'll be in even better shape if I do get this position, and perhaps he and Winry can eat raw every day ^_^. We can dream....

Pawsome Blogger Award

A special thank you to Hiking Hounds for recognizing my Greyt Dog Blog :o). I'm so very honored, and love sharing my now two greyhounds with the world.

I'd like to pass it on to the following blogs. You are extra pawsome if you have gotten the award more than once ;).

Luna's Life in the Garden State

Brindle Hounds

Greyhounds CAN sit

Never Say Never Greyhounds

Wet Noses

The Puppy Raising Roller Coaster

Declan's Dog Blog

Genji's Corner

Thanks again!

Newton's new family, and LD Weihl Sassy.

Newton found his forever home yesterday!!!! Things have been going very well in his new home. He is an only dog (though I thought he'd be more than okay with this, the leader-type he is) and has been doing well with their two cats. I was very pleased to hear that he is settling in well and his family seems to really enjoy him! I'm very happy and proud of him!!!

The same day Newton went home, "Sassy" came home with me as a replacement foster. Sassy came right off the track last weekend and was adopted the same day. However, her family had a very skittish 6 month old kitten, and while Sassy initially tested cat-workable, they didn't utilize the muzzle, leash, or squirt bottle in their introduction, leaving the cat more than petrified beyond what the family wanted to work with. So, she came back and will be staying with me for a while...or forever.

I have to admit, I think I am falling in love. This dog has been practically perfect since she walked in the door. She's not snarky, knows how to instantly pee when let outside, is quiet and okay with being alone, is responsive already to being called and listens well, rides wonderfully in the car, seems to be hitting it off with Ferguson, walks pretty well on the leash, and is excessively, almost unbearably, cute. She is meeting my criteria as if she has an innate check-list...we might be in danger of failing here. At x-mas when we visit my parents, we'll work on the small animal thing with Niles, the excessively mellow Westie, and WILL make use of squirt bottles, muzzles, and leashes. This is mainly because Eric definitely would like to adopt a cat one day, and while we can certainly adopt a cat that is very dog-friendly, knowing for sure that she will tolerate it would make the decision even easier. Additionally, knowing I can trust her at work with smaller dogs and my parent's dog is also fairly important.

So, we will see how things go and continue to progress. I'm so afraid to get my heart set on her, but I feel like it's starting to be a losing battle. But: I think I may know exactly what (or who) I want for x-mas.

Newton

Well, he kind of fell into my lap, but say hello to my GEGR foster, Superior Newton.



The best way I could describe him would be "Humble."

To avoid being redundant, Newton has his own blog that I will proceed to update until he is adopted (hopefully in early December). Feel free to visit here.

He is a cutie, and will make someone a greyt hound.

CP Dog Park Visit

Ferguson's official "membership ID" tag came in the mail, so we are now free to use the normally deserted dog park whenever we'd like! This afternoon, just as I suspected, no one was there, so we were free to use the park in peace. Ferguson had quite a nice time; I love to watch him run.



(if the link doesn't work, you can also view the video here: http://youtu.be/nkFehXACYtA ).

In the above video, he'd already run somewhat before I remembered I had my Ipod. Next time I'll try to get his first initial sprint. A few other photos we took while visiting:






As I mentioned before, I'm hoping that more frequent trips to a large open running space will help him cope along with behavioral modification to tackling his SA. He is certainly dead tired at the moment, passed out in the corner on his favorite yoga mat. It was overall a fun time.

Speaking of which, that blue squeaky ball is Ferguson's current favorite thing and has been for a few weeks. It is Kong brand, and have a few other shapes made of the same material...perhaps I'll consider getting him some for Xmas so we can keep one in the car, and one for the yard at home.

Money Not Blown

I did not spend as much as I could have in merchandise, which is good, considering I had to pay for a tank of gas, food, and Ferg's licence before anything else. So, my spending was limited to:


^This cute shirt that Eric liked (he said it made sense, since I own a "golden" grey)

and



^Some really adorable stationary cards that reminded me of Ferguson.

