Serena part 3

Hey, all!
That sweet-faced girl you see here is becoming a different hound than the one who first graced the pages of this blog! Serena is becoming bolder and more confident everyday - though we think she'll always be somewhat of a cautious dog, especially in new surroundings and situations - and has started doing things of her own accord, rather than just following her foster brother's lead. She is definitely a morning girl! She gets that tail wagging in big circles like a helicopter blade, and runs around the living room and comes up and gives quick doggie kisses before being left out for the morning's bathroom break. This girl is a real sweetheart and has been allowing us to rub her belly and has also been quick to give us appreciative licks and kisses. It's taken 2 and a half weeks to build enough trust for her to let out her "inner dog" and it's been worth every minute. She has also started to come when called, not every time, but a vast improvement over her usual routine of skittering away to her bed. Serena took her first solo walk on the leash last week and did pretty well without the comfort and presence of her foster brother, who usually walks beside of her.
Loud sounds, new people, and new situations still cause her to shy away and head for her comfort zone in the bedroom. You can see her wanting to engage in new experiences, but she's still battling that part of her brain that brings out the caution flag, but even so, she's getting better about it every day.
On a different note, we may have to re-evaluate her cat-safe status: she tangled with our cat this morning and has a 2 inch claw mark on her shoulder to prove it... We were sleeping at the time, so we don't know all the circumstances, but we'll be keeping an eye on that aspect of her behavior.
All-in-all, Serena is doing very well and is going to make a fine companion animal for the right person/persons. We're still recommending that she be placed in a home with another dog, one who has confidence and experience, as she really leans on, and learns from that.

Serena part 2

Hey, all. Serena's been with us for a little over week now and her personality continues to emerge as her shy nature is slowly loosening its grip upon her actions. She's starting to show some playfulness, especially when she first gets up in the morning. Lots more tail wagging and happy faces from her than in days previous and she's even handed out a few doggie kisses to a select few! Serena may turn out to be a stuffy collector - she's knicked a few stuffed animals from our daughter's rooms and brought them back to her favorite resting place, Coastal's bed! No chewing on them so far, just likes having them around...
She's been out for several walks and has done very well on the leash, though getting her out the door and started requires some patient coaxing and cajoling. She did several sets of steps while on the leash and had absolutely no problems navigating inclines or declines, as she's very nimble. At this point, we still think that she'll do best in a home with another dog - preferably a greyhound - as she really does draw comfort from the presence of another hound whose lead she can follow.
Oh, and she's got a healthy appetite as shown in the pictures. No problems wolfing down a bowl of kibble and she's starting to accept treats from our hands as well.
All in all, she's a real sweetheart who continues to allow more and more of her personality to shine through and will make a nice companion for the right person or family.

An intro to Serena

Hey all! This is Serena, formerly known as "Slam Around" - she's a bit on the shy side so she's asked me to speak on her behalf. Serena is a shy, quiet girl who likes the comfort of a private spot to hang out in. Be it a large dog bed in a back room or a kennel where she can meditate on life after racing. Serena (who is 2 yrs old today!) weighs in the neighborhood of 55 lbs and is settling into retirement slow and easy. She's a bit of a timid soul and really likes to have a another hound around to show her what's up with all the new things retirement life brings. She's looking for a patient soul who recognizes that good things come to those who wait, as she's probably going to come into her own and blossom like a gorgeous rose after a little bit of TLC! She's eating well and hasn't had any accidents in the house - she's got a good grasp so far on how the "go out to potty" thing works and has done number 1 and number 2 on the leash, so no problems there. Speaking of leashes, yesterday she took her first walk on a leash after some coaxing and cajoling on our part. Her initial fright at venturing out was replaced by some delighted looks on her face as we ventured around the neighborhood. Serena was, I think, more comforted by the presence of her big foster brother Coastal and his confidence at being out and about than she was by either of her foster parents, furthering my assumption that she'll do better in an environment with another dog(s).
So far, Serena has shown that she'll probably be cat-safe, as she hasn't paid much attention to our little feline prowling about the house.
Since we picked her up, Serena has gained a little more confidence each day, meandering about the house and yard, though she often goes about it in the manner of two steps forward and one step back.
As of now Serena would do best in a quieter home environment with another canine to hang out with. As noted above, any potential adopters will need patience and a gentle touch to help her transition into new surroundings. We will update this page every few days and report on any new gains of confidence. We're going to see how she does with stairs soon, also, so stay tuned for news on that and whatever else the week brings, and contact Denise (or leave a comment here on the blog) if Serena sounds like the one for you!