Why I Can Run So Fast

It's Post Time

The snow has been melting and I have been able to run in the back yard more than I have been able to when it was cold and there was a lot of snow outside.  Papa and Daddy make paths so Nicky and I can go potty, but it's hard to run around because you have to follow the paths and that's not always easy.  Sometimes they end and you just have to turn around.  Besides, it is very cold outside and I don't want to stay out for so long.  I usually just go potty and come right back inside when it's very cold outside.  I can't stay outside for very long because I am so thin.  I get very cold very very fast and could get sick.  So I have to just potty and come right back.  But now it has been getting warmer and I can stay outside for a longer time without getting very cold.  So now that it is getting warmer, I can run again.  That makes me very happy because I really love to run. 

Papa told me that the stories I tell that you like the most are the stories I tell about greyhounds and puppies and why we are special.  He says that the stories about how I can see and how I used to race get lots of visits.  So that means that you all like when I tell you about the special qualities of puppies like me.  So tonight, I am going to tell you about running, because I really like to run.

And I can run fast.

The two ways all 4 feet are in the air.

Why is it that some dogs can run fast and others can't run so fast. It's all about what humans call gait.  Papa says that my gait is the quality of my running.  I just like running, so I do it.  But I guess greyhounds were bread to run fast a long long time ago.  And we have a special kind of running.  There are two kinds of running.  One is called single suspension, and the other is called double suspension.  Greyhounds run fast because we have double suspension running style.  That means that when I run, there are two different times when all four of my paws are off the ground.  When I start running, I just walk fast and pick up my feet two at a time and just do that fast.  But as I run faster and faster, I start to gallop.  When I push myself off by my back feet, I stretch out my whole body.  My front feet are stretched out in front of me and by rear legs are stretched out behind me.

The second time is when I am stretched out like that, my front paws hit the ground and I push off with them.  As I push myself in front of my front paws, I go into the air again and my front paws go behind me and my back paws catch up and go ahead of my front feet.  As that happens all four feet are off the ground again and my back feet are in front of my front feet.  It sounds confusing, I know.

Here is a picture of the double suspension gait.

http://www.oricomtech.com/projects/leg-run.htm

Here is a video of an Italian Greyhound running in slow motion. If my description was a little too difficult to follow, watch the greyhound run in slow motion and you'll get a better idea of how I can run.



Here is another good video of a greyhound running in slow motion and playing with another puppy friend.



And remember, just because we can run fast, that doesn't mean that we should be forced to race against our will.  We love to run, but we don't like to be forced to run around a track so people can bet on us.  And what's worse is that only a small portion of the dogs that are bred for racing actually are good enough to make it to the track.  The rest are just killed.  They die alone and unwanted.  So if you appreciate our running and love to watch us run, then adopt a greyhound and bring him or her to the beach or to a dog park and let him or her run around freely.  Don't make us run for sport.

It's not cool.  You bet.  We die.  That's not cool at all.




Here are some links so you can read more about my running gait, if you want to.

Running Gaits of Galloping Dogs
http://www.oricomtech.com/projects/leg-run.htm

Gait from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gait_%28dog%29

Keep your tail up and wagging!

-Katie

Operation Heroes and Hounds

It's Post Time

This is a very cool program that I think you all should be aware of.  There are a lot of doggies like me who are homeless and feel unloved.  Some puppies have been in shelters for 7 years without being adopted.  It makes me sad to think that there are other puppies like me who aren't as lucky as I have been and who are waiting for a permanent home and for someone to love them.

This is a great story about a program that is working to help dogs and to help veterans feel better about themselves and their lives when they return from war.  My Papa tells me that war is a very bad thing and that people often get confused and disoriented after being in such horrible conditions.  He says it might be like when I was younger and being made to race against other puppies that I just wanted to play with.  We don't really know because neither of us have ever been in a war, but he understands that it is often very rough on the people who are.

This program matches puppies who people think cannot be adopted because they have things about them that humans may not like or understand.  Papa says that those puppies a little like my brother Nicholas, who sometimes gets very upset and nasty to people and then can't really figure out why.  Papa says he;s just scared and doesn't know how to deal with his fears.  That's very sad, I think.  Anyway, these puppies are being given to veterans to help train so they can be better companion animals and humans will adopt them.  The program is working and is very successful both for these veterans and the puppies they are training.

This is a very cool thing.  Here is a short video for you to watch about it.