All in all, I think if I were to go again next year, I'd definitely go ahead and arrange to stay for the whole weekend. Because of the lack of structured events, it was mostly just a collective place to veg with your hound on the beach while also doing a bit of shopping. It was lovely getting to see so many hounds though...I think Ferguson thought so too :). I regret not taking more pictures of them, but I thought it would be awkward for me to randomly photograph stranger's dogs.

Since we've been back, Ferguson is surprisingly alert; he seeems to have enjoyed the excitement and activity of Dewey to where he acts bored and a little restless at home. *rolls eyes* We just got back from an hour long walk along the paint branch trail again though, so perhaps that will take the edge off. He'll also be coming to work with me for the next four days. Hopefully he likes Svara as much as he likes Lily, as she will be his daycare buddy for the week, with the exception of Thursday.


^She is also pretty cute, and around the same size/demeanor as Lily.

Ohh Ferguson <3

Beach Photos

We're Gearing Up for DE!

The plan is that Eric, Ferguson, and I will be heading to DE for a Saturday day trip to attend Greyhounds Reach the Beach 2011! Obviously, this will be our first year going, so there will have to be pictures to follow. Ferguson hasn't been the best subject lately while he's recovering (again) from his self-inflicted paw injury.




However, he does seem to be doing better. This weekend should take a fair amount out of him mentally and physically, which he will appreciate after extended boring days around the house. Today though, we were able to walk about 1/2 a mile...just no running. *sighs*

Something I'm considering is registering him in PG County so we could be members of the dog park 1/2 a mile down the road. Admittedly, I really wouldn't use the dog park for letting him play with other dogs (I confess, I'm still wary of them after hearing horror stories, and he gets enough social interaction when he has to come with me to work), but would use it as an open space for him to run. We now frequently walk along the paint branch trail and therefore, go right passed the dog park and find it to be unoccupied most afternoons. While we do have a yard, it's not spacious enough for him to run remotely close to full-speed, and I really do LOVE to watch him run. I'll add this to my to-do list once he is up to par again.

In any case, we're hanging in there. I will have to try my best to not blow *too* much money at GRTB!!!

More Stuffings

^Ferguson, looking awesome in his new "work" collar. We went with the Starburst Blue :).

Things have been going well since our move, though we're doing some remedial work on Ferguson's alone training...basically the only issue I've had with him ever. There was one time when I left him to run to the grocery store with a friend. I left him with a natural smoked bone with jerky still on it that he LOVED and couldn't get enough of. When I came back 30 minutes later, he was still going at it, and didn't even want to leave his crate (of course, I take away the distraction toy regardless, so he learns that being alone is awesome, because you get extra super special toys). However, since then, the bone is no longer cool/stinky/new. So, we're back to kong/bone stuffing recipes to make him forget that I'm gone, or at least lessen the blow of my absence.

Today we went to the Rockville Petco, where I dropped yet another $20 on fun stuff for him. One neat thing I did get though, for only $4, was this "Mega last" whatever rubber bone. What I liked about it though, is the deep ridges it has that look PERFECT for stuffing and freezing. See below:



Additionally, I can put two different stuffings on half, so I can see what he likes best. Above, you see canned dog food of the Nutro chicken variety (no wheat or corn)and vanilla yogurt from my own stash of Greek deliciousness(man, you're lucky I love you, buddy). There is also his kong in the freezer with more canned food with peanut butter and a few tiny cookie bits embedded for additional flavor/challenge.

Up to this point, Ferguson is not known for having a very delicate tummy, so I hope he'll do okay with a few spoonfuls of the canned food. We'll also have to get more pumpkin, though he only likes that prior to freezing *rolls eyes*. ANYWAY, here goes our attempt at resembling the interest he once had for that natural bone (which, by the way, we can also stuff).

Some super awesome stuffed toys + 30 minutes of walking + DAP diffuser/spray hopefully equals a more conquered separation-loathing Ferguson. Luckily, with his new arrangement, he'll never be alone more than three hours.

