New Grey Lifting Leg In The House

[Guest jpreston409]

Hi all! I just adopted my first grey a little under 2 weeks ago. We absolutely love him! He's 4 and was just neutered in the fall. We have been very strict with his walking schedule (out as soon as we wake, after he eats/right before we leave for the day, as soon as we're home, twice more, and once immediately before bed). We crate him at night and when we're at work and watch him like a hawk when we have him out. He had his first accident when he was home with my boyfriend so that one I just attributed to human error and maybe he just didn't get out. He had lifted his leg on my curtain (all of my curtains are floor length). I cleaned like crazy and reminded my boyfriend to watch him like crazy. We did. He lifted his leg on the same spot with no warning, I yelled no at him but he didn't really respond until I had his collar, and escorted him outside and encouraged him to potty outside. When he did he was praised excessively (just as with every time he does). I placed his food bowls at the base of the curtain and began feeding him there and that seemed to do the trick. Until today. I was off work so we took quite a few walks. He peed on his last walk and immediately went to sleep on his bed when we came inside. I wrapped some presents within feet of his bed. An hour after the walk he got up, played a little (where he grabbed a blanket off the couch and I told him no and took it, by the time I put the blanket on the couch, I turned around to him peeing on the curtain next to his first curtain (the opposite side of the same window). He didn't respond to the sharp no's (he still has selective hearing and we are working on it but he's usually pretty good) and stopped only when I grabbed his collar and again escorted him outside and encouraged him to go outside with praise. Am I expecting too much too soon? 3 people will tell you 6 different things so any guidance would be great. I should also mention that he wasn't fostered before we picked him up, he literally shipped in from Fl and we picked him up a few hours later. Culture shock I'm sure! He's been perfect in every other way. I'm having a hard time telling if he's marking or peeing because he marks with a lot of urine...I've been trying to encourage real pees/squatting over marking things when we walk and that's been going well, just not sure how to deal with this since he's not giving me ANY distinct signs he needs to go(he will literally get up and walk over and start peeing, no pacing, no staring, etc...when he does those things I definitely take him out right away). I'm thinking he may just need to stay on lead inside for a bit. Fwiw, he WILL NOT pee in his crate no matter how badly he needs to go so I don't think it's an issue of not being able to hold it, just not knowing he needs to let me know.

[Houndtime]

I would keep him on the lead when he is in the house. If you can get a belly band that will work too. They usually will not pee with he belly band on. Make sure to get rid of the urine odor where he has peed. I think you are doing everything right. A little more time...that is all that is needed.

[Guest jpreston409]

Thanks @houndtime. We absolutely love him to pieces! Such a greyt guy! Belly bands and leasing were my next steps I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something that someone with much more experience may pick up on!

[Scoutsmom]

I agree with keeping him on a leash or have him wear a belly band when he is loose inside. It sounds like you are doing everything right--he is just a bit slow to learn. I suspect he is marking, if he was just neutered recently. Make sure that you are thoroughly cleaning the drapes with an enzyme based cleaner.

 

By the way, what is his name?

 

If he is not responding when you tell him "no", check that you are using the VOG (Voice of God). I've known new owners who say "no" very gently as they don't want to really upset the dog. It needs to be loud enough and sharp enough that it startles the dog. If you are using the VOG, you might want to consider a spray bottle used only when he is marking.

 

Good Luck and have fun!

[smurfette]

I agree with keeping him on a leash or have him wear a belly band when he is loose inside. It sounds like you are doing everything right--he is just a bit slow to learn. I suspect he is marking, if he was just neutered recently. Make sure that you are thoroughly cleaning the drapes with an enzyme based cleaner.

 

By the way, what is his name?

 

If he is not responding when you tell him "no", check that you are using the VOG (Voice of God). I've known new owners who say "no" very gently as they don't want to really upset the dog. It needs to be loud enough and sharp enough that it startles the dog. If you are using the VOG, you might want to consider a spray bottle used only when he is marking.

 

Good Luck and have fun!

Yes, THAT voice normally works like magic. In his early days Paddy lifted his leg to pee the coffee table. After hearing the voice it never was an issue again.

[GeorgeofNE]

He is marking. Which is different from peeing because he has to go.

 

Easiest way to break of him of the habit is to have him wear a belly band in the house.

 

Also, at this point, take down the curtains and either wash them, have them dry cleaned, or toss them (depending on how nice they are). First time he tries to pee on something with the belly band on, he'll realize it's not happening, and he should not have to wear it for long.

 

Even my super perfect Buck peed when I got new carpet. It had no dog smell on it, and he just stood there right in front of me, as bold as cold be, and shot a little pee on the brand new (literally, installed that day) carpet. Hasn't done it since. Just had to say "Buck was here."

[Guest jpreston409]

Thanks for all the help, it's definitely THE voice. I don't think I could I could make it any more VOG-ish if I tried. I think he's still in a blissful little stupor that this is his new life. All of my horses are off track as well and they're the same, the VOG is the way to go, can't use force or the trust won't be there but they're very responsive to being sharply/firmly scolded (at least mine have been when they get silly riding), it's funny how much alike the greys are to them! However, after yesterday's voice he got, I'm not sure he'll be trying it again. I'll be grabbing some belly bands today regardless until I'm more confident in him and we will use the leash method for now.

 

And his name is Glenn Beck, we call him Ollie!

Edited December 22, 2016 by jpreston409

[Batmom]

Honestly? Just take him out more often and watch him (or leash him to yourself) when indoors.

 

We have never used a belly band in housetraining.

