Ellen

Hi, me again Only 2 weeks in, and a lot of tiny improvements already, actually managed to go to the loo on my own once without my shadow. 3 days ago I couldn't even twitch and he was up checking I wasn't leaving him. Up till yesterday he was walking really well on the leash, though still quite nervous of other dogs. I tend to get him to stay( with a treat) until the other dogs pass and give a lot of praise. Yesterday a large dog approached- not aggressively and not too close and Ally immediately lunged and starting barking , he's also started to get a bit antsy if other people pass to close-ears pricked up and straining on lead.- I don't know if he thinks he's protecting me. When my husband takes him a walk on his own he doesn't behave like this and will occasionally sniff another dog any advice gratefully received,

Totally unrelated, do dogs not get stung by nettles ? Ally seems to find great delight in finding the largest clumps of nettles to do his business in

Hi guys, Thanks' for all the tips and advice. Your're right, I do think I alter my pace when passing small dogs in anticipation. I will need to be more aware of my actions when walking him. feel much happier now at leaving his collar on Cheers

Hi, I spoke to the greyhound trust and although they didn't say not to use the martingale collar, they thought the leather fishtail collar is the best for controlling a greyhound . I may look into a harness though as Ally is still quite nervous of other dogs, esp. tiny ones and will speed up to try and pass them. Cheers

Hi, I have just adopted a greyhound, and he shows no interest in toys at present- don't think he knows what they are. A new toy arrive today- PITAYA CHEW TOY from N & A Dog Chew Toys. from Amazon ( other sites are available) He immediately jumped at it and spent a good few minutes playing, It seemingly has a squeaker, but he hasn't found it

Hi there Thanks' for replying everyone It is the fishtail design , and don't have any floor vents and must admit I didn't know you could get flat tags. I'll also look into the martingale collars. I'm in Scotland. Cheers

Thanks'. at present he just has a standard leather sight hound collar as he is becoming much more settled on walks( lot of bribery involved) would you recommend a martingale collar though ?

Hi, Me again, now 10 days in and I haven't removed his collar and it doesn't seem to bother him in the slightest. Although I'm being super cautious I'm worried that if he escaped out the door, firstly he would be harder to catch and secondly, although he's chipped it would be quicker for someone to read our contact details on his tag. Is it okay for his collar to remain on ? Cheers

Hi This is a great site for newbies like us, I've only been a dog owner for 10 days and it is getting easier. You will find that a lot of experienced owners will reply with advice and support .Also look back at past talks. My dog totally ignored his Kong for several days, but now I'm able to use it for alone training. Good luck

Many thanks' for the advice,I'll try that. I've also left his coat in his bed so it doesn't smell so new. Hopefully in the years to come I'll be able to offer support to other new owners, but I'm afraid just now it's take, take, take. This is an excellent forum especially for newbies like me.

Hi, Any suggestions gratefully received on how to get him used to his coat.Tried it on this am as the weather is about to turn colder but he tried to rip it to shreds before I even got the strap fitted. Cheers

thanks' for that.He will just need to lie in the sun when we are there.Hopefully Ally will have a better night tonight, I will stay with him in the kitchen until he settles,unfortunately our bed room is just to small so no choice but to use the kitchen. so saying he loves his bed and is in the kitchen most of day with me, so I'm hoping that when he feels more secure that's he's here for good he will settle overnight.

Cheers everyone, not such a good night last night. Tried to ignore him for a bit longer and totally my fault left things within reach i.e loaf of bread, kitchen roll, boxes of hankies and a box of wine. Not a pretty site on entering the kitchen, but at least a good excuse to give the floor a good clean, it smelt like a brewery! Think I'll go back to sitting with him until settled for a few nights and I've downloaded the book "I'll Be Home Soon"-thanks' for the suggestion . Another thing- we have a small enclosed garden with a 7 foot fence. any ideas if it would be suitable to leave him in the garden for short spells in dry weather when we are out.I'm recently retired so only talking 2 to 3 hours max.

Many thanks' for all your help. As a new dog, never mind greyhound owner I want to make sure I have a happy well adjusted dog.He's a lovely big placid boy who in the space of 4 days has gone from an anxious wreck to lying on his back, legs akimbo, so he is definitely settling. Unfortunately there is not enough space to have his bed in our room, but last night he only whined for about 15 minutes before settling and lasted through to 6:30.I think once he's conquered sleeping alone at night the next stage will be trying to make sure he's happy being left alone for short times during the day as he won't let me out of his sight, but I suppose it's very early days. Thanks' again for all your replies, I think I will be using this forum quite a lot.

Hi, Have just become the proud owner of a 3 yr old boy called Ally.Due to space restriction he has to sleep in the kitchen which he is not happy about, who said greyhound don't bark ! I've been leaving a small light and the radio on, and sitting in the kitchen( generally ignoring him) until he settles.Past couple of nights have been better and he has slept until the back of 5 when he starts whining again (he didn't actually need to pee until after 7 ). I want to know if I'm doing the right thing and any suggestions of how to get him to go longer would be gratefully received. I would't mind him sleeping on the bed after his morning pee, but I'm worried I would be creating a rod for my own back and he would decide that was his full time bed.