*I will note though, that he now only barks about 10 times over the course of a few hours. This is SO MUCH improved over the first few months, we he'd cry constantly. For now, I'm just trying to take the edge off his stress panting and shifting it to actual sleep.

Ohh Ferguson.

Toys and Collars?

Generously, Ferguson's Uncle Chris refused payment for his babysitting services, and instead instructed me to splurge on Ferguson. Well, we all know that isn't going to be too difficult. Already, I've made a trip to Jeffers Pet and purchased a few things...

A Kong Wobbler

An unstuffed squeaky loofa dog

A Dremal (finally)

And some Ripable Toys to name a few.

But, I also wanted to get him a new, fancy collar from a source that would benefit our group. I found this site that is incredible with designs. However, I really can't make up my mind! I'm torn between a few designs, so I thought I'd leave it up to you, my readers, to vote. The contenders are:

Star Burst Navy

Star Burst Blue

Wedgewood Plaid

Spiced Tea

Glass Tiles Turquoise

Aztec

While it may be obvious that blue is my favorite color, I'm going for something that will look best against his red fawn fur, in addition to looking nice in public as Jenny's Demo Dog ;).

Also, maybe for the holidays?:

Penguin Play

Evergreens in the Snow

French Horns

Peppermint

So so so many choices! Help me out, guys!

Wallet troubles again...

^What we hope he'll look like once his coat arrives

Ohh Ferguson.

Our move, due to personal reasons, has become a gradual thing with frequent visitations to the new house. Ferguson seems fine when he's at the house; he plays, he listens well to commands, etc. However, his anxiety has to show up somewhere, and unfortunately tends to manifest itself in the big D. It's come and gone, but presently, for no apparently reason, it's returned (it went away after a day or two, but we've not been back to the house for almost a week). Hurray for yet another day of skipping breakfast and having a bland diet of rice/chicken.

I think this new environment anxiety will calm down the more often we visit, but for him, it really depends on the day. Ferguson can now reliably be left out in the house (confined to the kitchen and family room) and only complains for a moment before settling down once you've left. I think that while he has learned to be quiet, he has also learned to internalize his issues, some on bad days, it comes out in other ways...literally.

At work, I was reading all about Thundershirts and gave in. There is a money back guarantee, and I think I'll know pretty quickly if it works or not. For some people, it seems to work wonders for their insanely anxious/upset dogs...I'm wondering if it will help take the edge off of my already usually acceptable dog. If it does make him feel any better, I think it'd be worth it. We shall see though.

From work, I also invested in a plug-in pheromone dog thing. This also has a money-back guarantee if I see no difference in him. Mostly, this is all to help him adjust to new places with less anxiety faster. It does make me miserable when I sense his anxious energy...we then just reflect off of one another, making it an unpleasant experience all together.

I feel bad complaining, because he is SO much better than in the past, since he's actually quiet, but I would feel even better if I knew he was relaxed, as opposed to tense, for the duration that I am gone. If nothing else, as I often remind myself, I will have these things to use for future dogs that I foster/adopt.

Man, I can't wait to get a cat, where I'll get to start ALL over with buying products. Hopefully by then though, the love of my life, Eric, will be with me to contribute mutually to the feline cause.

Hope it works for ya, buddy.

A Proud Canine Good Citizen!!!

After much delay and FINALLY getting a time together with an evaluator, Ferguson was able to take his CGC test...and PASS IT :D.

While we look sloppy at many parts of the test, it was a good start, I think, and apparently made the cut. Below are some clips from the test...I'll see if I can get them all on here, and in order (no promises though).

Okay, considering that took more than 90 minutes to edit and upload on here, I think I'll do the remaining ones another time. So, stay tuned!

In other brief news, Ferguson had quite the tummy upset today :(. My mom took him out at lunch time for a quick walk, and found that he'd actually soiled himself a bit...when I got home, I let him out into the yard to set off a bomb of explosive bodily contents from both ends :(. Needless to say, off we went to the vet/aka, work. An few injections of pepcid and anti-nauseous medicine and metronidazole later, he seems to be feeling better.

Let's hope tomorrow is a better-feeling day...

