Greyhound Dogs--Training Update #244

[ducklite]

Monday morning update:

Skeet still has runny poop, not as bad as it was, and he's got a better appetite. So I'm just going to watch for a couple of days.

He's also got a major seperation anxiety. I put him in the crate to run to town hall and get his license and stop at the fees tore for some treats for him, and he tore some of the vinyl rattan off. When I let him out when I got home, he was acting crazy, jumping around and wagging his tails and beginning to jump up on me--I saw it start and told him "down" very sharply" and he stopped.

I'm not sure what to do. I've got to go to work tomorrow. If I leave him crated I'm going to come home to a ruined crate. I don't trust him to leave him in my bedroom yet.

I might have to go buy another crate later today and just keep him in that until he can learn that I am coming back and he doesn't need to tear up the house to prove he misses me.

Anne

 

[Rozzie]

I think I would buy a metal crate too, until he figures out you are not leaving for good. Separation anxiety is something we have experienced too with new Greys. Poor little things, don't understand we must work for a living. Once they figure out that we are coming back, they seem to slowly adjust. We leave soft radio on, and put a shirt of ours in crate, a peanut butter treat and always say same thing when we leave "Be right back". I don't know if saying that helps, but it seems that they understand after a while when they hear this, that we are coming back. Or either they understand English.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Monday morning update:

Skeet still has runny poop, not as bad as it was, and he's got a better appetite. So I'm just going to watch for a couple of days.

He's also got a major seperation anxiety. I put him in the crate to run to town hall and get his license and stop at the fees tore for some treats for him, and he tore some of the vinyl rattan off. When I let him out when I got home, he was acting crazy, jumping around and wagging his tails and beginning to jump up on me--I saw it start and told him "down" very sharply" and he stopped.

I'm not sure what to do. I've got to go to work tomorrow. If I leave him crated I'm going to come home to a ruined crate. I don't trust him to leave him in my bedroom yet.

I might have to go buy another crate later today and just keep him in that until he can learn that I am coming back and he doesn't need to tear up the house to prove he misses me.

Anne

Can you maybe leave him (but not really leave him) for a few minutes at a time throughout the day, expanding the number of minutes each time? Maybe he just needs a history of you actually returning, so that he'll feel more secure.

I would also act very, very calm when you return. Make no fuss over him at all, until he's settled, and then calmly give him some affection.

 

[Oreo Cookie]

Ducklite - What a beautiful addition to your family. Congratulations on your adoption, he's so adorable.

 

[MushyMushy]

I think we're ready for more pictures!

 

[Magickndm]

Can you maybe leave him (but not really leave him) for a few minutes at a time throughout the day, expanding the number of minutes each time? Maybe he just needs a history of you actually returning, so that he'll feel more secure.

I would also act very, very calm when you return. Make no fuss over him at all, until he's settled, and then calmly give him some affection.

I totally agree with this. Is there anyway you can even possibly take a few days off of work to let him adjust more? if you can't, you can't, but if you can, you could do the leaving, then coming home routine a bit more. just remember, this is a HUGE adjustment for him, these dogs are not solitary animals, so this will take time and he probably will act out a few times.

Forgot to add that he is beautiful!

 

[ducklite]

Well I just tried something that seemed to work. (I had to put on my "think like a dog" hat.)

Skeet seems very fond of the blanket he lays on in the family room. He plays with it, bunches it up and uses it as a pillow, drags it around a bit.

I needed to go get the mail. So I took the blanket and Skeet, and put them in the crate together, and locked the crate. He settled down immediately. No crying, no whining, no standing there looking like I was abandoning him on a dessert island. He settled right down. He had *his* security blanket, and that's all it took. I stopped to talk to the neighbor for a few minutes. When i came back he was still laying there, looking rather content. I think (hope) I just fixed that problem!

Anne

 

[luvwinnie]

He's SO beautiful! I wish you two many happy years together.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Well I just tried something that seemed to work. (I had to put on my "think like a dog" hat.)

Skeet seems very fond of the blanket he lays on in the family room. He plays with it, bunches it up and uses it as a pillow, drags it around a bit.

I needed to go get the mail. So I took the blanket and Skeet, and put them in the crate together, and locked the crate. He settled down immediately. No crying, no whining, no standing there looking like I was abandoning him on a dessert island. He settled right down. He had *his* security blanket, and that's all it took. I stopped to talk to the neighbor for a few minutes. When i came back he was still laying there, looking rather content. I think (hope) I just fixed that problem!

Anne

Poor Skeet! You need to nickname him Linus.

 

[Rozzie]

Great news Anne! Our Grey's have a security "bed" they drag around. I think he is going to do great.

