Greta my greyhound
Ranked #9,116 in Pets & Animals, #231,933 overall
My retired racing greyhound
She learns some things quickly and easily, and other behaviors she just doesn't understand at all even if they will get her what she wants. Some animals are prey and others just don't set her off. She loves some people at first sight, and others she wants nothing to do with.
My Greyhound Fabric Designs mentioned
so nice!
New article about Spoonflower fabric printing compnay winning FaceBook contest
Greta at age 10.5!
She is becoming more sociable
Greta modeling her greyhound collar
Greta as Creative Inspiration
and she has opened a few new doors in my life, too.
Greyhound fabric by Jane Walker and martingale greyhound collar by Hounds Closet
My creative career came to a stop when I developed health issues that forced me to stop doing hot glass work. While trying to find something I could still do, I discovered that I could create decorative designs on my computer. Eventually, I discovered print-on-demand fabric printing services and decided to have some fabric made as a Christmas present for my sister. I also began trying to sell my fabrics. None of my initial designs included greyhounds--they were kaleidoscopic abstract/florals. They did not sell well.
I commented on a greyhound message board about my lack of success, and I received requests from other readers for greyhound motifs on fabric that can be used for making dog collars! My first designs were not popular, but my third attempt was what was needed. I have since refined it and now offer it in 7 colors. I have several regular customers in addition to many people who buy just one strip to have made into a martingale collar for their own greyhound. I'm now working on a new design that is already popular before I have even finished tweaking it!
Greta is also a door into my community. I'm very introverted, but with me on the other end of her leash, she has pulled me out of myself. I've now met many of my neighbors and am a readily recognized member of my neighborhood. In fact, if I go out without Greta, someone nearly always stops me and asks where she is! She has forced me to interact with people, to my great benefit.
If I did not have Greta, I would never have taken this career and life path--funny to wonder where I would be if I had chosen a different breed, or listened to my husband and not gotten a dog at all. Greta and my husband are quite silly about each other, so don't be annoyed with his reluctance, which was based on very practical issues.
Geta is getting older...
going on 10!
Where have the years gone? I'll have had Greta 6 years as of next month! She is getting quite grey--though she will never catch up to me, LOL!--and her professional-athlete body is telling her it's a bit worn out. Anti-oxidants, fish oil, and glucosamine supplements help, but she can't race around the backyard like she used to. Definition of a greyhound: 40 mph couch potato
Whoever said that never met mine!
I did my research before choosing to adopt a retired racing greyhound, filled out an application, sent it to Greyt Expectations Greyhound Rescue, and waited...impatiently... Then came a description and photo! A small, red brindle, "spitfire"! Wait, spitfire? What happened to the stereotyped 40mph couch potato?So we picked up Greta on a glorious July day in 2004. 3 1/2 years old and small...well, short, anyway. 62 lbs is not tiny for a greyhound, but she is definitely very short at only 25 inches.
My reading indicated that greyhounds are leash trained at the track. Someone forgot to tell Greta, and it took me 2 years (including an obedience class early on) to convince her that not hauling on the leash really works just fine while taking a walk!
Turns out, Greta is not a "typical" greyhound in some respects. She is more assertive, curious, and energetic than average. She is also not very intelligent for a dog--she exhibits some behaviors that thwart her own goals and it can take her a very long time to change them.
Lots of energy!
Greta and a homemade lure.
Soon after I got Greta I made a lure for her to chase--here is a photo of her catching it! She loved this toy for several months and then lost interest. She discovered squirrels and no inanimate toy could compete...I haven't figured out all the ways to post here--or to add more images, yet.
Greta and Squirrels
warning--not for lovers of little fuzzies or the squeamish
Before we got Greta, squirrels wreaked havoc in the vegetable garden, and she quickly realized that we didn't want them around and began chasing them.(I want to note here that Greta obviously had NO IDEA what squirrels, rabbits, or cats were before I got her. She lived a very limited life in the dog racing world, and had never before seen any animals except humans and other greyhounds.)
She quickly developed a high prey drive, and even became obsessed with patrolling the yard after she caught a squirrel (it did not survive). I had to do some work to relieve her obsessive patrolling by going out in front of her and patrolling the yard myself for several days. It worked great--as long as someone was in charge of the situation, she was happy (it didn't have to be her, but it had to be someone), and I only had to do it those few days for her to respond.
