Greyhound Doesn't Want To Get Up In The Evening

[amalexia]

Hi Everyone,

 

We've had Cameron for 4.5 months now. She settled in quite well and has been a dream so far (mostly). Never any SA, highly food motivated.

 

Lately, we've had issues getting her up in the evening for a final pee (being cold and dark early might not be helping). The normal evening schedule would be: outside around 3pm or 4pm for potty (normally just pee), dinner around 7:45pm followed by a walk around 8:15-8:30pm and then a final potty break before we went to bed (anywhere between 9:30pm and 10:30pm depending on the days). At first, encouraging her and silly dancing would get her up and we were able to get her out (we have a fenced-in yard, but the steps in the back are too dangerous for her to use so we have to leash and go from the front door and bring her back until we get the veranda down and build a patio next year).

 

My husband (never had a dog before), started putting the harness while she was still lying down when encouraging her didn't work. This used to be fine. I told him MANY TIMES not to do this, but he was stubborn. Couple of weeks back, Cameron "found her voice" and let him know he was invading her space. She growled, bared her teeth and got close to him (never biting or trying to). Obviously, this scared him. I re-explained to never do the harness thing. He got the message loud and clear, but is now quite nervous when putting her harness, coat and leash on her (I also am a little).

 

We've started to feed her at the same time and then wait until 9:15pm for her walk so that she would feel she has to go when it's time and it being late enough that she would not wake us in the middle of night in need of a bathroom break. This somewhat works. She sometimes get up and sometimes not. We've started to use treats, do some light obedience and then put the harness, coat and leash for the walk.

 

Few questions come up from this. We're obviously a bit nervous when it comes to the harness/coat/leash at night. Part of our nervousness probably transfers to her and then we're all on edge about it. How do we address it?

 

Should we have the walk before her dinner, then feed then she can sleep? Should we walk her before we feed (so feed her maybe around 8:30pm and then walk around 9pm) so she does not have to wake up from deeper sleep to go outside.

 

We're considering obedience classes and/or 1 on 1 training with a trainer. Would this help?

 

To note: She is perfectly happy during her evening walk, which usually is a 15-20 minutes silly affair of running around, sniffing. She does multiple play bows and runs around us full play mode. Towards the end, she slows down and is perfectly happy to go back home. It really seems to be a problem of getting her to get up from her beloved slumberball.

 

Any tips or advice?

[GeorgeofNE]

1) this seems rather obvious, but DITCH THE HARNESS

 

If all you're doing is walking her in your own yard, why on earth do you need it? And ditch the coat if it's for a potty break. Totally unnecessary unless it is a raging blizzard. It's a greyhound, not a flower!

 

In a very cheerful voice, walk up to her, say, "Time for a walk!" clip the leash on her collar, and just take her out. No big deal. No dressing and undressing, no harnesses and coats. It's a five minute chore that is probably taking way to long.

 

Also, why are you feeding her so late at night? If she's ready to be asleep for the night at 9, can't you feed her at six, walk her at 7, and leave her be?

 

My boy goes out at 5 AM, 6 AM, 4:30 PM, and 6 PM. He does great on this schedule. After our 6 PM outing, he is ready to get some serious sleep going on. He never even asks to go out after that, so I just let him be.

[Roo]

She's probably not getting up because she doesn't really have to go. If your 8:15 walk ends at 8:30, and you take a 9:30 pee trip, that's only an hour and she likely doesn't feel like she needs to pee, and therefore doesn't want to get up. This is my afternoon/evening schedule:

 

4:00 pm - take a walk (usually about a mile), expect a poop and pee

5:00 pm - dinner is served!

6:30 pm - quick pee trip (slightly longer stroll if she passed up her 4pm pooping opportunity and I know she needs to)

10:00 pm - out for last potty (this one varies slightly depending on the day - occasionally I know I'll be up super late, so I'll take her out for a pee around 9:30, then again after midnight) and second dinner (small amount of canned food so she doesn't get the empty belly barfs in the morning).

 

She's usually good till about 7 in the morning, which is when we take our 2 mile walk. Are you just walking her around your yard, or do you take walks around the neighborhood?

 

Can you modify the schedule so she pees at 3 or 4, eats at 5, takes her longer walk around 6/6:30, then is inside until the final pre-bed pee trip?

 

Also, I agree about the harness. If she doesn't need it for any particular reason, then try taking her out with just the martingale and see how that goes. Clip the leash on with no fuss and just start walking - usually they'll get up and follow you.

