The holiday times are busy, and at first, Argos seemed to settle right in. He counter-surfed a few times, but quickly caught on that eating off of the counters and our plates was not going to happen. He was quiet, and minded his manners well around Sophie and the cats. In retrospect though, I think he was just overwhelmed.
It was a week before he wagged his tail.
Weighing In and Overall Health
Greyhounds are lean by design, but Argos was thin. His paperwork said 80 pounds (36.4 kg), but he weighed in at only 67 pounds (30.5 kg). A few months on a good diet, and he gained weight to reach that 80 pounds and fill out his tall frame.
Argos also had a severe case of hookworms, which took repeated dewormings to get rid of.
Over the next months, Argos lost his dull, dry coat and gained a glossy new one. He also gained a sparkle in his eye. A little spark of mischief, as his personality emerged and self confidence grew.
Getting Outfitted
Argos had previously lived in the warmer climate of the southeast US. We live in a northern climate and right after we adopted him, the temperature plunged to 15F. That is cold for any dog, and especially a Greyhound. We went out the very next day and purchased a wool sweater and thick outer coat. A necessity for this guy, not an accessory.
Since then, we have acquired a large selection of coats for all kinds of weather. Argos is well outfitted.
Finding His Place
Our house is busy. Added to that, we fostered Hammer the Greyhound three months after adopting Argos. Sophie is very easy going and social, she welcomes all new pets easily. I thought Argos would enjoy some fellow Greyhound company, too.
I think he liked having someone to run with sometimes, but overall, having another Greyhound made Argos a little edgy. As if his place in our home wasn't secure with the arrival of this New Guy. We loved Hammer and we loved fostering. Hammer was adopted to a wonderful family six weeks later. We were sad, but also very happy for them.
After Hammer left, Argos seemed a bit more at ease. This home really was his home, forever.
Learning the Ropes
Sophie is a great role model for Argos. One example: going for a walk. The walk is the highlight of Sophie's day. It doesn't matter what time, or what weather, she is ready to go! Argos, on the other hand, had no idea what we were doing, walking along a road. In the cold. In the rain. In the wind and snow. What was the purpose? He didn't even sniff at anything.
Undeterred, Sophie didn't let the lack of Argos' excitement dampen her enthusiasm for walk time. It wasn't long before Argos got the hang of this "going for a walk" deal. He watches Sophie, sniffs where she sniffs, and finds the best places to do his business, thanks to Sophie.
I wish I could capture Argos' face when he sees the leash now. Joy! He dances around, tail wagging. He starts picking up dog toys, boots, or laundry items to toss around in all of the excitement as we get leashes on.
At first, Argos would just run circles around the yard. Now he has learned how to really play and interact with Sophie on her terms; using play bows and zig-zagging games of chase. Here is a video of Argos and Sophie enjoying the first snow of 2010.
Argos has also learned what dog toys are. He loves stuffed animals and his Kibble Nibble treat ball. Here is a video of my silly dog on the first day we tried out this toy. His tail is wagging and food is flying everywhere.
Home, Really Home
It has been a wonderful, often humorous year, with Argos in our lives. He definitely knows this is "it" ... his home. We look forward to many years together.
Happy Gotcha Day, Argos.
