The Art of Self Entertainment

This dog is hilarious. Most evenings I find that instead of watching the tv show I've tuned into, I'm just watching him with his crazy play. I know he does this when I'm not home - I've seen the redecorating.

But he will make the most use of the space available, and just goes nuts. It's not destructive, it's rowdy. With toys cast around he leaps, pounces, jumps & spins, pounces, and chomps on whichever one is next to his face when he lands. Then he throws them up and either catches them, or waits for me to pick it up from my lap and toss it back. Yes, the toys sometimes whack me in the head.

It's so entertaining that I forget to be annoyed at the riotous disruption to my peaceful evening unwinding from work. He is SO good natured, so happy, and so lovable. And, slowly, he's learning boundaries. I try to insist on some restraint, but I have to give the guy room to express himself. It's like living with an artist or an actor. They're a little out there, but they mean well.

His new thing is that he loves to go lay on my bed and watch me from the open bedroom door. It doesn't last long, but I guess he's feeling privileged to be allowed up there. I frankly don't care, as long as he moves out of the way when I want to get in there. And he does. At night if he's there where I need to lay, I say quietly, "move" and he does. He goes and gets on his big plush dog bed. We have agreed that we don't want to sleep together in the same bed. We both like to have our space. After all, we both earned the rest.

"Almost?" Maybe it's "Greyhound PLUS!"

We make a joke of calling Java "almost a greyhound" because he's mostly greyhound with a little bit of something else. Maybe scent hound, maybe some sporting breed. It's hard to say, but it also hardly matters.

To us greyhound people we like to think his best parts are the greyhound parts. So he's lean, and sleek, and beautiful, and fast. But we also all know that greyhounds are, and I mean this as someone who loves the breed unconditionally, weird. People love them, but we who know them also know that you have to shift your thinking a little to live with them.

In a lot of ways, Java is the best of both worlds. He does have lots of greyhound in his behavior - he likes to shred paper, he likes plush toys, he found the couch almost immediately and it never occurred to him that I'd say no. But he has an energy level that a lot of dog owners want. He's a guy who will go with you as long and as far as you want. And, his rest up time in between is shorter than the average greyhound.

Greyhounds are energy sensitive. I always tell people that they'll keep you "centered." You can't bring a lot of intensity to your interaction with a greyhound- most especially when you're trying to get them to do something they don't want to. They lock up. Statue. No one home, can't hear you, fingers in the ears "la la la la la" is what you get.

This guy? Java? Not a problem. He is sensitive, true, but I find I can insist with him and he doesn't shut down. He just wants to please, if it doesn't interfere with his playing.

That's another thing. I hear this from greyhound people a lot, and it's my experience, too. Greys are known for playing with their toys when you're not home, and not touching them when you're there. For many of us  it's a rare treat when our greyhound gets excited enough to toss their stuffed spider around for a few minutes while we watch. You come home from work and there are toys everywhere, it's been a big day, but you don't usually get to see it.

Java? This guy plays with a joy and abandon that is a pleasure to behold. A lot. Big JOY. BIG toy fun. I've been whacked in the head with the stuffed lion more than once, as it came flying across the room.

So, greyhound PLUS is a better way to think of him. He's the perfect greyhound for an active person or family who can't guarantee there won't be a high level of energy occasionally that would make a "pure" greyhound uncomfortable. Java would just jump in with abandon and toss a lion at your head.

Java needs a home!  A couch to call his very own!

This gorgeous "mostly-a-Greyhound" was found running loose in Elizabethtown, Kentucky this past summer.

He's a young, energetic, curious dog that has responded beautifully to living in his foster home.

He loves toys and has a tendency to get into things if left too long to his own devices.  His foster mom feels he needs a strong influence in his life to help him learn the ropes.

Black as coffee, built like a full-blooded Greyhound, his foster mom named this young dog JAVA.

Java is smart, very smart. He learns anything he's asked to learn.  He's also VERY "busy".  His foster mom learned to put the Kleenex out of reach after she came home to the residue from a tissue party.

But he's not destructive with big items.  He might pull the pillows off the sofa while his foster mom is at work but they have survived intact.  Like many Greyhounds, he seems to have a paper fetish -- cardboard, tissues, paper are all fair game.  He's also expressed an interest in remote controls, which his foster mom has learned to keep in a drawer.  And he had a field day with her yarn as well.

But he's super playful, funny as heck, and sweet beyond words, though his foster mom reports he is very shy, especially around men.

Ideally, Java should be placed with a person who understands the importance of strong leadership so he or she can help him with his shyness, but his adopters need to be pretty active to help burn off some of his excess energy. He's a dog who really would do well with either other playful dogs, or someone who would walk him very regularly - once or twice a day. He doesn't wear out on long walks either. He could do really well as a jogging or hiking companion.

Java's a good eater, though he won't finish a meal if he thinks his foster mom might leave the house while he's eating. So some days, he waits until she's left for work before finishing his breakfast.

He rides well in the car and seems to warm up to other dogs well, though he might be frightened or overwhelmed at first.

He's believed to be small animal safe, noticing the squirrels and cats on walks, but not inappropriately interested.  He did fine with a small dog but has not been "cat tested".

Java's leash manners have improved while in foster care and he walks better on the leash each day. He's so busy, the main problem is his constant criss-crossing with his nose in the ground.  He's learning, however, to pay better attention to the human on the other end of the leash. He stopped pulling by about his third walk. He's such a smart dog!

Java has refused to go down the basement steps but the outside porch steps are not an issue.  He's learned about doorways and car doors and has learned not to go through them without invitation. Yay, Java!

The vet estimates he is about 3 years old.  He's been neutered and is current on all his vaccinations.  He tested heartworm free, which is miraculous for a dog that was running free.

We estimate Java is three-quarters Greyhound.  He does have the floppy ears we typically see in Greyhound mixes.

Java's in excellent health and is looking for the perfect family to spoil him.

If you'd like to learn more about Java, drop us a line at GPA@GPALouisville.org.

He's available from Greyhound Pets of America/Louisville.  Visit our website at www.GPALouisville.org to learn more about our organization.