New Greyhound Owner Seeking Help

[Guest bisme233]

I got a greyhound just a few days ago. I know it will take a while for things to get settled into a routine. I tried alone training this weekend, going out for about 4 trips in the two days for the longest duration being 1.5 hours. I baby gated Bernie into the kitchen with his bed and a few toys. He seemed perfectly fine. He wasn't overly excited when I was leaving, or when I arrived home. He did some excited whining, but that was about it.

So today I left him home by himself for my first day back at work. I again left him gated into the kitchen (realized later that I forgot to leave the tv on). I came back at lunch time, so he was alone for about 5 hours, and he had chewed on the wall corner just on the other side of the baby gate. I've never had a grey before, so I'm not really sure of the whole muzzling thing. I left him ungated for the remainder of the day with the tv on. His foster mom who had him before I got him said he had no interest in climbing on furniture at all. However, when I came home, there was drool and doggy prints all over my couches.

So, should I try to muzzle him in the kitchen with the tv on, or leave him to roam the house? I'm not really sure what to do and would like some input

Thank you all

[Guest scfilby]

How about crating? If he is OK in a crate I would do that.

[Trihounds]

Was going to suggest crating also. Make his space (relatively) small when you are away and gradually expand it over time. It is easier to feel comfortable in a smaller space than even a kitchen, to some. If crating is an option, go for it - he'll be used to it (though I have no idea what the practices were at his foster house and assume you have already sought advice from there)...

[Batmom]

If he's doing that well out, I probably wouldn't crate him. You could try basket muzzle and perhaps gating him into a smaller area -- usually, I like to use the area where the family hangs out together most of the time.

[Guest gecko_foot]

I would muzzle your grey whether you crate or not since he's so new. You want the plastic kennel muzzle (basket muzzle) not the nylon one. I agree that if he's doing well out (no accidents, etc.) that I would try leaving him out but restrict him to a certain room (preferably where you spend the most time) with baby gates or something similar. You might also want to consider leaving toys - such as a kong - out for him. That way he has something to do while you're away. If you can, I would video him while you are out just to see exactly what he's doing. This might help you make a decision as to whether or not you want to try crating.

 

Good luck and congrats on your new grey!

 

By the way...do you have pictures of your new boy?

Edited July 28, 2010 by gecko_foot

[TheFullHouse]

Since you left him out and he did fine, I wouldn't confine him. I'd baby proof the house and muzzle him when you leave. Leave him with a kong, he can get the goodies out through the muzzle and see how it goes.

[GeorgeofNE]

You must have a long work day if he was alone for 5 hours by lunch time.

 

How much exercise did he get before you went to work? I don't mean time in the back yard (if you have one!) sniffing around. I mean exercise. Dogs usually do things like chew the walls because they have nothing else to do and they're bored. If he's tired out, he'll likely sleep the day away. The muzzle seems like a reasonable solution--but he also needs to be exercised in the morning, and he needs a distraction. Many of us use a Kong (I like the "king" size Kong) with stuff inside--I personally smear peanut butter around the inside walls of George's. He only gets the Kong when I leave him--no other time.

 

My dog gets a 45 minute brisk walk every day before work. Yes, I have to get up early, and yes, this can be a drag when it's cold/raining, etc. But I am single, have no fenced yard, and live alone, so I feel it's very important that he get a bit tired out before I expect him to behave all day while I earn the money to keep him in the manner to which he has become acustomed!

 

Doesn't sound like you even have a crate, or you probably would be using it. It also doesn't sound like he really needs one! And if you expect him not to sleep on your furniture, you're probably going to have to pile something on it to make it impossible. Otherwise, just get some nice throws and cover your stuff and accept it! Better he snooze on your couch than eat your kitchen, right??

 

 

Good luck!! It takes way more than a few days for them to adjust! It'll be fine!

[NeylasMom]

What did his foster mom do when she went to work?

[Guest lasharp1209]

Dogs usually do things like chew the walls because they have nothing else to do and they're bored. If he's tired out, he'll likely sleep the day away.

 

OR he might just be anxious in a new place. You've only had him a few days, he's going to be a little uptight and chewing is an anxiety-relieving behavior. Like others have said, start small (I'd give him a small babygated area and muzzle him) for quite a while, and as he settles in you can gradually expand the area.

 

The muzzles do not hurt them, although some greys are very dramatic about wearing one, like they've never had one on in their life. Just ignore it - lots of people muzzle their greys while they are gone during the day, especially if they have more than one. Ultimately it keeps the dog safe both from itself and the other dogs.

[Guest dmona]

What did his foster mom do when she went to work?

 

 

I am the foster Mom and my husband and i are both retired, so even when Bernie was left alone, the longest was probably 3 hrs. and he was with our 2 greyz.

 

You must have a long work day if he was alone for 5 hours by lunch time.

 

How much exercise did he get before you went to work? I don't mean time in the back yard (if you have one!) sniffing around. I mean exercise. Dogs usually do things like chew the walls because they have nothing else to do and they're bored. If he's tired out, he'll likely sleep the day away. The muzzle seems like a reasonable solution--but he also needs to be exercised in the morning, and he needs a distraction. Many of us use a Kong (I like the "king" size Kong) with stuff inside--I personally smear peanut butter around the inside walls of George's. He only gets the Kong when I leave him--no other time.

 

My dog gets a 45 minute brisk walk every day before work. Yes, I have to get up early, and yes, this can be a drag when it's cold/raining, etc. But I am single, have no fenced yard, and live alone, so I feel it's very important that he get a bit tired out before I expect him to behave all day while I earn the money to keep him in the manner to which he has become acustomed!

