Post by oliviablonsky on Oct 3, 2012 19:39:15 GMT -5
Hi all,
I haven't really posted anything that has been going on over the past 2 or 3 weeks between my greys, but I figure I might as well let you in on everything.
2 or 3 weeks ago, Addie and Mayleigh were chasing a squirrel to the back corner of the fence (like they do every time they go outside, and if they're in the back yard for an extensive period of time with us, they do this frequently). This time however, something changed, and I unfortunately wasn't there. I was at work. So my boyfriend was stuck to deal with this. Needless to say, I left work as soon as he called me. Addie and Mayleigh both jumped up for the squirrel at the same time, and I think it may have been a mix of Addie saying "I'm the alpha here, back off," and a bit of redirected aggression .... Squirrel is black.... Mayleigh is black.... you get where I'm going with this.... Anyways, Addie did get Mayleigh in a couple of spots. My boyfriend ran over immediately, and pulled Addie off of Mayleigh. Addie kind of stopped instantly as if she didn't even know what had just happened. Mayleigh ran to the back door to "get away" but was not limping or screaming. Because greyhounds have basically no fat layer, Addie got through the skin layer and the muscle layer in no time. Mayleigh also had 2 punctures on the side of her neck, as well as one right by her ear. The cartilage on her ear (that weird flappy part on the underside of the ear that has no purpose? lol), and the cartilage was actually sticking out. She did need stitches and antibiotics for a week, as well as a check up with the vet. Mayleigh then proceeded to scratch herself where the stitches were and pulled them loose. So back we went to get staples put in. Here we are a week later, and I was waiting to get her staples taken out this coming tuesday when I have my next appointment scheduled..... But, Addie I guess thought I needed to go back earlier....
Tonight, as of 6pm, after they came in from their pee, as usual, I give them their cookie. I always get them to sit and lie down to get their cookies. So I fed the greyhounds, then I turned to feed Hunter his little treat, and as I turned back around Mayleigh was sticking her head right under Addie's chin to clean up all the crumbs that had fallen from her cookie. This clearly didn't fly well with Addie, and Addie grabbed Mayleigh just as I grabbed her, so minimal damage was done... But her canine tooth did break the skin layer, so off to the vet we go for more stitches and antibiotics (my vet is going to ask me to start paying rent at the clinic cause I'm there so often....).
For the record, Addie is not a violent or aggressive dog. Her and I have been through a lot, and I understand where she's coming from. Addie is CLEARLY alpha, and Mayleigh is so new that she hasn't learned these things yet. This is my opinion anyways... Now I can put my hand in Addie's dish as she's eating and she will back away... but when it comes to the other dogs, shes not a push-over. Hunter, my little guy, knows this, and would NEVER put his head even NEAR her bowl when she's eating. If he wants to sniff around he will wait until she has even left the room sometimes. He knows his place, and he knows how she will react. That being said, Mayleigh just last week finished her food, and pushed Hunter out of his dish, and he had no complaints. I obviously watched to see how it would play out, but didn't let it last.. Mayleigh learned that day, however, that Hunter would let her in. I suppose she tried this with Addie today, and it didn't work. I think she'll know for next time, but that's just me.
I am not worried about my hounds at all. I know that everyone will learn in time what's ok, and what's not. It sucks that Mayleigh is learning the "hard" way, but I can't show her any other way....
Does anyone think differently? Should I be worried about Addison? They play, and kiss, and sleep on the same couch, and run in the back yard together everyday.... No issues. My vet kind of subtly asked when I was there if I was planning on euthanizing Addie. I quickly said no, and explained that she's not aggressive, the situations just make her seem so. I obviously don't want to think I'm wrong, but I'm open to advice. This makes 3 "attacks" by Addie in the last 10 months (since I got her). I can justify every one of them... but am I just blinded because I love her, or do others agree with me on this?
Sorry it's so long.... Just a lot has happened, and keeps happening to it's hard to keep up, lol.