My Blue Angel

Only he has not much to be blue about these days ^_^.

CGC test a week from Monday...still practicing, but doing well.

Also, his coat is shiner than ever.

Today, I also essentially wrote a novella for the GEGR forum on how and why I got Ferguson, and because I put so much into it, I'll go ahead and post it here. If you already know the story, feel free to skip along.

Enjoy the weekend!

"Since I was 15, I raised and trained Labradors for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. I would receive puppies at 8-9 weeks of age and socialize and train them extensively for the first year and a half of their lives before returning them to the guide dog school for even more training to become official service dogs. This worked out for me at the time, being in high school and unable to fully dedicate to having a permanent dog, and also got me much more involved in training with hands on experience and professional classes than I ever anticipated.

While I did bond deeply with my dogs (one of which I am still hoping to have back at the end of her guide dog career), there were many things about the labs, all being adolescents, that I found frustrating over time to deal with. For example, guide dogs must absolutely remain calm around other dogs, people, etc. for obvious reasons, but the number of repetitions it would take to simply get a doofy pup to calmly pass a stranger during class I found to be tiresome. Everything about life they take with such ridiculous enthusiasm, and just does not suit my own personality for my own personal pet. I also knew I'd want a dog that did not need 3 miles of walking every day to remain balanced and happy. Don't get me wrong, I loved many of the dogs I raised, but as a general rule, feel that the energy level and goofy temperament of the lab was not a perfect fit.

With my experience, I aided others with casual training and worked with terriers, shepherds, hounds, etc. What I found was that most people that had trouble with their dogs also had dogs that really were not a good match for their temperaments and energy levels...something I definitely didn't want to happen to me. So many people adopt dogs based on flashy or cute looks, but don't consider the dog's genetic background and what it takes to make that dog complete...until it is too late of course, and the dog and their owners often suffer as result.

When my graduation from college came nearer, I had decided I wanted a dog, but my own PERMANENT dog that I would never have to return. I also wanted a dog that would reflect my calmer personality, as well as being a prime example of what I wanted out of dogs I would train in the future, aiding me with their rehabilitation/redirection of behavior by simply being themselves and respecting my authority without question. For those of you who know Cesar Milan, I was searching for my own "Daddy" dog, if you will. Also, being a firm believer in adoption, I would only consider a dog in which I could rescue. However, with such demands, finding a low key, mellow, healthy, and fairly young dog was hardly an easy feat. I expressed my wishes to my boyfriend, and he immediately recommended the greyhound. His grandparents owned them in the past, and he always knew them for being docile, friendly, and, of course, lazy. I started my research, and was sold in no time. Here was a dog that was bred for thousands of years to be docile, healthy, and of course, a sprinter. I was pleased to learn I would have no trouble fulfilling a greyhound's needs as long as they had occasional opportunities to run and get a minimum of 30 minutes of walking each day. Once I decided, I became obsessed and enthusiastic about my eventual adoption (which, at this point, was more than 6 months away). Being a knitter, I even found a greyhound pattern and made my future dog a sweater...I priced out everything, made a budget, and started collecting dog things for my birthday and Christmas, so that when the time came, I would have everything I needed. (and yes, everyone else thought I was nuts ).

The hunt began with me looking for a small young female, a white one with patches of black or brown or brindle. The size of the female appealed to me more, but the main reason was the fear of marking; my parent's adopted westie rudely marks things all the time, particularly in new environments, which would just not suit me, as I planned to take the dog with me to visit friends and travel. I located several females that might potentially work for me, but I was regularly halted by the adoption groups and their policies; they all insisted that they would select a dog for me, bring it to my house, and that would be it. "Well, I'd much rather get to meet a few dogs, see them interact with other dogs to get a feel for their natural pecking order, and also have something to compare to," I'd try explain. The answer was the same for three adoption groups. "We ask you to trust our judgement in selecting dogs, as we are experts at identifying good candidates for you." For ME?! They don't even know me! How could they do that?! Being the dog-snob that I am, I refused this form of adoption with the belief that I have met many dogs that have been good dogs, but were not naturally on my wave-length; I wanted to find a dog that could do this without having to feel sorry for returning it to the rescue at no fault of the dog. I continued my hunt, and finally found GEGR. Yes, Prince Frederick was much farther away than many of the others, but the adoption policy allowed me to meet several dogs and choose one (!). I emailed the given address and heard back from Lisa:

[color=#400080]Hi Jennifer,

Thanks for contacting GEGR. Although there are groups that are closer to you we would be happy to work with you. We do ask that our first time adopters do travel to Lusby, MD to meet and adopt their dog. The application process does not take long - usually not more than a couple of weeks so if December is your time-line then you can wait a while before submitting your application. In the mean time you can visit some of our meet and greets and get to know our volunteers and ask questions about our group if you would like to do that.

We do adopt to families with children. The dog that you describe is out there and will not be hard to find. GEGR works really hard to match dogs with adopters and we will be happy to help you find a good match.

We will look forward to hearing from you. Please let me know if you have any more questions.

Lisa

I was thrilled and sure this was the group for me. When the time finally came, I immediately submitted my application, got approved, and was ready to meet the dogs on January 8th. As I mentioned, up until this point, I'd been fairly set on a female; we had a name picked out and everything. But, as I more deeply researched and read the blogs of the available dogs, I found myself very drawn to a big red male...my Ferguson! I loved everything Chris had to say about him, and while he wasn't white with patches, the red color was mentioned on my application as one I liked. I knew I needed to keep an open mind, since meeting the dog in person would be the moment of truth, but Ferguson stayed in the back of my mind for the next few days...

When my parents, Eric and I arrived on that snowy, windy day in January, we went to the door and were asked what dog was on our list of potential good matches. I immediately asked for Ferguson, and out he and Chris came, all bundled up. The first thing I noticed about Ferguson was how HUGE he was...much taller than I expected. However, I also noted his sense of calm. There was so much chaos and activity around him, but he never lost his cool for one second. He sniffed my parent's Westie, and then completely ignored him. He walked with us willingly, calm and steady, though would look back occasionally at Chris, showing his sense of attachment towards those he loves. He also walked like a DREAM. Something that mattered a lot to me, a big promoter of walking dogs. Ferguson was definitely on my wave-length, but since I had met so few greyhounds, I took Chris's advice and met a few others to compare him to before making a final decision. We met "Nana" next, a gorgeous yet very shy girl who just came off the track, then Pal's Superdog (Now Finn, I believe ), and Dakota Jones, also right off the track. I got it down to Superdog, Ferg, and Dakota, but ultimately, there was just something special about Ferguson that I couldn't deny. As Eric put it, "He's just so mellow. In all this chaos, he keeps it together and doesn't give two $hI+$ about any of it. I think he's the best choice for us." He was my boy, and while I very much liked the other dogs, it seemed like they were waiting for someone else (and I was right!).

Ferguson came home with us that night, and we've never looked back since. He is everything I wanted in a dog and is my perfect angel. Up until a few weeks ago, his only flaw was the "Cry" in his racing name ("Cry Ferguson") that made leaving him alone difficult, but has since been resolved with no more issues . I will never be able to thank GEGR enough for bringing us together in such a perfect match. Even though it's only been six months, I can't imagine being with out him We were truly a match made in heaven "

Our First GEGR Picnic :)

What a day it was. I think Ferguson and I are still a bit worn out from it!

There was lots of good food, music, and of course, a ton of greyhounds. Unfortunately, with all the excitement, my camera was not as handy for the best parts :(. But, Ferguson did get to run, wade in water, and collapse in a baby pool, all in the company of his greyhound friends.

(And Eric too, of course ;))

My little black crocheted greyhound was auctioned off, and Ferguson was able to get a new muzzle (due to a mishap that occurred while my parents were babysitting). Ferg also got to say hi to Uncle Chris, his foster.

By this point, Ferguson was quite tired, but I believe he did recognize Chris (he doesn't flop over for belly rubs for just anyone!).

