Greyhound Dogs--Training Update #244

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Lots of breeds develop ear and skin conditions due to allergies in the diet. Beef, corn, wheat (and sometimes chicken) are usually the biggest culprits when it comes to allergies. Symptoms of food allergies include constant chewing and licking of paws, skin rashes, hair loss, flaky or raw skin, and pawing at the ears. You'll know an ear infection by the smell before you see it.

Some of the hypo-allergenic varieties of kibble are lamb & rice and venison & rice. Coconut gets lamb and rice by Nature's Recipe. It's not expensive and it's made in the USA. Even dog food has to list the nutritional breakdown and the country of origin. Even high end foods are mass produced, packaged into various 'brands' and bagged and imported, so make sure and check.

Good luck with your new family member!

Is the RM a dry kibble? Have you found a difference?

Why does she get ear infections from food? Is it an allergy thing? How did you know. Educate me here please!

I'm going to be a nuerotic dog mom, aren't I?

Anne

 

[ducklite]

What do you all do for dog treats? What's a good one that will help with dental health in addition to being a treat. Preferably something low-fat.

Anne

 

[lesroi]

What do you all do for dog treats? What's a good one that will help with dental health in addition to being a treat. Preferably something low-fat.

Anne

We get (and don't be grossed out) boiled beef knuckles. They are GINORMOUS! They are AWESOME for cleaning teeth and the dogs LOVE them. They are only slightly messy, as we get the clean-boiled ones, not the ones with added flavoring.

I also give Old Mother Hubbard (I think that is what they are called) Peanut Butter all-natural treats. They are made with very heathy ingredients. I even ate one myself to see if it was any good, lol!!! We get this stuff called "Pupcorn" too because one of our dogs doesn't like the texture of actual popcorn. (Um, spoiled??? You betcha!) The pupcorn is low calorie and lowfat and the dogs LOVE it. (I have not tried this one, lol)

We use ice cubes as treats. The dogs know to come running if we are getting ice water from the fridge.

Finally, we give good old-fashioned peanut butter. Not only do the dogs love it, as any dog owner will tell you, it's entertaining!

Geez, it sounds like my dogs are all fatties, but that couldn't be further from the truth! They eat a varied diet and I won't lie, they do get table scraps from time to time as well... It's a regular dog paradise over here.

 

[ducklite]

We get (and don't be grossed out) boiled beef knuckles. They are GINORMOUS! They are AWESOME for cleaning teeth and the dogs LOVE them. They are only slightly messy, as we get the clean-boiled ones, not the ones with added flavoring.

A little grossed out. I don't eat pork myself, it really skeeves me. Not sure I could handle that one. (ETA I just reread this and see that you said beef, not pig. Still not sure I could handle that one!)

I also give Old Mother Hubbard (I think that is what they are called) Peanut Butter all-natural treats. They are made with very heathy ingredients. I even ate one myself to see if it was any good, lol!!!

OK, now I"m REALLY grossed out.

We get this stuff called "Pupcorn" too because one of our dogs doesn't like the texture of actual popcorn. (Um, spoiled??? You betcha!) The pupcorn is low calorie and lowfat and the dogs LOVE it. (I have not tried this one, lol)

Where do you find that one?

We use ice cubes as treats. The dogs know to come running if we are getting ice water from the fridge.

Ice cudes are great for enrichment. I put one in Jasper's water bowl every few days, and he bats it around. (Jasper is one of my ferrets.) After it melts he seems confused as to where it went.

Finally, we give good old-fashioned peanut butter. Not only do the dogs love it, as any dog owner will tell you, it's entertaining!

I think I posted earlier in this thread that my friend puts PB in her dogs Kong and freezes it, then gives it to the dog in the morning before she leaves for work to keep the dog amused during the day.

Geez, it sounds like my dogs are all fatties, but that couldn't be further from the truth! They eat a varied diet and I won't lie, they do get table scraps from time to time as well... It's a regular dog paradise over here.

Sounds like you've got some spoiled pooches!

Anne

 

[MushyMushy]

The main thing we get for treats are pig ears. We have a local place where they sell these enormous smoked ears, 6 for $5. They're huge -- I can't believe a pig would be that big!

We also get the pupcorn -- I found it at Walmart.

Another thing I found at Petco, I don't know what brand it is off the top of my head, but they're freeze dried liver treats, and they're for training. They're super lightweight and shaped into squares. http://www.petco.com/product/6439/Gimborn-Pro-Treat-Freeze-Dried-Beef-Liver-Treats.aspx

I get a big bucket of them and they last a long time between both dogs. Mostly I use those as reward (especially housetraining) for the pup and toss one to the big dog for being good.

There's a behaviorist here who recommends just cooking up chicken and cutting it into tiny pieces for treats. She carries it around in a little waistpack all day. The woman's a PhD in animal behavior and is considered an expert on labs, so I trust her opinions!

 

[Magickndm]

Dasher LOVES peanut butter. I bakes some peanut butter cookies last week and he would not leave the kitchen.
As far as treats go, he doesn't get many. He is prone to gas, and I mean peeling-paint-off-the-wall-make-your-eyes-water gas. He does tolerate cheese fairly well and he comes running whenever he hears the wrapper opening.
As far as bloat goes with greys, unlike other deep chested dogs, they are not as susceptible to get it. You just dont want him running right after eating.

