greydad92

All great suggestions. The way my house is laid out there is really no way to baby gate him in the kitchen unfortunately. I could see if someone in the neighborhood could help out. I really don't know any stay at home Mom's or high school kids. I take him out for his quick walk at 5 am, feed him around 5:30 am, take him for his longer walk around 7:45 am and leave for work around 8:30 am. Mr. Spock is very routine oriented.

Hi All, Help. I am at my wits end. I got Spock from a rescue on November 3rd of 2013. I worked slowly with him on away training for a week and he did great. I worked him up to 9 hours a day over a 2 - 3 week period. At first I crated him in my bedroom, but he didn't take well to that, clawing and biting at the crate to get out. I ended up baby gating him in my bedroom and he did great, no pee, no poop inside. He did so well after a month or so, I gave him run of my small ranch-style house. For a couple weeks he did great. Then he started to poop in my living room, but only when I wasn't around. I could never catch him doing it. I caught him peeing one time in my dining room and gave him a very firm "no". When he goes to the bathroom outside I praise the heck out of him. So I went back to baby gating him in my bedroom. Last week he pooped once in the bedroom. This morning I took him out for his 5 am short walk which he pooped and peed, but he didn't on our 8 am "long" walk before I went to work. When I came home I discovered pee and poop on my bedroom floor. That's only part of it. When we go for walks we often walk for 1/2 hour before he goes to the bathroom, this is on plane old green grass. It's like he constantly looks for a place to go to the bathroom and it takes him a really long time to eventually go. For example, when I got home from work today I took him out for a 1/2 hour to 45 minute walk before he peed and pooped. Probably because he went inside I guess. It's almost like he's learned to go to the bathroom inside, thinks it's ok and only goes to the bathroom outside when he feels like it. I'm so confused. Should I crate him? I can't afford doggie day care or someone to come take him for a walk at lunchtime every day. I work 45 minutes from home so it's not possible to drive home every day to let him out at lunchtime. Again, for the first month he did great. And no, I can't get a second dog. One is enough for right now. I'm really trying hard with this guy and it appears we've come to a rather large bump in the road. I'm looking for good positive suggestions and feedback. Perhaps others have had my experience? Thanks for listening.

Hi All, Another photo of Mr. Spock

Thanks

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Thanks, greyt advise

I have a big yard, but no fence, so we go on walks. We go on e quick one when we first wake up and then a "long" one before I go to work. The long walk all depends on weather. If it's pouring rain or freezing cold with snow it's not very long.....but we go until he poops. If it's nicer out, we could go as long as 2 miles +. Thanks for the compliment.

Thanks. I give him a tablespoon of wet food in his dinner. I changed from Blue Buffalo to Purina Pro Plan because Purina is lower protein. I wouldn't think a product change of tablespoon a day would make a change. Over the holidays yes his schedule definitely changed because I was at my mother's with him for almost a week and then back home. The pooping inside thing started before that though, but has gotten worse. About the same volume of poop inside and out, yes. Vulcan mind meld, never thought of that, great idea. I often tell him to "live long and prosper as well"

Thought about that, but now we have no snow on the ground and he's still doing it. I think Greypoopon may have hit the nail on the head. It's a work in progress, heck I've only had him two months this Friday, which is not a long time at all. He's a very good & smart boy. I have confidence that he'll figure it out eventually.

I did alone training with him for a week when I first got him.....one hour first day, two hours the second day, three hours third day, etc. For the past month he has been alone all day when I was at work with no issues, no pooping, no destruction. I've been very careful with this guy, getting him used to the house and being alone slowly and he's been doing very well. The pooping thing started as soon as we had our first major snow storm. He didn't like waling on the hard crusty snow and didn't want to poop on the blacktop, which he actually learned to do after a while. Again, this pooping inside thing has only been going on for the past couple of weeks. This first month and a half there was no pooping in the house. Thank you Zero and my previous dog Echo would want another dog to have the same upbringing and love. I just thought giving him run of the house would give him a little more freedom, a different room to sleep in and more space to walk around. I may have to revert to baby gating him in just my bedroom. Thank you for your post

