Guest NewGreytFriend Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 We just adopted a beautiful greyhound. We have had her a month and a half. We teach so we have the summer off. However, I have been trying to get her on a schedule since school will start soon. It is hard to get her up in the morning. She'll sleep till 9:00 or 9:30--in the crate or out. I've tried offering her food first thing, but she just isn't interested in eating in the mornings. I try offering it at lunch, she nibbles a little. I put it out in the evening around 6:00 and she will finally eat around 7:00 or 8:00--she doesn't dash in for the food or anything like she's starving. We've read the Dummies book for ex-racers and take the food up after 30 minutes, except in the evenings. Is this ok? I don't want her to be hungry all morning (though she does get a kong when we leave). Is it ok if she eats only once so late in the day? We just adopted a beautiful greyhound. We have had her a month and a half. We teach so we have the summer off. However, I have been trying to get her on a schedule since school will start soon. It is hard to get her up in the morning. She'll sleep till 9:00 or 9:30--in the crate or out. I've tried offering her food first thing, but she just isn't interested in eating in the mornings. I try offering it at lunch, she nibbles a little. I put it out in the evening around 6:00 and she will finally eat around 7:00 or 8:00--she doesn't dash in for the food or anything like she's starving. We've read the Dummies book for ex-racers and take the food up after 30 minutes, except in the evenings. Is this ok? I don't want her to be hungry all morning (though she does get a kong when we leave). Is it ok if she eats only once so late in the day? BTW I forgot to mention she is four years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambuca Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 She'll be fine only eating once a day especially if she's getting a kong. To get my boy out of bed by putting a color and leash on him and making him get up. He would love staying in bed until afternoon if I let him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bethac Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 I'm envious. One of our pups came straight from the track in January and she is still on a 5:30 AM wake up routine. When one gets up, they all get up. As for the eating, if you want to switch your hound to a morning feeding, maybe only feed a very light evening meal and give a normal meal the next morning to see if she will eat then. Are you hoping to change her routine so that she will adjust to an early wake-up, thinking that a morning meal might help accomplish this? Otherwise, I know of others who only feed once a day so it's probably just fine. Best of luck with your new girl and Welcome to GT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleptogrey Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 when you are ready to get back to your school schedule, she will learn. as mentioned above, leash her up and take her out. you will have a more difficult time adjusting to the extra time you need to get out w/ a dog in the morning than she will adjusting and learning your schedule. if she is a late sleeper than you might be able to shower or have breakfast before you go for a morning walk. it's all a matter of trial and error and finding out what works. 9:30 is a lot better than 5:30, standard wake up time at the kennel. when i got my first grey the clocks were changed that week- yikes...4:30 wake up time! i was the walking dead for quite some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 What I wouldn't give for a dog who would sleep past 5:30 JUST ONCE!!!! And I've had mine for FOUR YEARS. Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sambuca Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 What I wouldn't give for a dog who would sleep past 5:30 JUST ONCE!!!! And I've had mine for FOUR YEARS. Just to make you a little jealous, mine have slept til 4pm. Have you tried feeding dinner closer to bedtime? Thats how I trained mine and all my fosters to sleep later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NewGreytFriend Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Thanks for the advice. I think she just prefers to eat in the evenings. So long as it isn't a problem for her, it's fine with me. She'll probably get a kong every morning when we head to work, so I know she won't be starving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gryffenne Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 Sammi has an internal clock that is attached to her stomach and it is tough to adjust. What I usually do when I have to adjust her feedings (like daylight savings or schedule adjustment for me) is start with 15 minute increments. Once she starts getting used to the new time I bump to the next 15 minute mark and so on. As for her potty breaks, those are a bit easier to get her adjusted to. If she has to start pottying earlier, a long walk at the time needed for a few days usually gets her used to that time. If I have to get her to sleep in (like when I went from a night shift-430am potty break to days, NOT getting up at 430, but sleeping til 7am) I luckily had a 2 week notice to the schedule change and was able to start pushing her up to 7am by delaying the time I would take her out. The first week, I delayed the time I took her out a bit each day. So that her "dance" was later and later. The next week, when it was time to start adjusting MY sleep schedule, when she woke me up i would take my time, first in my reacting, then when I got up, and finally took my sweet time getting her out the door. Hope that made sense LOL pretty sleepy and about to head to bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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