Typically when Bandit goes out into the yard, he does his thing, pokes around a bit, then comes back to the door and yips for someone to come out and play with him. That someone is typically me, the alpha female of his pack (besides I’m the one who works at home)

In earlier posts I’ve told you Bandit quickly learned I couldn’t play tug when I got injured, but he refuses to let me feel too useless. On most days I can still go out and toss one of the backyard toys for him.

His favorite is the floppy yellow cowboy our foster greyhound Hank carried out one morning. (our general rule is if a toy goes outside, it stays outside, so Bandit thanks Hank for this).

Smart pup that he is, Bandit doesn’t ask me to bend over and pick up the cowboy. He simply brings it to me (for which I’m glad he’s so tall) I throw it and he brings it back. It’s fun, even when the occasional throw is rather lame, Bandit is the forgiving sort and does his best to affirm my place as alpha female of his heart.

You can read more about Bandit’s arrival and what makes greyhounds such greyt pets in the Adopt A Greyhound Guide.  (50% of proceeds go to help greyhound adoption and rescue groups).

Live the greyhound adventure!

Of course there’s the rule’s exception with Bandit. Still a puppy he needs more playtime, but as he nears his second birthday, the quiet spells of precisely 90 minutes are stretching to two hours.  Shhh, don’t laugh too loud or I won’t get through this post without throwing the squeaky ball.

But it’s the napping that is especially conducive to creating contentment. Watching an adopted greyhound ‘roach’ (tummy up, all four legs akimbo) or snooze curled up in the corner of the couch, you can’t help but smile. A smile helps you relax. Relaxing eases stress. Less stress equals more contentment.

It’s a wonderful cycle I hope more and more people will seek for themselves. Greyhound adoption is a positive solution for all parties – human and canine. You give a smart, hard-working racing greyhound a delightful, joy-filled retirement when you adopt greyhound(s).  (Adding the plural because greyhounds can be rather addictive).

It sure works for me. Whenever circumstances intervene, spending time snuggling with my greys is a balm to soothe the issue. Nothing seems all that horrible when a greyhound smiles, or stretches under your touch, or races happily around the yard.

When you’re ready to learn more about greyhound adoption, check with the greyhound rescue groups in your area and learn all you can about what life is like with these amazing dogs. The Adopt A Greyhound Guide is a good place to start, there’s even a free e-course.

Live the greyhound adventure!

If you’re following the tale of the finch tail: The birds are one hundred percent twins again and no further feline mischief has been accomplished.   At least not as it relates to the spice finches.

It’s always fun to see how our different greyhounds adapt to the arrival of guests. When Brody was the youngest, he was always first to the door, now that he’s the oldest, he’s more content to let Boo and Bandit lead the welcome wagon.

When you adopt greyhounds you open yourself up to a lifetime of discovery and joy since they live such wonderfully long and active lives.

Bandit loves to be the first, and as the biggest and goofiest, you’d think he’d jump all over people. Well, fine, I admit this was one greyhound foster who needed an anti-bounce button. But like most greyhounds he’s smart and eager to please.

So now he doesn’t jump, but he inspired Boo to revisit the behavior from her younger days. She’s much smaller, so you’d think it’d be less trouble, but somehow she makes up the height difference with the outstanding vertical leap.

When we have overnight guests, all of our adopted greyhounds try their best to be first on the guest bed, which makes for an interesting game of musical greyhounds. This is why I always have a baby gate nearby – it fits in the doorway and the greys can see me, and feel like they’re helping, but they can’t rush in and steal the pillows.

Once a guest is in the house, our adopted greyhounds make a game of who can get in closer for the best access to extra lovies guests provide. Grandmas are the best, in case you’re wondering.

Don’t worry, if greyhounds aren’t your thing (gasp) we’ve got a couple cats who will be happy to snuggle just as soon as the greys go to their respective dog beds. Not an animal lover? We can respect that – but beware – our adopted greyhounds are likely to change your mind.

Find out more about the wonder and fun of adopting greyhounds at AdoptAGreyhoundGuide.