Let me know! Thanks!
I haven't really posted anything that has been going on over the past 2 or 3 weeks between my greys, but I figure I might as well let you in on everything.
2 or 3 weeks ago, Addie and Mayleigh were chasing a squirrel to the back corner of the fence (like they do every time they go outside, and if they're in the back yard for an extensive period of time with us, they do this frequently). This time however, something changed, and I unfortunately wasn't there. I was at work. So my boyfriend was stuck to deal with this. Needless to say, I left work as soon as he called me. Addie and Mayleigh both jumped up for the squirrel at the same time, and I think it may have been a mix of Addie saying "I'm the alpha here, back off," and a bit of redirected aggression .... Squirrel is black.... Mayleigh is black.... you get where I'm going with this.... Anyways, Addie did get Mayleigh in a couple of spots. My boyfriend ran over immediately, and pulled Addie off of Mayleigh. Addie kind of stopped instantly as if she didn't even know what had just happened. Mayleigh ran to the back door to "get away" but was not limping or screaming. Because greyhounds have basically no fat layer, Addie got through the skin layer and the muscle layer in no time. Mayleigh also had 2 punctures on the side of her neck, as well as one right by her ear. The cartilage on her ear (that weird flappy part on the underside of the ear that has no purpose? lol), and the cartilage was actually sticking out. She did need stitches and antibiotics for a week, as well as a check up with the vet. Mayleigh then proceeded to scratch herself where the stitches were and pulled them loose. So back we went to get staples put in. Here we are a week later, and I was waiting to get her staples taken out this coming tuesday when I have my next appointment scheduled..... But, Addie I guess thought I needed to go back earlier....
Tonight, as of 6pm, after they came in from their pee, as usual, I give them their cookie. I always get them to sit and lie down to get their cookies. So I fed the greyhounds, then I turned to feed Hunter his little treat, and as I turned back around Mayleigh was sticking her head right under Addie's chin to clean up all the crumbs that had fallen from her cookie. This clearly didn't fly well with Addie, and Addie grabbed Mayleigh just as I grabbed her, so minimal damage was done... But her canine tooth did break the skin layer, so off to the vet we go for more stitches and antibiotics (my vet is going to ask me to start paying rent at the clinic cause I'm there so often....).
For the record, Addie is not a violent or aggressive dog. Her and I have been through a lot, and I understand where she's coming from. Addie is CLEARLY alpha, and Mayleigh is so new that she hasn't learned these things yet. This is my opinion anyways... Now I can put my hand in Addie's dish as she's eating and she will back away... but when it comes to the other dogs, shes not a push-over. Hunter, my little guy, knows this, and would NEVER put his head even NEAR her bowl when she's eating. If he wants to sniff around he will wait until she has even left the room sometimes. He knows his place, and he knows how she will react. That being said, Mayleigh just last week finished her food, and pushed Hunter out of his dish, and he had no complaints. I obviously watched to see how it would play out, but didn't let it last.. Mayleigh learned that day, however, that Hunter would let her in. I suppose she tried this with Addie today, and it didn't work. I think she'll know for next time, but that's just me.
I am not worried about my hounds at all. I know that everyone will learn in time what's ok, and what's not. It sucks that Mayleigh is learning the "hard" way, but I can't show her any other way....
Does anyone think differently? Should I be worried about Addison? They play, and kiss, and sleep on the same couch, and run in the back yard together everyday.... No issues. My vet kind of subtly asked when I was there if I was planning on euthanizing Addie. I quickly said no, and explained that she's not aggressive, the situations just make her seem so. I obviously don't want to think I'm wrong, but I'm open to advice. This makes 3 "attacks" by Addie in the last 10 months (since I got her). I can justify every one of them... but am I just blinded because I love her, or do others agree with me on this?
Sorry it's so long.... Just a lot has happened, and keeps happening to it's hard to keep up, lol.
Let me know! Thanks!