Whistling In The Wind

[alfie]

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Hi

Your two new additions look to have settled in fantastically already- good luck with them.

I work for Arden Grange petfoods, and Wood Green are my customer!! I know that they feed the Performance to a lot of the dogs because it is very gentle on the stomach and does not hype the dogs up, but puts weight on them very quickly.

I would suggest that you keep them on it if you can, even if only till you can get them up to a normal weight- a 15kg bag should last them at least 5-6 weeks, so it's not that expensive really!

If you do decide to change their food, in my opinion the best of the lower priced foods is Skinners- decent quality and not expensive. I think that Chappie, although gentle on the stomach, is not the best food for getting and keeping weight on an underweight dog.

Hope you have some luck finding out a bit more about them, but above all enjoy your new babies! :wub:

Liz and the Monellis

 

[whippetsrus]

I have sent you a pm.

 

[wonkiewidge]

Thanks everyone for all the advise,

 

I think we will get a big bag of Arden grange for them whilst they are settling in and are not very well, then take a look at all of your recommended brands. Skinners & James wellbeloved seems to get the thumbs up from many of you. We don't have a Costco near us, But "I know a man that does".

 

The Kennel cough doesn't seem to be getting them down, but now they are developing separation anxiety! They only do it if my husband goes out, even if the rest of us are still with them.

I have told him not to be so full on, and be a bit more reserved with them. ......... No more cuddles.......... well not too many anyway. Am I doing the right thing?

 

Linda

 

[wonkiewidge]

Oh, by the way,

 

Was the Spag bol recommended by an Italian greyhound?

 

[Suerose]

Oh, by the way, 

Was the Spag bol recommended by an Italian greyhound?

Nice one!

 

[eve]

Hi Linda

Get your husband to ignore them for at least 5 mins when he comes back home (possibly longer). No eye contact etc. As you say, he should probably be 'less full on' . Some men are OK with this concept others ...... not. If he feeds them, you take over or take turns. Get him to go straight to the kitchen and make a cup of tea (ignoring all doggy greetings) or walk past them and go for a shower. Anything but say hello. It is hard to do when all you want to do is give them a hug

Seperation anxiety is quite common in rescue dogs. Do you have an area that is their own such a utility room? Many people use a crate which the dogs come to see as their own secure space. There are articles on seperation anxiety and crate training on the forum. The dogs need to learn to be left gradually as they probably do feel insecure having left their old home, been in kennels and now with you all in the space of a few weeks. Start with 10 mins 'time out' on their own and build up from there.Toddy was very destructive if left and the crate was not ideal as he tore his feet trying to get out. I have built up to 3 hours over 12 weeks ( he is shut in the utility with the other whippets). My problem with him is more due to boredom being shut away for long periods as he is still under 1 year. Most dogs are good with the crate if they have grown up with one. I suspect yours have not. The dogs will start to test all kinds of boundaries as they settle in. Make sure that all your family are regarded by the dogs as higher status than themselves. Jan Fennell's book The Dog Listener is a useful book if you can get hold of a copy. It is never too early to start their recall training with treats (even if it is just in the garden). Sighthounds can be very poor off the lead and are easily distracted. I always carry a bag of treats when out walking and daily reinforce recall so that if a seroius situation arises, be it an agressive dog, small furry dog or just a chase into the wild blue yonder, I can get them back to me. That is the theory anyway

It is a good idea to continue with the Arden Grange for a while as they are unwell, need building up and have had quite a few changes to contend with. Hope the dogs are a bit better today

 

[whippetmad]

Awwwww poor mites..............Lovely that you have taken on the both of them,all the best with them :wub: :wub:

 

[wonkiewidge]

Hi Eve,

Thanks for the advice. I've been watching lots of episodes of the dog whisperer, but don't recall him covering this topic. Using his philosophy I thought that this might help. Peter (my husband) has been out a couple of times today, and each time it's getting better. Billy still is worried, but the whining seems to have died down.

Learning not to touch the cat seems to be working too. For anyone who hasn't seen the dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan, advises to make the cat your property, and the dogs are not allowed access to your belongings as the pack leader. I'm fascinated with this man. He makes it all seem so logical. Unfortunately I don't have another room I can put a crate in, however, they do have a sprung baby mattress that I put into the kitchen at night (it's in the living room during the day). I actually managed to make the whippets stay on their bed in the kitchen, with the door open, with us in the living room. I only had to reinforce my wish with a 'Paddington hard stare' 2 or 3 times.

I'll bear in mind the advice re the recall, though the previous owner on his questionaire stated that you couldn't lose them even if you tried. :wacko:

Lizzie a bit better today, Billy showing slight symptoms. Hey Ho!

 

[eve]

Jan fennell's book is good and worth getting hold of. Some of Milan,s stuff is great.

As for 'not loosing them if you tried'. I wish, in my dreams! I would think that depends on how and where they were walked. They do not look like they have been very regularly excercised as the very developed whippet muscle tone is not there. When they are well and fit, things might change It is still worth reinforcing recall as it is another form of enforcing their position in the pack.

The dogs should get used to your husband disappearing. The one that feeds them is the key . They probably just want you all together so that they feel secure. A child gate is quite useful so that if they are in the kitchen, they can see you but it sounds like you have that under control. Presumably, they sleep quite happily in the kitchen at night and seperation is not a problem then. They are probably just flexing their 'will'. Dogs can be quite devious to get what they want and whippets can be the kings and queens of sneeky Has any food gone missing yet, any waste bins been strangely 'knocked over'?

I do not use a crate. Having tried it with Toddy for the first time, it just was not me. The utility is the dogs room. .They can be shut securely in there with little risk of damage from the 'hyper pup'. There is just about space for a washing machine but the freezer is now in the garage!

I am glad Lizzie is on the mend. Hopefully Billy will feel better soon.

Best wishes

Eve

 

[wonkiewidge]

Hi Eve,

I'll look out for Jan Fennells book.

The previous owner said that he walked them about 2 miles every day, but as you say they don't have any muscle tone at all. They are struggling with 1/2 an hour at a time on the lead.

Regarding the bins..... We've already sussed that one. Every night when I put their bed in the kitchen I remove the bin, recycling bin & the laundry basket ..... I'm taking no chances. I don't know how 'clever' Whippets are, but I suspect it's only time before they learn how to open all the food cupboards!