The full story can be found on the Huffington Post
Operation Heroes and Hounds Matches War Veterans with Death Row Dogs
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/24/operation-heroes-hounds-veterans_n_840257.html

The program was started by dog trainer Tamar Geller of The Loved Dog.
Operation Heroes and Hounds
http://www.tamargeller.com/outreach-heroes.php

"We are all just one hug away from a better world."  How cool is that?

Keep your tail up and wagging!

-Katie

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie...with You

It's Post Time

There was an article released that my Papa read to me and I didn't like it.

Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie in Your Bed can Kill You
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/20/letting-sleeping-dogs-lie-in-your-bed-can-kill-you/

The article says that we can give you parasites and germs and stuff like that.  That's just silly.  Dogs have been sleeping around, nearby, and with humans for thousands of years.  It's a great way to share warmth and keep everyone cozy and snuggly in the cold winter months.  I think it's just a lot of trash talking from people who don't know any better. Sure there is a very small chance that you could catch something, but the fact is, you can catch those same bugs from other humans.  The fact is, it doesn't matter who you sleep with, what matters more is that you are clean and the companion animal is also clean.

Hygiene is much more important that species.  End of story.

Here's another story about owners who love and respect their companion animals.

Do You Sleep with Your Dog?  Do You Admit it?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martha-rosenberg/do-you-sleep-with-your-do_b_831258.html

I like this article a lot better and it makes me happy to know that I am not the only lucky puppy.

I found some Greyhound friends on another blog, A Bit of Loki, who posted a video that I just loved.  I had to post it, too.  I haven't blogged in awhile. I guess I havebeen busy relaxingand just didn't feel the need.  My Papa was busy on March 5th, so I could not do the 5 on the Fifth photos this month.    All this activity watching the video makes me sleepy.  So I thought I would write a post about sleep and sleeping with your animals.   Here's the video from my new friends.



So I got to thinking about sleeping and found a few more really funny videos that will show you how important sleeping is to us.  This is a good way to sleep. I love sleeping with my Papa and Daddy.  But I don't stay all night.



This is a cute video, but I only do this sometimes.  I'm too tired to do it so often and for so long.   My brother Nicholoas does this a lot. And I do mean a lot. He's crazy!



I love to sleep, too. This puppy really takes it to the extreme, though.  Maybe it's because he only has that one bed.  That's too bad.  I have lots of beds.  Since I have more than one place to sleep, maybe I just move around to make sure I use them all.  Boy, am I very lucky!  I love sleeping.

Well, that's all I have to say right now.  All this blogging and watching videos has really made me tired.  I have a futon that is calloing my name.  I think I will take my giraffee all with me.

I'll talk to you all soon.

Keep your tail up and wagging!

-Katie

OK, Go supports Animal Rescue

It's Post Time

So my Papa was watching this very interesting video from OK Go.  There were lots of smart dogs in the video and Papa said that the group also supports animal rescue efforts.

So since the video was really cool, I thought I would post it for you.  Its from You Tube and you've probably already seen it.  Papa says it's very popular. But if you haven't you should watch.  These are the really fun things that humans do with dogs.  I like to focus on those, not the bad thigs humans do to dogs.

Here's the Video from OK Go, called White Knuckles



Here is a link to their site about animal rescue
http://www.okgo.net/dogs/

Here is a very cute parody of the above video with stuffed animals. It kis called Fuzzy Knuckles.  This is adorable.  Almost as adorable as me, but not quite.



And this last video is some mistakes that they made when trying to make the White Knuckles video.

Hope you have some fun with these.  

Keep your tail up and wagging!

-Katie

February 5 on the 5th

It's Post Time

Things that make me go, "HMMMMMMMMMMMMM!"

This month's 5 on the 5th was a general Reflection of things that are important to us.  I thought I would share with you some news stories that made me happy and sad, and talk a little bit about the relationships between animals and humans.  I have a great life and a happy home, but not all dogs do.  There are a lot of bad people who don't think of us as being living creatures with feelings or intelligence.  It makes me sad to think that there are people in the world who don't respect or appreciate all that dogs can do.  My Papa says that those people are stupid and selfish and I should feel sorry for them because they don't know any better.  They have to torture something else to make themselves feel better.  But I don't want to feel sorry for them.  If you ask me, I think that these people should not be allowed to interact or be in contact with animals.  Papa says they don't allow people who abuse children to be near children, and it makes sense to me that if people abuse animals, they should not be allowed to be near animals.

But anyway, it is not all bad.  So here are 5 stories that Papa read to me this week from the news that made me stop and think about how humans and animals are connected.  I will select my pictures from the web because they will show how I feel about the articles.