 

[ducklite]

Dasher LOVES peanut butter. I bakes some peanut butter cookies last week and he would not leave the kitchen.
As far as treats go, he doesn't get many. He is prone to gas, and I mean peeling-paint-off-the-wall-make-your-eyes-water gas. He does tolerate cheese fairly well and he comes running whenever he hears the wrapper opening.
As far as bloat goes with greys, unlike other deep chested dogs, they are not as susceptible to get it. You just dont want him running right after eating.

Does the PB put too much weight on?

Have you tried those Greenies?

Anne

 

[ducklite]

The main thing we get for treats are pig ears. We have a local place where they sell these enormous smoked ears, 6 for $5. They're huge -- I can't believe a pig would be that big!

We also get the pupcorn -- I found it at Walmart.

Another thing I found at Petco, I don't know what brand it is off the top of my head, but they're freeze dried liver treats, and they're for training. They're super lightweight and shaped into squares. http://www.petco.com/product/6439/Gimborn-Pro-Treat-Freeze-Dried-Beef-Liver-Treats.aspx

I get a big bucket of them and they last a long time between both dogs. Mostly I use those as reward (especially housetraining) for the pup and toss one to the big dog for being good.

There's a behaviorist here who recommends just cooking up chicken and cutting it into tiny pieces for treats. She carries it around in a little waistpack all day. The woman's a PhD in animal behavior and is considered an expert on labs, so I trust her opinions!

Doesn't it go bad?

The rescue folks mention the freeze dried liver and beef as a good option, but urged me to make sure they were made in teh US, not China or elsewhere.

Anne

 

[mattsdragon]

As someone who adopted a greyhound, let me say they are wonderful pets. Mickey (his racing name was Mikimoto, we figured it was destiny) is the most loving, obedient, and easy to care for dog. We just went to a greyhound playdate yesterday, where the local owners bring their dog to a baseball diamond and let them run around together. They love it, and like I said, there is no dog that appreciates being loved as much as a greyhound.

So, who's dog's breath can't wake the dead?

 

[MushyMushy]

Doesn't it go bad?

The rescue folks mention the freeze dried liver and beef as a good option, but urged me to make sure they were made in teh US, not China or elsewhere.

Anne

You made me curious to go look at the container. They don't need refrigeration, and they're dated until sometime in 2008. The ones I buy from Petco, the Gimborn treats, are made in the US. Ever since the whole wheat gluten fiasco, I've been pretty careful to look at the ingredients too.

As for the chicken, I would treat it like I would for humans. Cook it that morning and refrigerate it after an hour or so. You're not giving them that much, so a breast should last a couple of days.

You're going to be such a good dog mom!

 

[ducklite]

You made me curious to go look at the container. They don't need refrigeration, and they're dated until sometime in 2008. The ones I buy from Petco, the Gimborn treats, are made in the US. Ever since the whole wheat gluten fiasco, I've been pretty careful to look at the ingredients too.

As for the chicken, I would treat it like I would for humans. Cook it that morning and refrigerate it after an hour or so. You're not giving them that much, so a breast should last a couple of days.

You're going to be such a good dog mom!

Sorry, I meant the chicken treats going bad. You had said the trainer carries them in her pocket, I'd be afraid they would spoil.

Anne

 

[Magickndm]

Does the PB put too much weight on?

Have you tried those Greenies?

Anne

Oh, he doesn't get a lot of peanut butter. Just a small amount in his Kong to keep him occupied.
Geeenies have been pretty much been proven to be bad for all breeds. They break off in big chunks and they can't digest it. I would not give them to my dog at all.

 

[ducklite]

Oh, he doesn't get a lot of peanut butter. Just a small amount in his Kong to keep him occupied.
Geeenies have been pretty much been proven to be bad for all breeds. They break off in big chunks and they can't digest it. I would not give them to my dog at all.

So about a tablespoon of the PB?

I guess I'll scratch Greenies off my list! Thanks for the warning!

I've decided to try the Innova EVO as a first food. As I said before, I've used Innova products in the past and was very pleased with them.

Anne

 

[Dodie]

Meet Skeet, my greyhound!

Just wanted to chime in and say that he's very, very handsome! I'm so jealous. One of these days I *will* have a greyhound.

 

[MushyMushy]

Sorry, I meant the chicken treats going bad. You had said the trainer carries them in her pocket, I'd be afraid they would spoil.

Anne

I don't know what she does -- if she tosses them after a while or if she continues feeding them all day. Personally, I wouldn't because I'm just funny about leaving food out.

 

[KLAIT]

I am late in this thread as well, but wanted to say congrats on this beautiful dog who needed a home...you are a very kind heart!

 

[SUSIEQ]

Congratulations! He's such a pretty boy!
Please post more pics when you bring him home.

 

[ducklite]

Thank you for your kind words everyone! I stopped to pick up a bag of food last night, decided on the Innova EVO to start. So that's the last of the must haves for Skeet. My Foster and Smith order shipped yesterday, I'm hoping that gets here in a day or two and I can have it all set up for him.

And I'll defnintely post more photos this weekend!

Anne

 

[Jennasis]

Congrats Anne..he's GORGEOUS!

Back to the sitting thing, took as about a day to teach our Janky how to sit, but she really doesn't like it. I don't think I've ever seen her sit on her own (unless you count the many times she's siddled up to me while I'm eating dinner and sits next to my chair and gives me paw to "beg" for food!). She only does it for food. We also taught her to "kiss", where she will press her nose to your face (in exchange for a treat of course). She never licks.

Skeet sounds like he's got a super new mommy!

 

[Disneynutbsv]

Congrats Anne!