Guest Merrilyn Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Hi, I was wondering if we are experiencing a normal phenomenon. We've had our boy Max for 6 months now and he has recently "come out of his shell". He has only recently started digging holes (so we got him a sandpit), barking for attention (even though we've just come back from a long walk) and forgetting all the training we have been doing. He's 4 years old and is he just finally settling in? Can we expect him to calm back down again or at least level out? As his exercise needs seem to have doubled over the last couple of weeks and it's hard to keep up with his changing needs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocsDoctor Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Probably feels he's now got his feet under the table, and is therefore testing the boundaries. In which case be calm and consistent with his training, and it will pass. Exercise is good too of course - a tired greyhound is a happy greyhound, as they say. And teaching him new things (a few tricks?) will work his brain as well as his body. Also, what is the weather doing where you are? Round here, frosty weather = an extra-zoomy greyhound. We are experiencing that right now! Quote Clare with Tiger (Snapper Gar, b. 18/05/2015), and remembering Ken (Boomtown Ken, 01/05/2011-21/02/2020) and Doc (Barefoot Doctor, 20/08/2001-15/04/2015)."It is also to be noted of every species, that the handsomest of each move best ... and beasts of the most elegant form, always excel in speed; of this, the horse and greyhound are beautiful examples."----Wiliam Hogarth, The Analysis of Beauty, 1753. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnF Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Could be the weather... Peggy doesn't like the hard summer ground too much and generally prefers the other seasons for activity. On the other hand I've seen extra energy just before illnesses start to be noticed, but that's new energy suspiciously out of the blue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Took my first adoptee 18 months to finally settle in to who he was. My second guy? About a month. This could be just a phase, or it could be who you REALLY adopted! Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Merrilyn Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 No weather change, we are in Sydney Australia so frost is incredibly rare! If this is who we've adopted then that's fine (he's perfectly lovely when he's not barking in our faces) we might just need some management techniques and to re-enlist is obedience training. He might have just found his voice.... All this barking! I am watching him now waiting for birds to land so he can chase them and bark even though we've just come back from a walk that used to completely wipe him out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mansbestfriend Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Hi. We're just northwest of Brisbane so also very much still experiencing hot days of Summer. Most days we have a cool splash in Cabbage Tree Creek, and morning/evening cool-ish walks/play/sniff/explore/pee/poo/whatever in the quiet fields, and some off-leash time in the local dog park when it's empty. Once settled into a home and feeling more confident/safe/secure, the puppy dog can re-emerge. I'd agree that re-visiting basic training (Positive Re-inforcement based), toys, chews, mind games (easy ones to start with), etc., should be helpful. Lots of activity could also mean anxiety. Consistent routines and consistent gentle training (preferably Positive Reinforcement for 'good' behaviour) of house rules etc., help the 'puppy' to learn which way in his world is up. A calm and relaxed dog is a happy dog. Of course letting off some steam is normal but too much of it isn't healthy IMO. Greyhounds are born sprinters - so normally lots of resting and sleeping with short bursts of activity Has anything changed recently RE feeding, or new housemate/s, living arrangements, routines, construction activity or other noises, neighbours/dogs, whatever? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Merrilyn Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 (edited) Ah yes, they are building apartments behind us and they just got to ground level and cut down trees so that noise level has changed. That's probably on only change in routine but it's a lot more visually stimulating for him as well. He seems to sleep through it all day when we are out though. He is very much behaving like a puppy! And we are all about positive training but he gets bored of new treats so fast so all my high value ones are low value again. At the moment we are using bits of raw steak for nail trims. I will definitely try and go back to obedience training as it's a good way for him to socialise correctly Edited to add, I don't think he is anxious as he is a relatively anxious dog at times (thunder, nail trims and when we first got him) this latest behaviour seems very "play" orientated. He is very very happy at present Edited February 17, 2016 by Merrilyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobesmom Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 My group calls this phase "the honeymoon is over". Your dog is through his adjustment phase, feels like he's a full member of the family, and is now showing his personality and/or pushing boundaries (like a teenager). Some do this by regressing into bad "new dog" behaviors. Some do it by acting out. Some do it by just being WOW this is who I am. This is a CRUCIAL time. You may need to go back to training 101 on some stuff. That's fine, and when he's "reminded" what the expectations are he'll probably get back with the program quickly. Just remember your house rules and expectations, and remind him what they are. Don't tolerate bad behavior - correct it. If YOU remain consistent and praise or correct right off the bat, your dog will fall back in line. He WANTS guidance from you. Be the leader. Show him that the rules still apply. Image he's brand new to your house again. Start over the same way, and he'll get it quickly. Don't let him flounder now. Now is the time for leadership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Merrilyn Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 Thanks sobesmom, we've been ignoring/not acknowledging the attention seeking barking but he goes on and on very loudly in our faces so we tried a big deep "no" but that's not working either so we put him out if the room but he seems excited by that too. Correcting is hard. His energy bursts happen randomly too, he will be an angel one day and a nightmare the next. Even with the same routine and sleeping pattern. Crazy dog. Meeting our dog trainer at a social even on Sunday and hoping she can give us some skills to use. Everything is manageable except for the very loud face barking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeedlenoseJake Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 Our guys has started barking in our faces too- 20 months after adopting him! He does it less when he gets tired out so we've been trying to up the activity. I think sometimes he wants to play and doesn't really know how to ask Quote Photographer in Phoenix, AZ www.northmountainphoto.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Merrilyn Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Ours is normally pretty soon after getting back from a walk... Recent studying and I think it might be that he's hungry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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