[amalexia]

1) this seems rather obvious, but DITCH THE HARNESS

 

If all you're doing is walking her in your own yard, why on earth do you need it? And ditch the coat if it's for a potty break. Totally unnecessary unless it is a raging blizzard. It's a greyhound, not a flower!

 

In a very cheerful voice, walk up to her, say, "Time for a walk!" clip the leash on her collar, and just take her out. No big deal. No dressing and undressing, no harnesses and coats. It's a five minute chore that is probably taking way to long.

 

Also, why are you feeding her so late at night? If she's ready to be asleep for the night at 9, can't you feed her at six, walk her at 7, and leave her be?

 

My boy goes out at 5 AM, 6 AM, 4:30 PM, and 6 PM. He does great on this schedule. After our 6 PM outing, he is ready to get some serious sleep going on. He never even asks to go out after that, so I just let him be.

 

We've stopped the harness for the backyard and we don't put a coat for a potty break.

 

However, we do have to put the harness for the actual evening walk (city regulation for all dogs above 40 pounds). Not going to say that I agree with that regulation, but we do have to comply. So the harness needs to be on if we're going to go on a walk.

 

Maybe we were under the wrong impression, but we thought she should get fed every 12 hours or so hence the 7:45. In the morning, she wakes up around 7am (used to be 6am in the summer, but the dark mornings have her snoozing until 7am most mornings). By the time we are back from the walk it's anywhere between 7:35 and 7:55. We were told to wait 30 mins after exercise to feed so she gets food only around 8:15am at the moment. Would feeding her around 6pm be too early?

 

I really don't have a problem with an early schedule for the evening. Maybe we were being too worried about her having to go in the evening.

[JohnF]

We don't know if there's a need for the harness like if going out of the front door is directly into danger or if going up the back steps could be disastrous, so use it if you have to but only once Cameron is awake and actually up.

My Peggy can be very difficult to encourage out late at night. She can hear rain and wind and refuse to go unless that is I make believe that there is something out in the yard that she might need to chase away like a feral cat or something. I've trained "Pssstttttt!" repeatedly as the command to go and see what's out there. Another thing you can do is not have the light level so low where the dog is until it really is bed time. Oh, and I put her coat on too as I don't want a completely wet dog to have to dry when she comes back in.

 

Peggy gets a walk at short walk at 8.00, then fed 1/4 of her food, a snack at 1.00pm, a long walk at 4pm, dinner at 5pm, short walk at 7.30pm. Put out in the yard at something like 10.30.

Edited November 13, 2017 by JohnF

[amalexia]

She's probably not getting up because she doesn't really have to go. If your 8:15 walk ends at 8:30, and you take a 9:30 pee trip, that's only an hour and she likely doesn't feel like she needs to pee, and therefore doesn't want to get up. This is my afternoon/evening schedule:

 

4:00 pm - take a walk (usually about a mile), expect a poop and pee

5:00 pm - dinner is served!

6:30 pm - quick pee trip (slightly longer stroll if she passed up her 4pm pooping opportunity and I know she needs to)

10:00 pm - out for last potty (this one varies slightly depending on the day - occasionally I know I'll be up super late, so I'll take her out for a pee around 9:30, then again after midnight) and second dinner (small amount of canned food so she doesn't get the empty belly barfs in the morning).

 

She's usually good till about 7 in the morning, which is when we take our 2 mile walk. Are you just walking her around your yard, or do you take walks around the neighborhood?

 

Can you modify the schedule so she pees at 3 or 4, eats at 5, takes her longer walk around 6/6:30, then is inside until the final pre-bed pee trip?

 

Also, I agree about the harness. If she doesn't need it for any particular reason, then try taking her out with just the martingale and see how that goes. Clip the leash on with no fuss and just start walking - usually they'll get up and follow you.

 

We do a morning walk in the neighborhood. There is a big park she loves to go in to run around and see squirrels. Throughout the day, as needed, we take her out back and we like to do an evening walk in the neighborhood. We have a smaller park closer to our place and which we go to in the evening for silly time and sniffing (evening walk is more laid back and fun; less focused on exercise).

 

So far, we've cut down taking her out so that she really needs to go in the evening and encouraging her to get up is easier. We've only looked at it with bringing the schedule to later time, but earlier could improve things.

[Remolacha]

You don't have to keep such a strict interval between feedings. Feed her in the morning when it is convenient and again in the evening, when convenient for you. Mine eat anywhere between 6:30 and 8 in the morning, depending on the time of year, and between 5 and 6:30 in the evenings. Also, they go out right after dinner, and then don't go out again until they get up the next morning, usually about 12 hrs, their choice. Unless she is waking you up to go out in the middle of the night, I would take her out after dinner, then not worry about it until the next morning.

