Very New; Night Crying Even In Bedroom

[Guest Deniseola]

Hi! My husband and I just adopted a two year old former racer, Lady, four days ago (yes, we are very new!). Ive done a ton of research so Im very aware of the adjustment period, etc. but I havent been able to find advice on my particular issue yet, nor has it seemed like any book Ive read touches on how severe nighttime anxiety seems to be in many greyhounds (my eyes have been opened after reading this message board!).

We had Ladys crate in the living room and have practiced leaving/returning, etc. She is happy hanging out there during the day, seems to do fine when weve had to leave, but at night time everything changes. After reading numerous threads on here it seemed like the general consensus was that shed do better in our bedroom. Tonight we brought the crate in our room (upstairs - it was quite a feat) and it was about a million times worse at bedtime. She could see me, I even got where I was close enough to touch her, yet still loads of whining and crying, even straight up barking at me. Tried letting her out of the crate and she just wandered around the bedroom and barked at random. Its now 2am here and I feel like a zombie after getting almost no sleep last night and probably none again tonight.

Out of desperation I put her crate back downstairs and did her normal (for the last four nights) bedtime routine but she is down there howling and trying to get out of her crate.

So - when can I expect to sleep again? Should I keep putting her to bed in the living room? Is there some magic way to get her to actually sleep in my room and not go nuts?

Please dont suggest a second dog because at this point that is not an option for our family

Im already in contact with someone from my rescue group (hopefully Ill hear back from her tomorrow) but Im trying to get al the help I can now!

Thanks so much!

[smurfette]

Did you try a night light and leaving the radio on downstairs?

Or when you want her in your bedroom just the little light.

 

You can try this. Create a day full off action - long walks, car ride, little training sessions to tire her out. Maybe it works.

[3greytjoys]

Newly adopted dogs often need more potty outings until they adjust to a new environment. Offer a brief, escorted "business only" outing when Lady barks/cries. (She might be communicating that she's about to lose her urine or bowel control.)

 

If you're hoping to leave the crate downstairs, try sleeping downstairs with her for several days/week. (It's much more difficult on any dog to be left alone during day and overnight too.)

 

If no crate is in your bedroom during overnight hours: dog-proof your bedroom, add a baby gate (if bedroom door remains open) and section off a draft-free corner next to your bed for her to sleep on a comfy, thick real dog bed (not just a folded quilt). Otherwise, if crate is in your upstairs bedroom and she begins to panic inside locked crate, consider leaving crate door open while you're sleeping IF your bedroom is dog-proofed and baby-gated. If she's a chewer, she could wear her Greyhound basket muzzle while you're asleep.

 

Ensure she's not too cold. She may need Greyhound jammies during cool months, plus a light blanket or two (one to place over her, and one that she can scrunch into a headrest).

 

Offer her a light snack (e.g. 1/4 to 1/3 cup kibble, reduced from her dinner portion) before bedtime to help prevent her from awakening too early from hunger.

 

We don't know where you're located, but many hounds have a time zone adjustment depending on their previous racing kennel time zone.

 

Ensure she's getting enough daily exercise; and not placed in her crate for too many hours.

 

Remember that this is her first time in life ever being away from other hounds. It's a scary and completely foreign adjustment for them but they do adjust in time.

 

Congratulations on your new family member! Greyhounds are the best ever!

 

[JohnF]

First she needs to know that you are reliable in the sense of not leaving her until she is happy in her new home, so don't push any 'training' yet. Someone ought to be there all the time during the first week. People will visit instead of expecting you to visit them if you give them a sound reason like this.

Give 1/3rd of the food after a morning walk and the rest after a late afternoon walk and ideally when you eat. (successful hunt). Give a small snack of kibble with a little peanut butter just before last potty break at night. Her stomach will be upset by rehoming-stress and there may be diarrhea and gas.

Crate needs to be in a corner and perhaps have a blanket over 2 sides to prevent draughts. Nightlight is pretty much essential. Probably so is a nest-style bed so that she can feel some more security and warmth. (This bed will after a week or so be OK to take anywhere as a comfort thing).

Be calm yourself and read and understand her canine body language. Let her approach you, never loom over her unexpectedly.

[Batmom]

Keep her in the bedroom with you; nice cushy bed, can be in crate if you like but usually not needed. She'll settle in a few nights. You'll lose a little sleep for those few nights but the more consistent you are with nighttime routine, the easier it will be for her to settle.

