Hi all,
I just recently got Bella with my husband 1.5 weeks ago. She is 1 and a half years old and she never raced. She is a super sweet girl and adjusting fairly okay but there are a few things I would like to make better for her.
My husband works monday-friday and leaves about 8 and comes home around 6 (sometimes the hours are a little before and little after). I work 3 night shifts a week and it varies. Since we have had her, I only had to crate her twice in the day while I slept in between shifts. Bella has separation anxiety from my husband. I could be home in the living room and he is leaving and she is very upset. She will whine and it takes a long time to settle. She is allowed on the couch and has a crate with an open door. Lately she will go to the crate. He has built on separation anxiety with her on weekends. When left completely alone, she is crated and has no issues. Also to note, if I leave her during the day for an errand she has no issue,no whining. *I know greyhounds thrive on routine but with my schedule I do not have a routine since it changes weekly, would love to know if anyone else has encountered something similar*
The big thing this week has been outside. She has been refusing. When we first took her home, she grasped the stairs by day 2 (we live in an apartment on 3rd floor) and would go potty in a lot next to our building. As of 2 days ago, she was statuing on the lot and not wanting to potty and would pull to go back up the stairs. Now she won't even go down the stairs. I tried giving her treats as she walked down but she is very uninterested. I left the balcony door open for her to adjust to sounds and see other dogs walk by, but this was also when my husband left and she was nervous and started to chew on furniture.
I know this all takes time for her, but I just want to help her. She really is amazing and affectionate.
Thanks!
Nervous mom and nervous greyhound