Edited November 13, 2017 by Remolacha

[amalexia]

You don't have to keep such a strict interval between feedings. Feed her in the morning when it is convenient and again in the evening, when convenient for you. Mine eat anywhere between 6:30 and 8 in the morning, depending on the time of year, and between 5 and 6:30 in the evenings. Also, they go out right after dinner, and then don't go out again until they get up the next morning, usually about 12 hrs, their choice. Unless she is waking you up to go out in the middle of the night, I would take her out after dinner, then not worry about it until the next morning.

 

Thank you! Sounds like we were being a bit too strict on her. Last thing we want to do is create a situation where it becomes unpleasant for her to be with us. Feeding her around 6pm and then out for a walk around 6:30pm might be a good solution.

[Remolacha]

 

Thank you! Sounds like we were being a bit too strict on her. Last thing we want to do is create a situation where it becomes unpleasant for her to be with us. Feeding her around 6pm and then out for a walk around 6:30pm might be a good solution.

I think if you just relax she will adapt to whatever schedule works for you. Too bad that the city requires the harness!

[Roo]

 

We do a morning walk in the neighborhood. There is a big park she loves to go in to run around and see squirrels. Throughout the day, as needed, we take her out back and we like to do an evening walk in the neighborhood. We have a smaller park closer to our place and which we go to in the evening for silly time and sniffing (evening walk is more laid back and fun; less focused on exercise).

 

So far, we've cut down taking her out so that she really needs to go in the evening and encouraging her to get up is easier. We've only looked at it with bringing the schedule to later time, but earlier could improve things.

 

That's kind of what I do too - morning is for exercise, evening is for a more fun stroll! I was too careful about Tessa's potty trips at first, and I remember hearing "If you take the dog outside, she must pee before she goes back inside" (years and years ago but it stuck with me ) so I was making both of us crazy with fairly frequent potty trips that she didn't need or want, and then we'd be out there for fifteen minutes before I'd give up on her peeing and go back inside We're both much happier now with fewer trips (i.e. more time for her to nap!).

[2greyhoundMINI]

We feed at 7:30am and 5:30pm (when I get home from work).

 

They go out right before breakfast, at lunchtime (between 12-1 depending when I get home for them), after 5 when I get home from work and last call around 9:30-10pm. Occasionally if they are rowdy we let them out around 7:30-8pm. We ditched their harnesses a long time ago... they didn't need them and I think they were happy to be rid of them. Mine mostly are let outback and they run around and chase anything that moves.

 

Personally I'd feed her earlier and like GeorgeofNE said, ditch the harness for last call.

Edited November 13, 2017 by 2greyhoundMINI

[amalexia]

We feed at 7:30am and 5:30pm (when I get home from work).

 

They go out right before breakfast, at lunchtime (between 12-1 depending when I get home for them), after 5 when I get home from work and last call around 9:30-10pm. Occasionally if they are rowdy we let them out around 7:30-8pm. We ditched their harnesses a long time ago... they didn't need them and I think they were happy to be rid of them. Mine mostly are let outback and they run around and chase anything that moves.

 

Personally I'd feed her earlier and like GeorgeofNE said, ditch the harness for last call.

 

Thanks! Do they get fed before or after the walk in the evening?

[turbotaina]

You don't need to do exactly 12 hour food intervals. And it's perfectly fine to use a harness for walking your dog.

 

If she doesn't go out at 9, does she get you up in the middle of the night? If not, don't worry about it. We can almost never get ours out in the evening!

[2greyhoundMINI]

 

Thanks! Do they get fed before or after the walk in the evening?

I let them out immediately when I get home... usually they have to go go go!

So they get fed afterwards.

Edited November 13, 2017 by 2greyhoundMINI

[juliemac]

Hello!

 

My 2 prefer slightly different schedules, and I accommodate it as long as it doesn't mean more work for me.

 

My younger girl likes to potty & eat in the morning (she liked 5am when I first got her in May ... she's now up at a much more reasonable 6:15). My slightly older girl likes to eat first & then potty (she'd sleep 'til 11a if I let her ... i get her up at 6:30). In the evenings, they get a potty walk either before or after dinner (I prefer after, but only if its light enough outside ... no streetlights here). the pups do a turnout around 9pm and then neither will get up for anything later (a far cry from Riley, who used to get up at 1a & 3a every.single.night).

 

Enjoy your pup and please post pictures when you can!

[amalexia]

You don't need to do exactly 12 hour food intervals. And it's perfectly fine to use a harness for walking your dog.

 

If she doesn't go out at 9, does she get you up in the middle of the night? If not, don't worry about it. We can almost never get ours out in the evening!