Live the greyhound adventure!

Or jelly. For years we’ve used peanut butter as a training tool with greyhound fosters and our adopted greyhounds. Peanut butter is a safe people food (in moderation) for positive reinforcement with the greyhounds.

Bandit the puppy is very strong willed and it took time, patience, ice and peanut butter to train him to come in the house when we called rather than when he was in the mood.

Peanut butter is the best flavor for medicine!

Whoever is in charge of flavoring vet meds missed the mark – at least according to the taste buds of our adopted greyhounds. Cheese might be less messy to wrap around heartworm and flea prevention, but our greys eat the cheese and give back the pills. Annoying, just a bit.

But smear a pill with peanut butter and everyone’s happy. The vital meds get inside and it’s a delightful flavor for the dogs.

Peanut butter is soothing!

What do they say about people and pets and resemblance? It turns out peanut butter is comfort food for greyhounds too. When there’s a bad storm, Boo gets a measure of peace when she has a smidge of the good creamy stuff. And Brody, hater of celebrations involving fireworks, can be happily distracted by a bit of peanut butter on the roof of his mouth.

And whenever we empty a jar of peanut butter (which happens with great frequency) it’s time to share a special moment letting one of the dogs lick the jar.

Live the greyhound adventure!

Learn all you can about adopting your own greyhound and support the terrific work of greyhound adoption and rescue groups at the same time. Visit AdoptAGreyhoundGuide.com for details.

Bandit the puppy, taught Boo how to enjoy an ice cube and she has returned the favor…teaching Bandit the joys of peanut butter.

Peanut butter has always been Boo’s favorite treat. She perks up when the pantry door opens and I swear she’s learned the sound of the jar sliding off the shelf. She may be a sighthound, but her nose is in perfect working order. You can’t open a jar of peanut butter in our house without Boo joining you within seconds.

Brody likes peanut butter well enough, but he’s not as ‘interested’ unless he knows there will be some coming his way. Boo, however, is in the mix ASAP and Bandit follows right behind. I believe they dream of the day we forget to put the lid back on the jar.

Live the greyhound adventure!

Learn more about life with greyhounds with the Adopt A Greyhound Guide! See videos, FAQs and more.

We adopt greyhounds because they’re wonderful, easygoing dogs who just love to be loved by people. Of course, like people, every adopted greyhound has unique personality quirks.

Boo, our female, has always believed she’s a wee little lap dog.

If you’ve ever seen pictures, you know we share the couch with our greys, but Boo pushes the envelope (or rather shrinks it) when it comes to sharing.

She can fit into places any self respecting greyhound would ignore. Two people on the couch already? No problem, still room for Boo. Two people and a greyhound on the bed? Again, no problem, there’s an empty square foot by momma’s head.

There is just no convincing her she’s of average greyhound size.

We often joke Boo has delusions of Chihuahua. At least when she’s not stretching out in her role as queen of all comfy surfaces.

With the arrival of Bandit, the tallest greyhound we’ve ever met, Boo’s delusions have only been confirmed. She takes great delight, every chance she gets, showing us just how tiny she is in comparison.

Standing next to him, she gets even more coos and kisses, because she just looks so petite and adorable. Almost as if she could walk under him. And at playtime she’s happy to hold her own, keeping him in line and playing tug of war when it suits her mood.

Boo might be on the small side of adopted greyhounds, but she’s big on personality.

Live the greyhound adventure!

It’s my nonfiction book about our life experience with greyhounds, written to help people interested in greyhound adoption as well as the greyhound adoption and rescue groups who work so diligently to adopt greyhounds to loving, forever homes. (the groups get 50% of proceeds)

As part of the effort to get the word out about greyhound adoption, we’ve been doing video and voice over work. I confess I like voice over work better. (less time spent in the hair and makeup trailer. Okay I don’t have a hair and makeup trailer, just a bathroom vanity and a very honest daughter).