Hi All, "Zero's Daddy" here. Good news - I got a new greyhound. He's a 5 year old brindle named Mr. Spock. I picked him up in the beginning of November. He's a mellow, friendly good boy......except he's learned a bad habit. After a month + of pooping outside consistently he's learned to poop in my dining room and does it often, but not in my sight and usually when I'm not home. He still poops outside and I praise the heck out of him when he does. I'm well aware of catching him in the act thing, but so far I haven't caught him in "the act". Solutions? First off, he does not do well in a crate. When I first got him I video taped him and he was biting and scratching to get out. I do not want him to hurt himself or worse, so the crate is out. I was baby-gating him in my bedroom for the first month and he did great being home alone. He was doing so well, I gave him run of the house. FYI, I have a very small ranch house, it's not much. Now I honestly cannot leave for an hour now without him pooping in my dining room and thats after a 1 - 2 + mile walk...and pooping on the walk. With Winter here, in New England it's going to be hard on the both of us with the snow, ice and cold. Help. As always I appreciate any (positive) input. I included a photo of Mr. Spock below. Sincerely, Spock's Daddy

What a beautiful post. Godspeed Possum, what a handsome boy. Know that Possum will be in your heart forever.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Godspeed Nike. Here's a cookie from me too.

My heart goes out to you. A lot of the Greytalk family knows I lost myZero to Osteo as well. Just know that Katie is in good hands now.

Blessings to you, Mimi & Pal. I lost my Zero two months ago, but the pain feels like it happened yesterday. I miss him dearly. Know in your heart that our friend are at "the Bridge" patiently awaiting us. I strongly believe that.

So sorry for your loss. Run free sweet Shadow

Caria, So sorry to read about Jonelle. My heart goes out to you. My first dog Echo died suddenly in front of me back in 2008. He was only 8 years old. He had never been sick a day in his life. We were out playing Frisbee in my yard on an early Spring afternoon. After a few throws he was acting tired and moving slower. I figured just one more toss and we'd quit. He went after it, got it, started walking back to me, sat then laid on the ground and went into slight convulsions. I ran over to him and tried to revive him him, figure out how to bring him out of it. Within a couple minutes he died in my arms. I rushed him to the vet, but at that point he was gone. I hate to tell this story, but it can help you in any way, it's worth telling. His vet thought it was probably a brain aneurysm. We'll never know for sure. Thinking back to it I'm still in shock. The pain subsides, though at the time I never thought it would. There is no time line for healing, but remember that you will heal. I will never hear completely. Echo will always be in my heart. I plan on seeing him & Zero again some day. Bless you and Jonelle

So sorry for your loss. I lost my Zero just over a month ago to Osteo, so I feel your pain. After reading your beautiful tribute, it's apparent you loved Silver very much. Run free sweet Silver. BatterseaBrindl mentioned above to "remember the good times", so true. No need to be sorry. Silver was lucky to have you.

Thank so much for your heartfelt message. You were sweet to send that. Best of luck with Toley. I miss Zero so much. His bed is still next to mine with his stuffies & collar. I know he's there.

So sorry for your loss. She looked like such a sweet girl. Be at peace that you made her life special. She is now at the Bridge running free with both eyes now sparkling. Watch over her Zero.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Godspeed Dixie, run free. I'm sure Zero will watch out for you.

So sorry you lost your girl last year. It's amazing once our babies are gone how much they remain in our hearts. My prayers are with you

Hi All, Thanks again for all the kind words and suggestions. I think it will be a while before I get another dog. I'm just too emotional right now so soon after Zero's passing over three weeks ago. The time has passed so quickly. As I've said in previous posts, I still feel him in my heart and the other night heard him whining. I'm sure that was him at "the bridge" saying 'hey, what are you doing down there.....come join the fun'. What a good boy. I'm so proud of him. Sincerely, Tony

Thanks so much for the great posts. I was just so down earlier today. You know how it goes with the ups and downs.

Hi All, Zero passed on August 5th and I'm really down. I'm at peace that he is at "the bridge" and no longer in pain. That is the most important thing to me. I'm still here on Earth and feeling the loss. My heart is heavy and my house is quiet. Zero's bed is still next to mine. I don't know when I will get rid of that. I picked up his ashes last Saturday and they are now in my corner display cabinet with my dog before Zero, Echo. There are some toys in the cabinet as well along with some whiskers. My arm is constantly extended downward to pet friend that used to be there, to pat my buddy on his head. I'm just writing to share how I feel. I'm down....tired......and could use some words of encouragement. Thanks for listening all. I wish the best to you all and your greys. Sincerely, Zero's Daddy