Our dog's dog's dog

Ok, Fog seems to be living happily ever after, and this IS a good thing.  Secretly hoping his folks adopt another dog to keep him company, they will find 2 greyhounds are nearly easier than one.  But time will tell.

I thought I would share this story.  Many of my friends have heard this story, but it is the beginning of my greyhound experience.

We adopted Oliver.  He was two. Ollie looked a lot like Macho, Black with a white chest, but Ollie was taller than Macho.  The top of Ollie’s head came to my waist. Ollie didn't know how to be an only dog, and didn't like being in the house alone, and would have nothing to do with a crate.  He would skip over baby gates, so he had full run of the house.  Ollie quickly learned how to open the doors, we had flip handles at the time.  He would hit the handle with his nose and let himself out. Fortunately, our neighbor saw this and would keep an eye on him and let him back in.  We changed the flip handles to round handles and Ollie chewed on them so much they are no longer round.  I called the rescue group, “what do I do?”,they said get another greyhound.  Ginger had just been returned after being in a home for 4 years, I said, we’ll take her.  She came in, jumped on the couch, said, this is good.  And she taught Ollie how to be a house hound.  Ginger died 6 months later.  Realizing Ollie still needed a friend, I called the rescue group.  Mindy was available, Mindy was a brindle female.  Some time I will tell you about me and Mindy.  She was my best friend.  Anyway, Mindy was two, Ollie was 3.  So we got our dog a dog. They liked each other, except, Mindy loved to play.  Ollie didn't understand the concept of play.  So while he had company and that was good for him, Mindy needed a playmate.  Another call to the rescue group, get a dog she can play with.  Ok,  She understood I needed a dog that would play, and when she told the kennel manager we wanted a boy who would play with a girl, and white and brindle, the kennel manager immediately said, “take Ace”.  So we got our dog’s dog, a dog.

Ace-now

Ace was so shy, we couldn’t even pet him and hugs were out of the question. He’d walk by and we’d reach out and pet his back.  He would wait till we were at least 20 feet away to eat.  But Ollie liked to hang out with him, and taught him that human touch is good.  Mindy loved to play with him, and he loved playing with her.  They would spin inside or outside and gallop across the yard chasing each other every day no matter what the weather.  Ace would watch Ollie and Mindy getting cuddles and petting and eventually came to expect petting and hugging.  Ace loves going to meets and greets cause he gets petted by lots of people and hugged by small children.

Mindy died in 2010 on a Monday and Ollie died on Friday, the same week.  Both had cancer, Mindy’s was a fast growing cancer, and Ollie’s was a slow growing cancer.  The vet said Ollie had to have been in a lot of pain for many months, but loved us so much he didn’t want to go. Ollie would get a hug in the hallway every morning before breakfast.  After Ollie died, Ace started standing in the hall, in the same place Ollie did, and look at me with his most beautiful soulful eyes, wanting me to hug him like I did Ollie.    Ace is now 9, and every morning he gets his hug.  He is looking for a playmate.  River is too alpha, and Macho, like Ollie doesn't understand the concept.  Our dog’s dog’ dog, now needs his own dog, but four forever dogs are too much for me! So we foster...