 

[ducklite]

Well, that didn't last long. I went to get a gallon of milk and he was back to his insecurities. I'm off to buy a less destructible crate in a little bit.

Anne

 

[Dodie]

We need more pictures of Skeet, please!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Well, that didn't last long. I went to get a gallon of milk and he was back to his insecurities. I'm off to buy a less destructible crate in a little bit.

Anne

Hang in there. He's got to be scared and insecure right now, and just doesn't know any other way to show it.

This too shall pass...

 

[Rozzie]

Times like this I just wish we could speak "dog" to them, and tell them they don't have to be afraid anymore. Please check in tomorrow and let us know how it goes.

 

[ducklite]

I bought him an X-Large airplane style travel crate. I figured I'd eventually need one anyhow for when we travel with him, so I went ahead and got it. (Don't worry, I don't plan on flying him!) I don't think he'll be able to destroy this one.

It's a tiny bit smaller than the other crate. I've set it up in the family room, he seems very comfortable there and that's where he spends most of his time. Hopefully it won't take long for him to get over this anxiety. DS only works mornings all week this week, so he'll be home by 1:30 every day to let him out. I'm sure he can handle five hours in the crate, he'll sleep the whole time. As soon as he's fully over the diarreah I'll be leaving the crate door open in the bedroom at night.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

How to wear out your greyhound 101. Take him for an hour long walk at a steady clip!

We went for a loooong walk this morning, and Skeet was tired when we got back. Ate his whole breakfast with minimal encouragement. He's still got terrible stinky runny poops, but the color is better. he's eating and drinking, and only pooping once a day, so I think it's the change of diet, hopeully it will be better in a couple more days.

He's locked in the indestructable crate until DS gets back from work in the early afternoon. He didn't want to go in, but I bribed him with a dog biscuit, and he was happy chewing on that when I left for work.

His tail is wagging a lot more, and he's definitely beginning to show the signs of being a happy dog.

He doesn't play with toys though--anyone know how to teach a dog to play?

Anne

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Thanks! There's a service here in the Orlando area that will deliver food to your home or office, and they carry both of those foods.



Super, I'll check that out!



My DH is going to kill you for giving me that link! I'm in Orlando, so obviously during the summer Skeet won't need a coat. but in the cooler months of the winter he's going to need one for those early morning and evening walks when it's only 40-50 out. I loved the hoodie style!

Thanks again!

Anne

OMG those doggy pj's are hilarious!

Congrats on your new dog, he looks like a real sweetie-pie.

 

[LoriKay]

I remember that it took Chloe a while before she started playing with toys. We would sort of sit and play with her toys while she watched and eventually she started. I'm so impressed that he's wagging his tail so much. I'm sure someone warned you about heat (and cold but I guess you don't have to worry much about that in Florida )and their lack of body fat, right? I don't want to put a damper on what is such a happy thread but our girl is not doing very well right now and somehow this thread makes me feel better so please keep the updates coming and everyone should give their pup an extra hug and kiss today.

 

[ducklite]

I remember that it took Chloe a while before she started playing with toys. We would sort of sit and play with her toys while she watched and eventually she started. I'm so impressed that he's wagging his tail so much. I'm sure someone warned you about heat (and cold but I guess you don't have to worry much about that in Florida )and their lack of body fat, right? I don't want to put a damper on what is such a happy thread but our girl is not doing very well right now and somehow this thread makes me feel better so please keep the updates coming and everyone should give their pup an extra hug and kiss today.

Sorry to hear about Chloe--I'll think positive thoughts for her.

I was warned about the hot and cold. When I've tried to take Skeet out in the middle of the day he really wants nothing to do with it--black dog in the Florida sun is not good. That's why we've been walking at sun up and sun down. It was probably 72 when we started the walk this morning, and he seemed to love that weather. We were back by the time it hit 78-ish, so he wasn't overheated, but I wouldn't have kept him out much longer. I'll get him a coat to wear when the weather gets cooler. Maybe little booties to match? Oh, he'd hate that--I wipe his paws before he can come back inside, and he's still not thrilled with me fussing with his back toes.

I'll keep trying to play with his toys. So far he doesn't really play, but he does like to steal things. He came trotting out of DS's bedroom with a wristband in his mouth yesterday and dropped it on his blanket. He doesn't seem to want to chew or destroy his loot, just hide it away.

Anne

 

[LoriKay]

Thank you for sending Chloe some good thoughts. I just remembered something else Chloe did which was to eat one of DH's dress socks. I had to call the vet who told me how to make her bring it back up. Fun stuff. We learned very quickly to keep the door shut to our closet!