MSTmom

We've had our boy in his own bed right next to us in our bedroom from day 1. The first few nights (tops 3) my husband did have to sleep on the floor with him so he knew he wasn't alone, but its been 2 years now and no complaints. Every so often he wants to sleep with us and we usually allow it until we've run out of room (he's a very big dog lol). The attachment thing is a separate issue, when we first got Steven he was under our feet 24/7 and now he's always near by but he likes his space too, so that just takes time. Also there are tons of times when i wish he'd hop on the bed and he's not in anyway interested, he likes his bed!

We've had our boy 2 years now. When we first got him I worked from home so we never bothered with the crate, but when we would leave him alone he'd suffer greatly from seperation anxiety, so we got a crate just for when we went out to dinner and errands. We tried the whole, leave for 10 come back. Leave for 20 come back, he'd seriously lose his mind. So when I started working full time we would crate him and he was happy as a clam. After a few months we agreed, he's fine and didn't need it. Then like a year later all of a sudden his anxiety kicked back up so we got the crate out again and did that for like 3 months. Now we give him the living room. We close all the doors, make sure theres nothing for him to ruin and gate off the kitchen. We don't leave him in the kitchen because yes he could counter surf, but also he NEEDS to be able to see outside, it helps him so much to be able to see outside. We never crate for sleep, he sleeps in the room with us on his own bed with a bone and a toy if he wants it. He is not good with cats, which we don't have, HOWEVER he does stay with a sitter when we're out of town, and she has like 5. He knows they are there and honestly he'd probably be fine, but she puts them in a room and everyone is happy as ever! I say give your grey some room, i wouldn't want to be in the crate that long either.

oh man, we tried the salmon sweet potato food and steven was SO GASSY!!! as soon as we changed him to turkey he was fine, i mean he still farts sometimes but when he was on the salmon food it was constant and UNREAL!!!!

We got a puzzle for our boy, its like a round piece of flat wood that has these little compartments, he has to slide the compartments open to get a treat. We started with him using it on a weekend so he could learn how to use it, now when we leave for work we give it to him and it totally distacts him, it gives him a treat, and its like a little mental exercise, by the time he's done and had all his treats, he's a happy camper! We also always leave a bone out for him to have whenever. Like a soup bone, not a milk bone.

When we got Steven our rescue suggested that when we leave him home alone that we should leave the tv on or a radio. They said that dogs at the track always hear noises, like announcers, dogs barking, music, etc. so the complete silence of the house may make them a little stir crazy. We tried it and I honestly have no idea if it worked or not. We blocked off areas to the house, but he just broke the gates, so we got a crate which he was very happy in. We don't use it anymore now, but in the beginning I think they feel safe in it, like their own little room. Hes never peed or pooped in it, and we brought him home straight from the rescue, he was never fostered. Just spend those days you have together and try to build a relationship. They take time to adjust, and every day is a little different, so just be patient. Also, we've never used a muzzle, Steven doesnt mind wearing one, but we've never found a need for it. I do know for a fact he hated being in the kitchen bc i think he couldn't see out of the house, so now he is in the living room free range, and he loves sitting by the window...

The first night with our boy was so difficult, I thought we'd never get to sleep. Our room is upstairs, which was new for Steven, so we had to deal with that. Then once we got up the stairs all he did was pace back and forth and could not settle. Finally at some absurd hour my husband got on the floor and slept with him. After that he was ok. Stairs were really hard for a while, he's a very worried/anxious boy, so we tried going slow, and we tried pushing, and we tried treats. Finally it was seeing other dogs do it that it clicked for him and he's been great ever since. As long as the stairs are carpeted anyhow. It definitely took a while though, I'd say a few weeks. In the beginning we weren't even sure he liked us, i would say it took about a solid year for him to actually look to us for affection. We've had him for 2 years now and I swear he still coming out of his shell, its really amazing. We do a walk in the am, one in the pm and then we go out right before bed, like 10pm. Thats on a week day, if we're home with him, we would let him out more often, but he also will now go to the door, or stand in the door way to tell you he needs something. He never barks so you have to really pay attention to where he is to see what he needs. Also when we go on walks, he pees like 100 times. I swear he saves it up just to make it to every pee point he's designated, its insane! So sometimes we just kind of rush him along and move at a quicker pace. Take time with your grey, we were amazed by steven when we first got him and now when I look at him I can't even believe how different he is from the first day at home.

My husband and I got our boy Steve 2 years ago. He's 85 lbs and 33 inches tall. He's a big boy!! I'm like 5'3, and like 130lb. I was worried about his size but honestly I've walked smaller dogs who have given me WAY more problems than our stevie. It's all about their personality, and who is in charge. He knows when the leash is on, im in charge and that it. Also, I think Grey's have a sign when they are interested in chasing something. If steve sees something he stops in his tracks, his ear fold forward and he stares, as soon as he does that i pat him on the head and maybe choke up on his leash a bit more. You're got nothing to worry about, just find the right grey for you!