She has since caught another squirrel and a young woodchuck. All of the animals fought back and all bit her face and mouth, but that only caused her to chomp harder. This reaction (and a similar one with a cat--neither was injured) is not the most common in dogs, but my vet says it's not abnormal. Some dogs just won't back down when threatened or attacked. And that's my Greta! It means I have to be alert, and I have trained her to look to me for instructions and not chase anything when on leash.
Her relationship with rabbits is different--so far. I'll write about that next time.
Greta and Rabbits
just curious!
When I first got Greta, neighbors would say that all the wild rabbits must drive her insane, but, in fact, she had no idea what they were and could not even see them if they didn't move. Greta treats rabbits as curiosities that she never quite catches up to. They are smart enough to stay out of her reach without triggering her predatory instincts.This is a funny anecdote that illustrates this--the diagram will help:
One morning just before dawn I let Greta out into the backyard. It was still almost dark, but a balmy winter morning, so I walked to the far end of the deck to look over the backyard as Greta did her ritual charge to the far corner of the property before relieving herself. As I got to the railing I heard her galloping back toward me, but surely she wasn't finished? Just then I noticed movement below me and saw a rabbit bounding along. It went around the end of the vegetable garden and into the screened-off compost area with Greta loping along behind. As soon as Greta was out of sight behind the fence, I heard her slow down and figured the rabbit had gone to ground in the clutter of stuff back there. Sure enough, Greta trotted out the other end with her head up sniffing and looking vaguely around. Just as I saw her, I glimpsed movement to my left, and there was the rabbit sneaking step by step back toward the deck where it squeezed through the lattice to safety underneath.
This is one of the many baby rabbits we have in the backyard this year! I found it on top of the compost pile when I pulled the tarp off.
My Greyhound Fabrics for collars, clothing, and home decor
Greta is a great model for my designs!
Celtic Greyhound Fabric, Cotton Sateen, yellow red blue. | Price: $5
CELTIC GREYHOUND FABRIC, CELTIC KNOT DESIGN, COTTON SATEEN
One 2.75" x 36" strip of greyhound Celtic Knot motif on sturdy, silky organic c... (full description)
Celtic Greyhound Fabric, Celtic Knot Work design, fat quarter, Blue and Red | Price: $0
Celtic Greyhound Fabric! Intertwined greyhounds on one fat quarter yard of this exclusive Celtic knot work fabric design on 3.2 oz quilting weight co... (full description)
Greyhound Dog Fabric Pillow Fabric Kit Panel, Red coat color | Price: $19
Greyhound Dog Fabric Pillow Fabric Kit Panel, Red. ~ For Human Use Only ~
This item is a fabric panel with printed dog, collar, and instructions.... (full description)
Greyhound Animal Pillow Toy Kit Panel, white coat color | Price: $0
Greyhound Animal Pillow Toy Kit Panel, white coat color.
This original design fabric panel includes printed fabric to make one complete two-sided gre... (full description)
Great Books for Dog Owners on Amazon
Please leave a note here!
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prosepine
Aug 13, 2011 @ 8:27 am | delete
- Hello, I've come across your useful advice in various chats about spoonflower, lovely to see Greta your inspiration! Best Wishes, Prosepine
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ArtbyJaneWalker
Sep 5, 2011 @ 6:46 am | delete
- Hi and thanks! Sorry I didn't reply sooner--been very busy with the fabric designing and have gotten behind on some things.
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freyalou
Sep 26, 2010 @ 1:10 pm | delete
- I really enjoyed reading your stories about Greta - it sounds like you have great fun together. :) Greta sounds quite similar in personality to my greyhound/whippet cross Freya, who is also obsessed with patrolling the garden for squirrels.
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ArtbyJaneWalker
Sep 27, 2010 @ 6:37 am | delete
- Yesterday, my husband walked with us (very unusual!), and Greta spent the entire walk showing off! Lunging at squirrels, barking at cats, trying to run away from the direction home even though she was clearly sore and tired, and peeking at him out of the corners of her eyes to see his reactions!
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Karenagreymom
Jul 27, 2010 @ 2:26 pm | delete
- I have 3 silly greyhounds myself. They are, in my opinion, just the best dogs! Love your story about greta!
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by ArtbyJaneWalker
I love fabric designing, gardening, and miniatures--the order changes daily!
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