Argos Has a Bad Day

Sometimes, it's easy to forget that Argos has had little to no "life experience" before he came to us, even though he is six years old.  His life at the track was very regimented and of course there were many things that he wasn't exposed to at all; things that a dog raised in a home would discover as a puppy.

The big ones are the ones that any good greyhound adoption group will warn you about:  they sometimes have to be taught how to do really basic stuff, like walking up stairs or being able to balance on hardwood floors.  (Argos does well with the regular hardwood floor now, but HATES the laminate in the kitchen.  He has fallen on it a couple of times because he can't seem to get his footing on it.  He avoids the kitchen whenever possible.)

But there's a host of other little (and not so little) things as well.

Last night, Argos discovered his very first thistle plant.  It didn't go well, to say the least.  My first clue that there was a problem was when I saw my greyhound leap three feet in the air and try to run away...  of course I was attached to the other end of the leash, so he didn't get very far.  I think he thought that plant was going to uproot itself and chase after him or something.

And then once he's been startled, it's really hard to calm him down.  A few minutes later, someone revved the engine of their car when they passed us on the road, and he flipped out, again trying to run away.  I'm not sure that my shoulder can take too many more of these leash-wrenches.

Later, in the house, he bumped into a slightly ajar door and knocked it shut.  He about had a heart attack at the slamming sound.

So of course, I add to his ever-deepening paranoia first thing this morning, when I fed him breakfast.  I was carrying his bowl of fresh water in one hand and the food in the other.  I put the food down first, since that's what he was REALLY interested in, but in the process, accidentally dumped half of the water on top of his head.

Gah.  Some days, my boy, you're going to find that you just can't win.

On a happier note, it's fun to introduce him to fun things that he's never seen before.  I've enjoyed introducing toys to him, and while he's still adapting to the concept of "play," he does love his squeaky toys.  Other fun things that he discovered, and was astounded by:

1.  The couch.
2.  Our bed.  (These things are SOFT!)
3.  McDonald's hamburgers (plain, especially with no onions)
4.  Laps.
5.  The park.
6.  People.  Though as his idea of "pack" solidifies, he is less and less interested in random passers-by.
7.  Blowdryers.  He loves getting blow-dried, especially if he is getting brushed at the same time.  He'll turn around to give me access to other parts that he wants dry, and will stretch his neck out to let you brush under his chin.