ONE

Unilever Ends Animal Testing On Lipton Tea Products After PETA Threatens Major Campaign

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/03/unilever-ends-animal-test_n_818225.html

This was a good thing.  For many years this company that makes Tea was looking for some reason to promote the healthiness of drinking tea.  So they made pigs and rabbits sick , made them drink tea to see if they got better.

What a terrible thing to do.  With all the problems in the world and people and animals suffering for no reason, to do it on purpose is horrible.

I chose this picture because it really shows how I feel about all this animal testing stuff.  You should test on yourself and leave innocent animals alone.   It would be a better world if the CEOs of companies had to do the testing on themselves.  They might actually earn all the money they make, instead of making decisions that affect the lives of animals they don't even know anything about.

I am glad they stopped.  I only hope they realize what terrible people they are.


TWO

100 Sled Dogs Killed In British Columbia Due To Slump In Tourism

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/31/100-sled-dogs-slaughtered_n_816462.html

 I wanted to use a picture of beautiful dogs, but this one really got my attention.  Sled dogs are hard working dogs and many suffer and die to protect their humans.  But a corporation, like the last one, felt that they didn't want to keep the dogs alive with no one to buy sledding trips.  All of a sudden the lives of those hard working dogs were worthless in their eyes.  And what is worse, is they told the employees to shoot them.  They wouldn't even spend the money on a humane way to try to get the dogs adopted or even put them to sleep humanely.  They were shot, in cold blood.
More terrible corporations.

THREE

Pet Owners: Can Sleeping With Your Pet Make You Sick?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sophia-yin/pet-owners-sleeping-with-your-pet-can-make-_b_816138.html

 For a long time people thought that sleeping with your companion animals can make you sick.  But this new research study shows it isn't true!

My brother sleeps with my humans all the time..  I get to sometimes.  Papa says it is because I am so big and take up so much room.  I chose this picture because I think that we can work out an arrangement that would make everyone happy.  The dog in this picture is obviously a bigger dog, like myself.  Oh, I am not fat, I am just big boned.  But still, even though I have long legs, I think that we all can fit in the bed safely and maintain our health.  As long as no one has a cold.  I mean, if you are sick or have fleas, it isn't good to sleep with humans or dogs, because some things just can transmit.

FOUR

Michael Vick's Dogs: Pit Bulls Make Slow And Painful Recovery

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/31/michael-vick-dogs-pit-bulls_n_816246.html#s232910

Using dogs for sports is never a good idea.  You all know that I was a racer and didn't really like it.  And racing dogs are not treated badly, when they are racing.  But afterward, it really depends on how bad the owner is.  Once again, it is easy for some corporation to just dispose of the dogs.  Dog fighting is very different.  It takes a really bad person to train dogs to be violent and make them fight other dogs.  No dog ever wins in that situation.

I didn't want to bring in a bad picture, but I chose this one because even though it's horrible, you can see how loving the dog is, just by looking into his eyes.  He didn't want to hurt another dog, and really doesn't want to be hurt himself.  It's just that bad people make slaves of animals for their own pleasure.  It's disgusting.

FIVE

Cancer-Sniffing Dog Trained By Scientists

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/01/cancer-sniffing-dog_n_816961.html
  

I wanted to end on a happy note.  We can be useful to humans in more ways than just unwillingly helping them make money.  We do have talents that can be used to help improve the human condition. 
Dogs have really great senses of smell.  We can smell many things.  It's how we communicate with each other and understand our surroundings.  We can smell all kinds of things, including the presence of cancer cells in your breath or urine!  You see, it is not that we don't want to be working dogs, or that we don't want to help you.  We do.  Many dogs are not happy unless they have something to do. Personally, I am not one of those dogs.  I want a nice place to lay down and I want to be able to see my humans and know what's going on.  But I don't want to work.  But there are dogs that do.  And we can be helpful to humans, if you let us.  It's just that you shouldn't have to torture, hurt, or kill us to make us useful.  I chose this picture because this is a proud dog who should get the recognition he or she deserves.


And that's what I have been thinking about this month for 5 of the 5th!

Keep your tail up and wagging!

-Katie

There's More to Me than Speed...and Beauty....

It's Post Time

I just got back from a very nice walk with Daddy, Pappa, and my brother.  It was such a great time.  It ws snowing, and I really like walking around the town in the snow.  It was a little chilly, but I had my warm coat on and didn't feel the cold at all.