 

We haven't tested the "will she wake us up in the middle of the night" yet. As soon as we got her, we tried to have somewhat of a schedule for her (works great in the morning with our alarm clock) and I grew up with dogs that always went out for a last call right before bed. Greyhounds are fascinatingly lazy.

[amalexia]

Hello!

 

My 2 prefer slightly different schedules, and I accommodate it as long as it doesn't mean more work for me.

 

My younger girl likes to potty & eat in the morning (she liked 5am when I first got her in May ... she's now up at a much more reasonable 6:15). My slightly older girl likes to eat first & then potty (she'd sleep 'til 11a if I let her ... i get her up at 6:30). In the evenings, they get a potty walk either before or after dinner (I prefer after, but only if its light enough outside ... no streetlights here). the pups do a turnout around 9pm and then neither will get up for anything later (a far cry from Riley, who used to get up at 1a & 3a every.single.night).

 

Enjoy your pup and please post pictures when you can!

 

Hi!

 

Cameron likes to potty and then eat in the morning and we trained her really well with our alarm clock. Schedule is changing a bit with the winter now. She used to be up and crazy about the walk at 6am in the summer, but now that it's dark in the morning, she's happy to wait until 7:00am or even longer. However, since we have the alarm clock think down quite well, she'll get up at 6am if needed.

 

It seems like we need to figure out our evening routine with her so it works with her awake/sleep time. It is harder with the shorter days (sun is pretty much down by 4:45pm and it's quite dark by 5:15pm) but I am sure we'll find something that works for all.

 

I'll post pics as soon as I can!

I let them out immediately when I get home... usually they have to go go go!

So they get fed afterwards.

 

Just tried that tonight. Cameron was quite excited to go for the walk (we did 30 minutes). I bet it's because she gets very excited to see me home so she feels fully awake whereas she just feels like sleeping later in the evening.

 

I fed her at 6pm (she was beyond delighted with that) and now we just need to see if we can get her to go out later tonight (not sure she'll want to get up). If we can't, we'll see if she is going to wake in the middle of the night.

[amalexia]

Small update: Got her out a few minutes ago. I'll consider this her last call for the night as I know she usually starts sleeping quite deeply around 9pm or so.

 

So far, the new schedule has proven to be quite helpful. And honestly, it's actually nicer for me to walk her when I get back from work instead of when I have been relaxing for a while at home in my pjs.

 

Thanks all for all the tips! Fingers crossed things work out like today.

[BatterseaBrindl]

 

My guys eat breakfast at 6:30 and dinner around 4:00.

They have last potty (we have a fenced yard) at 8:30ish and only Nigel will occasionally need a pee in the middle of the night.

 

Are you in Montreal?

I believe they recently implemented a 'All large dogs need to be harnessed' by-law.

Ridiculous!

[amalexia]

 

My guys eat breakfast at 6:30 and dinner around 4:00.

They have last potty (we have a fenced yard) at 8:30ish and only Nigel will occasionally need a pee in the middle of the night.

 

Are you in Montreal?

I believe they recently implemented a 'All large dogs need to be harnessed' by-law.

Ridiculous!

 

Yes, we're in Montreal. They've adopted this ridiculous by-law whereby dogs over 40 pounds need to be harnessed and "pitbull-type" dogs need to be muzzled (and if lost by their owner, they will be euthanized and the bill sent to the owner...). It's beyond ridiculous. We elected a new mayor last week and part of her platform is to go back on the by-law. Fingers crossed!

[Guest nicky604]

Just out of curiosity, which city requires harnesses for large dogs? That's nuts!

[BatterseaBrindl]

Montreal

[September]

Glad I don't have to deal with harnessing dogs everyday. That is a chore around here, lol. Mine associate harnesses with "car ride" time and get instantly, uncontrollably wiggly.

 

Cookie can be very "grumbly" about getting up for the last night pee. We usually have to urge her vocally to get up and give her some encouragement.

[amalexia]

Glad I don't have to deal with harnessing dogs everyday. That is a chore around here, lol. Mine associate harnesses with "car ride" time and get instantly, uncontrollably wiggly.

 

Cookie can be very "grumbly" about getting up for the last night pee. We usually have to urge her vocally to get up and give her some encouragement.

 

Cameron will put the harness on happily (she's used to it) as long as she is happy to go out for a walk.

 

She is just the laziest dog I have ever seen. She does need to go out for the last pee (which is now around 9pm most evenings), but doesn't feel like getting up. I now do some obedience training and then take her out for a last pee. At that point, she is up and happy to be doing tricks for treats and won't mind going out for a quick pee.