 

Doesn't sound like you even have a crate, or you probably would be using it. It also doesn't sound like he really needs one! And if you expect him not to sleep on your furniture, you're probably going to have to pile something on it to make it impossible. Otherwise, just get some nice throws and cover your stuff and accept it! Better he snooze on your couch than eat your kitchen, right??

 

 

Good luck!! It takes way more than a few days for them to adjust! It'll be fine!

 

Beth, as I posted on FB, if you decide to crate, I have one you can borrow, but I wouldn't do it unless you think it is absolutely necessary.

[Guest amandagal]

I just got a new grey, and like they said, it took her at least a week to adjust to being left alone. I left her a little at a time, in a crate. The first week I think she saw the crate as evil/people are going to leave me, so she would not go near it. I would have to bribe her or pull her into it and she would whine and bark and cry. She likes to rip things to shreds when she's alone. I bought her a $80 dog bed and she ripped that up the first day I left her alone, and once I relented and left her out and she ripped up a pillow. I had the first week off, so the longest I locked her up was bedtime. I was upset with the rescue group "they said she liked to be crated. SHE HATES IT!" hehe.

 

Now it's been about a month and she goes to her crate when she wants to be left alone/is bored/tired/wants to play by herself. It's not big deal to her anymore. I still shut it when I'm leaving, but she's always pretty much in it anyway when I start to get ready to go. So, give her a few weeks and see. I'm sure getting used to being alone in a crate is pretty much the same as getting used to being alone in the kitchen :-)

 

I do find that when I go to work, she does better/destroys less if I take her on a good long walk before I go.

Edited July 29, 2010 by amandagal

[NeylasMom]

 

I am the foster Mom and my husband and i are both retired, so even when Bernie was left alone, the longest was probably 3 hrs. and he was with our 2 greyz.

Well that explains it - he's just not used to being alone for long periods of time. Since he did better loose than gated I would probably continue that, but I would work on alone training. Also, lots of exercise as others have said - LOTS - and leave him something to do as you're leaving the house - either feed him his breakfast as you go, or give him a kong stuffed with PB and layered with treats and frozen teh night before. Also, keep entrances and exits low key - ignore him for at least a few minutes before you leave and when you get home.

 

I'm a big fan of crates, but it doesn't sound like he's used to being confined, so I wouldn't introduce that at this point. What may be easier is to keep him out of some rooms, but shutting doors to bedrooms, etc. That way, he'll still be in a smaller space, but he won't feel confined like when he was gated in teh kitchen.

[mychip1]

Confined in kitchen with baby gates and lots of beds to sleep on - and maybe with a muzzle seems like it might be a good option until he adjusts.  I've been muzzling my two new boys - though I had not muzzled EZ and Jack in the past - but these two were directly off the track - no time in an adoption kennel, etc., and I was worried that they would get into trouble.  Good thing I did - because they managed to push open the shutters to the greenhouse window and knock down a HUGE cactus.  I would have hated to see an open mouth over that thing!!<IMG src="http://forum.greytalk.com/public/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif"> <BR><BR><BR>On the flip side - if he was fine in the whole house - then I would say cover your couches w/some blanket if they are of a color where doggie-drool shows up and let him go that route - but I still, for a little while would look at a muzzle until you are sure that you have COMPLETELY baby-proofed the house.  One thing to remember is that they are VERY tall, and though you may have had other dogs before, a greyhound can reach what he wants to reach.....to again, even though I feel horrible putting them on, it gives me peace of mind if I am going to be out of the house for several hours.<BR>Good luck!!<BR><BR><BR>(By the way, one of my new boys likes to chew on the wood that comprises the footboard of my bed.  Fortunately, he is more interested in doing it when I am home, so I can stop it.....)

Edited July 29, 2010 by mychip1

[Guest bisme233]

Thank you so much to everyone for all of your advice. It amazes me how quickly I got responses and how helpful you all are

Update: Day 3 of me at work

Yesterday went very well. Bernie started to whine when he saw me getting my shoes on to go. I tried to stay calm and slightly ignore his whines. I gated him into the kitchen like before (with the gate a safe distance away from the wall to prevent chewing, put a second bed into the kitchen with him, and was sure to leave the tv on. When I came home for lunch, he was fine No chewing or any other problems. I took him for a short walk and when he came back in, he layed down on one of his beds. When I was done eating, I just got up, closed the gate, and left. He was great again when I got home.

This morning I did the same as before and was greeted at the door when I came home from lunch. He must have bounced on the gate or scratched at it until it popped open because the handle was still in the closed position. There was some more drool on the couches, but other than that, he was great

I still need to get something to put on the couches in case he does manage to escape again and plan on getting him a kong to keep him occupied.

Thanks again to all who have commented and offered suggestions

beth

[Batmom]

Aw, sounds like he is doing pretty well. Good dog! Good person!

[Guest GreyFan09]

The kong really worked wonders for us. Make sure to give him one right before you leave the house, and the dog will associate you leaving with a good thing.

 

We keep kongs or cow hooves filled with kibble and peanut butter and other assorted goodies in the freezer for when we go out, and our dog only gets one right before we leave the house. When we frist got him, he suffered from some bad SA, and he now when we say "go to your crate", he actually runs up into the crate and lays down in anticipation of us leaving and him getting his treat. Once given, he could care less about us leaving and is busy working on it.

 

Good luck!!!

[Guest scfilby]

I'm glad things are better.. in OUR experience, you can have nice furniture or Greyhounds.. usually not both.. All our expensive microfiber furniture has comforters covering the cushions.. to hide the drool stains..

Edited July 30, 2010 by scfilby