We also have enough treats to get us through the winter. There were many free samples of tasty-looking things in our goody bag that I think we'll go ahead and utilize in the next few days as we gear up for our (hopefully) CGC test tomorrow evening.

As part of the test, Ferguson must appear clean and well groomed, and after some wadding through the bay yesterday, I think a bath may be in order. However, Ferg really did enjoy those baby pools. I'm thinking we may need to go pick him up one (they're like $10, right?) perhaps tonight. Then, he can run and go for a long walk to get all hot and tired and actually enjoy the coolness while we bathe him...Luckily, I think Eric will be around to help.

So, in the next day or so, I need to seriously up my photography skills during these special upcoming events. Until then, though, I'm glad I at least thought to get a couple...

They Have Eyes!

I'd like to make at least one more for the picnic. I was able to FINALLY find eyes for .99!!!

Rainy days mean dips in my wallet.

How wonderful that my day off is a rainy and wet Saturday.  Luckily, Ferguson was able to do some running and get a long walk in before it got too bad, so hopefully he's out for the day.

I'm not totally off, I suppose, as I'm petsitting for Eric's mom while they're out of town, so a few times a day, I take the 20 minute drive over to their house in the country to care for Ella, their dog, and Gracie and Hershey Kiss, their two very friendly adolescent cats. What's funny is that the cats seem to be more interested in me than Ella, who is content after she's let out and eats her meal.  So, today, I'll venture on over again around dinner time.  Maybe the rain will clear up by then.

Ferguson has been doing better on his alone training, and has been left for half an hour without complaint.  At least we didn't have to start back at square one again with 10 seconds. Urg.

As I've been sitting here browsing the Internet, I couldn't help but notice my boy over there on his makeshift bed of a few old pillows with a blanket laid on top.  Not all of him fits on it, and only half of him looks comfortable.  Additionally, the pillows sag the more he sits on them, and probably provides little support.  So, because I love him just oh so much, I splurged a bit and bought him this new fancy orthopedic bed for a nice price of $50. 

What I liked about this bed is that it's XXL, so all of him will fit (a reviewer said that she bought it for her one greyhound, and it ended up being big enough for both the hound, her beagle, and a cat to snuggle in), and it has the "bumpers" since he seems to always end up with his butt hanging off or pushed uncomfortably against the wall, requiring him to readjust fairly frequently. It should also be nice on his joints with the ortho foam stuff.

Granted, Ferguson does have two "real" beds.  But one is in his wire crate and has deflated a considerable amount (it was $15 at Aldie), and the other is upstairs and is a round bed fleece bed that looks like this:

My Grandmother actually gave it to me for my Labradors years ago, as she bought it by mistake for her Westie, not knowing how big it was.  While he does like it, it seems like it's just a size too small for him, and his butt is forever hanging off to the point that I got an old pillow and put it next to it to fit more of him on the bed.  His other other "bed" is again, a bunch of old pillows with my old comforter from college laid on top which is in his favorite crate, but frustrates me because the comforter is crappy and lumpy, so when I need to wash it, it's a pain to lay out again.  Ferguson has always been a good sport and never complained about any of this, but I think he'll be much happier when has a very nice cushy bed that his butt will no longer struggle to fit on.  If he does like the new bed as much as I hope he does, the big question will be where to put it, as we spend a lot of time both downstairs and upstairs.

...yes, I do see the clear plain solution to this problem.  Let's wait and see HOW much he likes it first...

Running

The middle one is my favorite.  It is SO hard to catch them in mid-air like that, and my camera really isn't that good.  It doesn't look very impressive small, but the larger version looks awesome as the background for the desktop :).

Overall, I think he had a great time.

What's funny is that right after I published my Mail Stuff post, my first copy of Celebrating Greyhounds Magazine arrived shortly after.  Go figure.  I am quite excited though, because the pictures and articles are just gorgeous.  Also, the article about how a woman intending on having two greyhounds ended up with five makes me realize I may be doomed to own a zoo...but for now, it shall just stay the two of us. I am thinking of fostering though... ;)

It seems I always am updating on Sundays...