 

We don't worry about the VOG, just a sharp enough sound to interrupt the activity when we've missed the earlier signs (UH UH or AAAAAAAAAH! works fine, followed by a cheerful -- not angry! -- "Let's go out!"). Earlier signs = dog is on his/her feet and isn't actively playing or eating = dog should be taken outside. We tend to take a new dog outdoors @ every 1.5 hours and gradually increase the time between outs as the dog learns. Taking them out often also helps form the habit of going out (rather than staying in ) when nature calls.

 

We have had very few accidents during housetraining, over the years.

 

 

ETA: We've also never used special cleaners. Not worth the $ IMHO. Any reasonable carpet cleaner and a good extractor works just fine.

Edited December 22, 2016 by Batmom

[3greytjoys]

Honestly? Just take him out more often and watch him (or leash him to yourself) when indoors.

 

We don't worry about the VOG, just a sharp enough sound to interrupt the activity when we've missed the earlier signs (UH UH or AAAAAAAAAH! works fine, followed by a cheerful -- not angry! -- "Let's go out!"). Earlier signs = dog is on his/her feet and isn't actively playing or eating = dog should be taken outside. We tend to take a new dog outdoors @ every 1.5 hours and gradually increase the time between outs as the dog learns. Taking them out often also helps form the habit of going out (rather than staying in ) when nature calls.

 

We have had very few accidents during housetraining, over the years.

 

This ^

 

It really doesn't matter whether he's marking or fully urinating, he simply doesn't understand home life yet. He's never learned how or needed to provide cues for humans to let him outside because he was likely on a strict kennel schedule, including meals and turn-outs. Treat him as if you were house training a young puppy (but racers are easier since they can usually hold it most of the night while sleeping, daytime napping is different).

 

If a dog is having an elimination accident, I happily call the dog or approach the dog silently to gently escort him/her outside, then happily praise for eliminating outside. One exception: some dogs physically/medically can't stop their eliminations mid-stream, in which case, it's easier to let them finish eliminating in one spot vs. rushing them through the house to get outside. Thereafter, watch the dog more carefully and escort outside the instant they awaken from a nap, after playing, before and after meals, just before bedtime, etc. I agree with leashing a dog to a human when not in crate during early house training. (Please do not tether a Greyhound to any object -- many safety reasons for this.) If using a belly band under supervision, please remove it before dog goes outside, and it should be changed immediately if wet (to prevent urine scald, rashes, infections, etc.).

 

A raised voice often backfires by frightening some dogs into running away from a human while dog is continuing to release urine or is defecating.

A spray bottle is not desirable because it teaches dogs to fear their human, fear bottles, fear their home environment, and cower away from other people.

Better to work on building the most positive, trusting relationship possible with newly adopted Greyhounds. Greyhounds are a wonderfully sensitive breed.

 

Congratulations on your new boy! Thank you for your interest in helping guide him through this early adjustment stage. Greyhounds reward us tenfold ++.

 

BTW, Nature's Miracle "Advanced Formula" works well for us, but test on fabric or carpet for color fastness before using on a conspicuous area.

[3greytjoys]

Once the urine scent is removed and fabric is dry, wrapping up and tying your floor length draperies safely far above his body's reach could temporarily help remove that attraction. Draperies probably look more like an appropriate pee spot to male dogs (vertical tree/shrub shape).

 

Greyhounds are an independent thinking breed, and are encouraged to tune-out bystanders' yelling during races. The racing Greyhound is expected to focus only on chasing their prey/lure (not to respond to humans). Your boy may not have experienced anyone yelling at him for doing anything wrong; thus, appearing to have "selective hearing". He was probably just puzzled (and busy urinating) more than anything when a human suddenly started yelling.

 

Eventually if desired, you could gradually try to teach him to ring a bell when he needs to go potty. This clear dog-to-human communication has been extremely helpful for all of my dogs (and me) for many decades.

 

Bell touch training steps below:

Teaching sessions should stay under 5 minutes to keep hound's attention. (Greyhounds shut down to learning if sessions take too long.)

Hopefully, the bell doesn't have any sharp edges, if so, cover with stick-on felt.

 

1. Place a bell on floor by door, hide meat treats under bell (and around bell if needed).

2. Encourage him to sniff for treats. Whenever his nose happens to "touch" the bell, happily praise "good touch!" and reward with the treats (by lifting up the bell for him to eat his treats).

Repeat this fun game for only a few minutes.

Then stop for the day.

 

3. Next day: Practice above steps for a minute or two as a refresher.

4. Only if he's caught on well... next, lift bell in air (on your flat hand) a little closer to door knob.

Encourage him to "touch bell". Whenever his nose touches bell, reward with treats from under bell.

Repeat only a few times then stop for day.

 

5. Next day: Practice yesterday's lesson briefly.

6. After he really understands the "touch" cue, hang the bell on the door knob (up high, close to the knob).

Again, hold treats under the bell on your flat hand. Repeat "touch bell" practice steps.

Then stop for the day.

 

After he understands the "touch bell" game really well, begin asking him to "touch bell" immediately before you open the door to take him outside for all eliminations.

Keep treats handy to help reinforce this action until he begins associating the natural secondary reward of being able to eliminate immediately after ringing his bell.

 

Once he begins ringing the bell on his own as a communication signal to his humans that he needs to eliminate, his humans' ongoing job is to drop everything and immediately take him outside for eliminations.

[Walliered]

He is brand new in the house. He will learn in time to go outside. My last Galgo was the same and I put a belly band on him and it took about 2 weeks.

Oh, forgot to say…go to Dollar General (or some cheap store) and buy a package of THICK pads..I think the ones for incontence (spelling?) work well…cut them in half and use half at a time…that will keep the belly bands cleaner and you will not be constantly washing them..Just a little trick I learned..lol