A few months ago our boy (who is 6) started skipping breakfast, all he would want was to go outside in the morning. I'd let him out, and then he'd immediately eat grass and do the whole, eat grass, choke on it, vomit, eat more. He eats 5 cups a day (he's a big boy!) and we were doing 2.5 in the am and 2.5 in the pm around 8 am and then 8 pm. For a week he'd refuse breakfast and just want to go for grass. I read on here somewhere about the "snack" meal, so we changed his schedule to 2 cups at 8am one cup at 5pm and then dinner at 9pm. He immediately stopped the grass morning snacks. I read somewhere in older dogs it helps with the digestion to break the meal up and keep them full through the night.

When we first got our boy we got a big heavy gate that we figured we'd put up in the hallway when we were away so he had a big area with his bed and water and toys to be in. No matter where we put that gate he knocked it down and got out. It turns out he hates gates! HOWEVER if we just close all the doors in the house so he can walk around the living room, kitchen, dining room, etc (but not get into the bedrooms) he's totally fine. He had some separation anxiety at first and I realized he really loved to be able to see out the window in the living room when he's home alone. One day my husband left the house and shut the blinds and Steven destroyed the bottom of it so he could see outside. We have also set up a crate for him, that we only use every so often. Honestly if his bed is in there he's very happy to lay in there, especially because laying on his back is easier in the crate.

We've had our boy Steve for a year and a half and we're still constantly learning about him! In the beginning my husband was so worried because the best way to describe Steve was "aloof." He didn't seem to care for either of us at all. The more I was home with him though the more he'd follow me around. We tried showing him toys, sleeping on the floor, giving him apples, etc. to bond with him. Now he's all over us, he wants to sleep with us or cuddle on the couch all the time. He's now a very very happy boy who hops around and spins in circles and actually comes over to you because he wants to be pet on the head or belly or chin. As for the 6 am wake up call. Oh lord. They are a creature of habit!!!! I read somewhere on here a year ago that someone had the same problem and their solution was literally to play dead. Friday came around and we got in bed, I told my husband, TOMORROW WE PLAY DEAD! 6 am showed up and the whining and pacing began. We laid there until he completely stopped crying and laid back down. We waited another 15 minutes and then said ok lets get up, and we just did that over and over. Now Steve will sleep in as long as we do, but if he hears us stirring he's up. Give it time, he'll come around.

You're doing such a great job!!! For the first few days we had our boy Steven, my husband had to sleep on the floor with him. We brought his bed to our room immediately when we got him home, but all he did at bed time was stand there, pacing around, crying. He also woke us up by 7 am everyday no matter what, if not 5 am. We eventually learned to play dead so he'd go back to sleep and wait. I think everything you're doing sounds great, and your new girl is lucky to have you! Keep it up!

YUP! Our boy Steven took months to enjoy a toy. We had to teach him how to play catch by throwing a toy that took him a while to be interested in, then i threw it into the yard and he went for it, then i changed the toy until he got excited about the ball. He really only cares for squeeky toys. Now he'll play on his own with a toy but it's been over a year and playing with other dogs still isn't something he does. He loves to run with them though.

We crated our boy for a few weeks when we got him. At first I worked from home, and would only leave him alone for an hour or two here or there, but most days I was with him all day everyday. Then I got a full time job and Steven (our grey) had some serious SA and got pretty destructive. We got the crate which is totally loved. So for a few weeks, maybe like 6, he would stay in there while we were at work and after that we left him out all alone and he was fine. Every blue moon he chews on something, or moves a shoe, but mostly he's great. He does get weirded out by garbage trucks and bikes though. Thats pretty normal.

She'll get used to it. It took some time to find out what freaked steve out, but now we know. The microwave fan, trucks, and he doesn't enjoy wheels like on bikes. Whenever I use the microwave fan he gets really weird and I try to keep him in the kitchen with me and talk to him or hug him or give him a treat. The trucks and wheels thing I can't do much about, I try to just keep still when that happens and give him some love.

Oh I thought our grey either hated both of us or just was depressed for the first few weeks of having him. I at first described Steven as COMPLETELY aloof. Just feed him, walk him, and leave him alone! I think the only reason I thought he MIGHT like me was because he followed me everywhere I went. Now almost a year later, that couldn't be less true. He's excited to see my fiance and i always, and still follows us around. He comes to us for love but also sometimes just wants to chill out on his own. I think he expects things of us, I'm the feeder and hugger and my fiance is the one who will go wrestle him and get out that goof ball energy. Don't be too hard on yourself, it takes a long time for their true personalities to come out. Your boy depends on you, if you weren't there to feed him or walk him I bet he'd be very concerned. Steven (our grey) gets VERY excited about new people in the house. I don't think it has anything to do with who he likes more, its just new things to them are such a big deal. You're doing great!!