[GeorgeofNE]

What Batmom said.

 

Try and put yourself in her shoes. You're not going to die if your sleep is disrupted for a few days! It will all be fine, it just takes a little time!

[Guest Deniseola]

Thank you everyone for the replies! There is almost always someone home with her, so we arent leaving her crates for hours a day and expecting her to sleep all night too. But I do think that she could do with more active time in the evening. I usually walk a lot in evenings but I havent since its cold out - but I will start again for her! And more playtime. We have a fenced yard but she doesnt want to stay out too long and play there (one of us is always out with her the whole time).

Her track was one hour earlier than we are, time zone wise, but we tend to go to bed on the later side (10pm) so I dont know if that makes a difference. Im going to try every suggestion here!

 

As far as our room, she barked at me and wouldnt even lie down in there the entire time. I tried the crate, I tried a blanket on the floor next to my bed. She wasnt having any of it. At least downstairs shell just whine and cry before going to sleep. We do have a cat who is used to being upstairs with us and thats a whole separate issue as well.

We always have music on (usually some quiet lullaby music) and a night light, and Ive tried a blanket on part of the crate.

 

Im fine losing some sleep, but I cant function on three hours, especially when those three hours are interrupted! I feel bad putting her downstairs alone but our kids rooms are right by ours as well and none of us will sleep if shes upstairs barking for hours like she did last night

 

Im going to try and play with her a LOT tonight and give her a pre-bedtime snack to see how that helps

[KickReturn]

Just to fine tune the mention above about adequate exercise, I recommend walking. Play is great and some greys will really get into it (others won't at all) but I find walking is the best way for the dog to bond with you and accept you as a replacement for its former track mates. I know it's cold now depending on where you are located, so you will have a tough stretch. But once the weather moderates and with a proper coat on her, walk her as much as she will accept. If you can find green spaces with trails all the better. Walk, walk, walk! Remember, your dog may not know how to walk like this so watch her carefully and build up your walking as much as you can. At first she may seem a bit bored, almost stunned, but with time you will notice how she learns to sniff and explore and becomes thrilled with all the things she sees, smells, and hears.

 

Your dogs issues may have other causes and solutions but if you max out the exercise side of things, you really tilt the odds of speedy improvement in your favour.

Edited December 29, 2017 by KickReturn

[Guest Deniseola]

So this evening after her dinner I took Lady on a 2.5 mile walk (she had plenty of energy throughout and even jogged along in spurts). She had a blast and wasnt even nervous about any of it. Gave her a snack before bedtime, and this time put her in my oldest sons room with her comfy bed, white noise, lullabies on, and night lights (he already doesnt have it super dark). Just like she did in my room the night before, she kept wandering and barking. I went in eventually (like two hours later) and was able to get her to fall asleep while I sat in the room, but she woke up 15 minutes after I left and barked frequently.

I put her back in her crate in the living room now as its nearly 1am and I need at least five hours of sleep since I have to work tomorrow!

I feel bad crating her away from everyone but its the only place she eventually calms down :/

This is hard for me because Im not a cry it out mom with my kids and I hate doing it with a dog, too. But she just will not relax in a bedroom with people so far. Not sure what else to do. Shes unhappy at night no matter what!

[JohnF]

Try the walk before the dinner. They normally want to go and lie down for a while after eating.

[Guest Deniseola]

Just an update - Lady had a full, non crying night of sleep last night! We did another walk in the evening, and she had a pre-bedtime snack last night. I put her bed upstairs next to mine, but I think what really did it was me showing her how to climb onto our big bed. She was so happy there for a little bit while we got settled for the night, then she moved herself onto her own bed. She was very content, and so were we! Thanks everyone for your helpful insights and knowledge!

[juliemac]

Congratulations! Looking forward to continued updates on Lady!

[BatterseaBrindl]

[Guest Reddebz]

🎉😄

🎉😄

[sobesmom]

Excellent. I just read this, but my best advice was going to be time. A week or more. It's hard, but they will adapt. And, a sleeping bag. Not everyone can or wants to do it, but I've spent many nights on the floor in a sleeping bag by a new foster, in my bedroom.

 

ETA - watch out now that she's been on the bed. If she likes to go there to settle, then goes to her bed to sleep that's great. Don't be surprised, not that she's had a taste of that comfy spot, that she decides to stay in the near future. Then you need to make a choice. Allowed - or not.

Edited January 2, 2018 by sobesmom