I saw this video on "A Bit of Loki", Proof Greyhounds are Smart,  and really liked it.  It shows you just how smart we greyhounds are.  And one of the doggies in the pound looks just like me!  That was cool. Besides, I can do the same thing as the puppy in the video.  There are a lot of gates around my house that are supposed to keep my brother and I away from our other brother, George.  For some strange reason, Nicky doesn't like George, but I can't figure out why.  I can open the gate myself sometimes, but often don't bother because Nicky will just chase George and get everyone into trouble.  I feel that it is best if Nick doesn't know I can open the gates, and just leave well enough alone.

Watch Intelligent Dog on You Tube.

And the best thing ever is that the puppy got adopted.  I hope he got a great set of humans like I did.  I really lucked out with mine and would not give them up for anything.

Here's another video of the Top 10 Smartest Dogs.  I wonder why my breed isn't on the list? Oh well, I know there are other kinds of puppies that are smarter than my kind.  But that's OK.  It's fine to be average.  I'm OK with that.



Oh well, I I am getting tired and should go lay down for a bit now.  The couch is calling me and Nicky isn't on it, so I can get comfortable before he knows I am there.  All this typing has made me sleepy.  Until next time...

Keep your tail up and wagging!

-Katie

Want a Puppy for Christmas? Katie says adopt!

It's Post Time

Hi everyone. I want to share some good news with you and also, take the time to ask you to do me a favor this holiday season.

First the good news.

My Papa made me a very warm coat.  I just love it.  My other coat that papa made from one of his sweatshirts is very cool, and I love it,.  But as it got colder outside, I really was starting to get cold in that coat.  I wanted something warmer so I could enjoy our family walks.  So Papa made me a nice warm coat.  I love the diamond pattern and it has two layers of fuzzy material that is very warm.  And it makes me look very pretty.  I'll model it for you. 

What do you think?

And now for something a little more serious...

I know that holidays are a popular time for getting pets for your kids. believe me, I understand how important it is for dogs to have people and for people to have dogs. I get that. But I am going to ask that you adopt a shelter dog, rather than buy one from a puppy mill or a pet store. Please. It is so important. There are millions of unwanted and wonderful dogs out there who just want a home and someone to love. I know. I am one of those dogs. I was bred in a puppy mill for racing dogs, and when showed that I had too much independence and would not run fast just to beat other dogs in a race, I was discarded. I was lucky because I was allowed to go to a shelter. But that shelter was overcrowded, and I was moved to another shelter. I finally met my new parents in a lucky turn of events that doesn't happen to every dog. Most dogs get overlooked, or missed, or ignored. As shelters get over crowded, they kill those dogs who take too long to get adopted so they can make room for others who might. It's an awful experience.

On the other hand, I understand the need for some people to get a puppy who they could raise and train from a a young age. That's all well and good, but all dogs can be trained, at any age. And baby puppies don't know how to go potty outside like already trained, shelter dogs do. So you can eliminate the need for potty training and work exclusively on the obedience training. Now just between you and me, some dogs take to training more than others. I know that I can sometimes be a handful for my daddy and he gets impatient because I don't listen. But it isn't because I am stupid or don't understand. It's that I am stubborn sometimes and forget that I should listen and be good. I want to listen, but sometimes I just don't. But that's just as try for puppies, even more because they don't have the experiences that shelter dogs do. And shelter dogs are so much more grateful.

So please, if you plan on giving a companion animal as a gift this year, please adopt, not buy. It would make a formerly unwanted dog like me, very happy. and you can make them a pretty new coat and they will love you for it forever.

Here's an ad from Peta that makes my point a little sharper!

Well, what did you think? Pretty interesting ad, but the dogs in bags makes me very sad.

Here are a few stories you might want to read about adopting dogs from shelters.

Reasons to Adopt a Dog and Myths About Shelter Adoptions

The Pope, Peta, and Overpopulation - Ingrid Newkirk

Peta's Everyday Dogs Ad to Promote Adopotion

5 Myths About Adopting Shelter Dogs

Puppy Mills from the Humane Society

I hope you read over these stories on the internet and get a better understanding of just how wonderful shelter dogs are.  All we want is a chance to love someone. And sometimes we may need a little extra effort, but you should excuse us for that.  It's not our fault.  We were all abandoned by those we loved unconditionally at one time or another.  That's kind of hard to bear for a little puppy.  So if you're going to get a puppy or a dog from either a shelter or a store, make sure you want it for real.

Well, have a nice holiday season.  I hope you can enjoy the new year with a new companion animal from your local shelter.  It'll be your best holiday ever.  I promise.  And I don't lie.

Keep your tail up and wagging!

-Katie