Guest Nevermore67 Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Hi everyone. We recently adopted our first beautiful black hound (and first ever dog) from the Greyhound Trust West Yorkshire. He is four years old and has settled in at home really well, after a couple of weeks of night-pees and early morning whining. Now he is getting used to the area, we have started trying to take him to some local pubs/cafes etc to get him used to new environments. He is mostly okay with outdoor spaces (beer gardens and such) but he does seem to get quite anxious when we take him inside (and occasionally in outside spaces too) - whining, tail between legs and tugging hard at the lead, which are all quite out of character for him. I know that being an ex racer he has not been to pubs, cafes or other people's houses before and I am sure he just needs time to adjust before he will settle down. We are trying to take him somewhere every couple of days, taking blankets with us so he has something soft to lie on (which he largely ignores) and trying not to over fuss him so we don't reinforce his anxiety. I wondered if anyone had any advice on what else we could do to help him overcome his nerves in new places? Thanks in advance Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocsDoctor Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 It's mostly a question of time - is it just a couple of weeks he has been with you? Even if it's longer it's such a big change in his life that you will need to be patient with him - I would say it takes months, maybe a full year for them to feel totally at home and show their full character, though it will vary according to the character of the individual dog obviously. And it sounds as if he is already very happy with you and inside his new home which is great As far as the outside world goes just take it slowly. As he bonds with you he will learn to trust you and that with you he is safe - even if something is new and potentially scarey he will be confident that you will look after him. This does take a bit of time and meanwhile I would look at any new experiences with his eyes and plan accordingly. Keep them short and simple to begin with, and maybe leave a few more days between them - e.g. go to the pub for just one drink at a quiet time of day, sit in a corner where he can look at everyone and not be jostled, and bring treats so that you can reward him and tell him what a good boy he is and isn't this nice? I have always found a 'jolly hockey sticks' approach works best, the dog feels that if you are confident there can't be anything to worry about. Another good place to get him used to going to is the vet's - they should want to be helpful about this. My Ken was very scared of the vets to begin with, so they encouraged us to drop in whenever we were passing, just for a pat and a treat from the jar behind reception to begin with, so as to make it a positive experience. Then we progressed to a visit to the consultation room and a treat from the vet, then a mock 'examination' and a treat, etc etc. As the vet said 'it is much better if I gain his confidence now than if I have to try and do it when he is sick or injured' 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 August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Docs Doctors comments are spot on. I think you're taking it just a tad too intensely with him while at the same time he is starting to test you a little as he becomes more self-confident in his new placement. The tail-tucking is a 'but I'd rather not be in this situation' sign, and the hard lead pulling is a sign that you're not signalling to him that you get it, and so he isn't trusting you enough yet. Redirection to something else is a way out of it. The 'jolly hockey sticks' approach is the way to go, and you can also read his body language. Take a look at the info about it in this link It's even possible, with a 'lick, yawn and look away' for you to acknowledge his discomfiture and move him to a 'less-trapped' position. I can remember my Peggy definitely not wanting to be a 'small dog' and go under a pub table... the answer was to move the chairs and have her between us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nevermore67 Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 Thanks so much for your replies. He has been with us for just over three weeks and he has made so much progress in such a short space of time that I figured he would be okay, but I think you're right that we are expecting a little too much of him and need to dial it back slightly. There is a pub in our village with a beer garden that he likes. We have been there a few times now - the owners make a massive fuss of him whenever we go and he is now happy to eat, drink, lie down in the grass and go to sleep there without much encouragement so I guess he is feeling fairly relaxed there now. I am sure we will get to the same point inside the pub one day but I will take it slowly. He has already had a trip to the vets - he was more nervous of the strange dogs trying to sniff his bum than he was of the vet himself (who he adores). We will work on our own confidence, try to recognise the signs a bit better and make sure we don't over do it. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 I think you're overdoing things. It's cool that over in the UK you can take dogs into bars, but it's hardly near the top of the list of things a brand new pet should be doing with his new family! He needs to know and trust you before you expose him to such potentially nerve wracking activities. Work on things like leash manners, and casually meeting neighbors and such while out and about. There will be plenty of time for him to hone his social skills with strangers later on! Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoomdoggie Posted August 29, 2017 Share Posted August 29, 2017 I think you're overdoing things. It's cool that over in the UK you can take dogs into bars, but it's hardly near the top of the list of things a brand new pet should be doing with his new family! He needs to know and trust you before you expose him to such potentially nerve wracking activities. Work on things like leash manners, and casually meeting neighbors and such while out and about. There will be plenty of time for him to hone his social skills with strangers later on! This! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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