This riding business is still VERY new to him. In many cases, it takes more than a few rides - a few weeks can be more like it. It sounds like he's making progress - even if it is slow.

On the open window:
The reason(s) we are advised to not let them hang out the open window is flying debris can injury eyes, noses, and ears. Have you ever stood on the shoulder of a busy road or ridden a motorcycle/bicycle and felt the sting on little pieces of gravel and debris being kicked up by turning tires? Ouch! With our parchment skinned dogs, even their facial skin can be cut. Also, dogs have been known to jump out of windows that people didn't realize the dog could fit through.

My "kids" love to check out the changes, including all of those interesting scents. I open the windows enough for them to be able to pull all of the neat scents of the breeze. If I'm sitting still or creeping along an little traveled road, I'll open the window and let them put their heads through.

BTW: one of my current hound residents, used to look like she was going to have a heart attack she looked stressed about riding. The first week of daily riding, she even looked like she was going to get car sick. Now she'll pout if she doesn't get to go, and she lounges in the back like the princess she keeps telling me she is. Of all the dogs (and more than a few cats) I've introduced to riding, she was the one I thought might not learn to ride.

ODIE ROCKS!!!! Well, I looked all over the whole county yesterday trying to find somewhere "fun" for us to take Odie. After an hour of searching, I finally found a baseball field that was gated. We decided to go today since it was so cold yesterday and it was already late.

Odie jumped right in the SUV!!!! He did so well and he wasn't panting as much and the shaking has pretty much stopped. I am so proud of that boy!!! He had a good time at the ball field. Him, my daughter, and I ran around that field for a good 20-30 minutes.

Here's a pic of him in the back of the SUV... he is so handsome!

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Good boy Odie!!!!

Good job, Odie!
See...it just takes time and lots of patience. Pretty soon you won't be allowed to go to the grocery store alone. Everyday just gets better.

He even looks proud of himself.

thanks to everyone for your help/guidance/support!!!

i started this post with saying that i needed to get odie's nails clipped and i had made an appointment to get that done but couldn't get him in the car, etc, etc, etc..... now, i really need to get his nails clipped because i didn't do it then. does everyone else take their dogs to the groomer or do you clip them yourself? i know all the stuff about avoiding the quick and it kinda makes me nervous. i don't want to hurt him!!!!


traci

If You're the least bit unsure about clipping them Yourself I'd let the groomer or Vet do it, they have all of the equipment to do the job right and if they do make a nail bleed they have the stuff to fix it.

Gary

i scheduled a first visit to a vet around here for next monday so hopefully they will clip his nails then. i talked with a lady there and she said that this vet is really good with greyhounds and she knows this because a lady around here does greyhound rescue/fostering in this area and she brings them to him. WHO KNEW?!? this vet is only a mile down the road so that works out greyt!!

by the way... another trip to the park today went greyt... odie is getting very used to the car. i have been trying to take him everywhere i can. to the park, to pick up my daughter from soccer practice, anywhere just to get him in the car. i can't believe how well he is doing. today, it only took him a minute or two to lay down and he stayed that way for 90% of the time. i think we are on our way to conquering the car fear. he still has a way to go but he is making such progress!

Hi Traci,
I use a dremel tool to file my Greys nails. I've been doing this for about four years. She is quite tolerant but, it did take a little getting use to for her.

the vet visit went ok today... odie panted and shook the whole time, especially when different people walked in and out and different animals came in and out. i think it was good for him too. the people in the vet office were amazed by him. i forgot how uncommon they are. the nurse clipped his toenails and got a little 2 close on one... he yelped and i wanted to cry but he is fine. the vet said he looked good... his weight was good... and everything checked out greyt. one thing he did prescribe him was GLUCOSAMINE... does anybody else give this to their greyhound?

My two seniors are on Glyco-Flex II which is glucosamine, MSM, and some other stuff for joints. I get it through EntirelyPets.com website.

My guys actually get excited when we pull into the vet's parking lot... It must be all of the treats they get there. I'd swear they weigh more when we leave than on arrival.

With all of my animals, I've made it a point to take them to the vet's "just for fun". I always ask permission first, and I've yet to find a vet who minded. We go sometimes just to get on the scales (them not me - ); they walk in with me when I go to pick up supplies; and with my really nervous kids, we'd go periodically to merely sit in the waiting room for awhile then leave. The goal is to get them to not associate the vet's with poking and proding.

Hooray on Odie's new riding skills!!!

odie has been doing greyt in the car until today... i got a new SUV on thursday and today was his first day to ride in it. i feel like i have started all over again with the car issues. i know it is new to him and it will take time to get used to but he was shaking all over and panting so bad that he fogged up ALL the windows in the car.