You might know that raw video requires some editing before it’s fit for public consumption. You might also realize (thanks, YouTube) much of said editing can be done on a personal computer.

Here is the priceless shot of Boo, helping Daddy edit after a rigorous day of trying to avoid being recorded on film, no matter how much peanut butter Mommy promised.

So Daddy had the volume turned up and suddenly Mommy’s voice came out of the computer. Boo wasn’t sure what was going on and her eyes and ears flicked from computer to where I sat across the room (you can see there wasn’t much room left on the couch).

Boo is the epitome of a sweethearted greyhound and soon resumed her nap – ignoring our laughter, my photography persistence, and my disembodied voice on Daddy’s computer.

Live the greyhound adventure!

Find if greyhound adoption is right for you at AdoptAGreyhoundGuide.com!

Every Saturday is greyhound day here at ReganBlack.com. I just have to take time each week to talk about the amazing greyhounds we’ve adopted who’ve brought me so much joy!

As we’ve been working on the promotional efforts for the Adopt A Greyhound Guide, my team has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and do some video work.

While this may sound like the coolest thing ever, you might recall hearing interviews of professional actors lamenting those projects that involve work with live animals.

I’m thinking it’s an even tougher task for someone like me, a completely untrained spokeswoman, working with animals who are neither trained for film nor inclined to participate, much less cooperate.

But we did our best, had some good laughs and eventually sent the raw video off to people who can apply techno-magic and make it presentable for the Adopt A Greyhound Guide site.

Was it fun?

Sure – once I got over my own jitters. After all we’re a family who has enjoyed greyhound adoption and fostering for two decades. We made it a family project and while the hounds didn’t always hit their cues, (guess they followed my poor example) they loved the smudges of peanut butter they got for trying.

Live the greyhound adventure!

Learn how to adopt a greyhound and/or promote this delightful cause by visiting the Adopt A Greyhound Guide site.

No, not every female grey in retirement is alpha or becomes alpha female and when our Boo arrived I never thought she’d really get into the role. Boy, was I wrong.

It took some time. She was smaller than Brody and she was willing to learn how Brody worked the system. Then she started with the little things to morph that system to her own purposes.

Feeding, for instance. She eats quickly, so she’s ready to clean Brody’s bowl when he’s done and goes for water. But her bowl is off limits at all times.

Then there’s playtime. She acts all relaxed about going outside with Brody, but once business is done, she’s the alpha female – the one who starts the romping and dictates the correct route through the yard.

And don’t even try to open the peanut butter without planning to share.

Now, having learned the system, modified the system, and taught several greyhound fosters how best to retire, she is the alpha female in charge of her domain, (formerly known as our house) deferring only to the momma or the daddy.

And the latest foster, Bandit, who is playful and rambunctious and silly? Well, our shy little retiree turned alpha female has determined he’s a keeper.

They tug, wrestle, and often nap together, all according to her rules.  And when he returned from his last home visit (fail), alpha female Boo did such a celebratory dance when he came home we decided he’d better stay.

So while we might have the thumbs, she’s got the eyes and manners that are as effective as thumbscrews. Like many an alpha female we’ve met before.

Live the greyhound adventure!

p.s. You can learn more about life with greyhounds in my new book Adopt A Greyhound Guide. 50% of proceeds go to local greyhound rescue groups. Visit the site for more details!

In my opinion any month is great for adopting a greyhound – but April is specifically earmarked for making a positive difference in the life of a dog who’s being retired from work on the racetrack.

Aside from having the sweetest faces, greyhounds of many colors look great against the azaleas – or whatever flowers may be blooming near you this spring!

Which may be why the powers that be declared April to be the month to adopt a greyhound, but this puppy’s adorable, no matter what month it is!

It’s a rare month when we’re without a foster, but we’ve personally adopted greys in: January (Bubbles), February (Brody), June (Faith), August  (Kayla), October (Boo), November (Levi).

Visit adoptcharlestongreys.org or talk with your local greyhound rescue to make a difference for one of these greyt dogs – in April or the month of your choice!

Live the adventure!