Hello.....I'm a newby!

[delta]

Hi All

We picked up lovely Buddy on Saturday from Dunton, and Saturday although excited he was wonderful. Managed to relax on his bed...was ok on the lead, flew up the stairs without a problem. Although a bit whimpery and yelpy for a few minutes at bedtime, he settled and found his bed in the conservatory (door open to the downstairs, baby gate on the staircase) and stayed quiet and clean overnight.

Sunday, we decided we needed to get him used to some 'alone time' in preparation for us both at work on wednesday...followed the instructions of containing him where he can still see you...then gradually pop in and out of sight...he seemed ok. although a little whimpery at times. Was great on the lead and his erm...deposits...had solidified a bit (no more.."I don't know whether to pick it up or stick a flake in it!" comments form the other half!).

However, we put him to bed and then closed the conservatory door, as we had been during the day (heater, radio and low lighting available), and the whining, yelping and barking started. Around 20-30 minutes later he settled and then seemed to remain quiet all night. In the morning, we saw He had chewed a bit of furniture, torn up some papers which were within reach but did not mess anywhere. He was not a happy bunny today with the 'alone' work...was a nightmare on the lead in the park, and is whining and barking as soon as left alone. He had treats and cuddles too in between....

I have just returned from an hour out (which was very stressful for me too!)....to find more chewed things and a puddle of wee...I don't care about those things as they're cleanable and fixable...but i'm so concerned we wont be able to leave him, or cause him so much distress when we do that it wont be good for the poor boy. He's flat out snoozing happily when I'm here....

Any help will be really appreciated. I'm wondering whether the run of downstairs, rather than containing him may help, but if he's just not coping with being alone at all, it might all end in distress, destruction and poop! Or wondering whether he will eventually settle....just dont want to stress him any more than he clearly is ...day and night 1 was the best, surprisingly.....what do I do!!?

[sueb]

Congratulations on homing a greyhound, some of them do take a little time to settle, after all they have only ever seen kennels, vans, paddocks and racetracks before, and you are replacing their other greyhound pals, but they soon get to love all that! Probably the 1st couple of nights he was probably rather confused, but now he's beginning to bond he's missing you when you go (they will get used to the fact that when you go you will come back, but he doesn't yet get that!)

Some of them don't like being contained within 1 room.

You could try leaving a Kong type toy- which is a rubber toy, where you can put the end of a special biscuit, so they have to work at getting to it and can stave off boredom.
Also try an old jumper (or similar) on his bed, as they can take comfort from the smell of you.

Try not to make a fuss when going out or coming home for the 10/15 minutes before going and after coming home, so they see you going/coming home as no big deal. Likewise, at the beginning, try not to give him constant fuss & cuddles when you are home and for him to always see you. I know that bit can be hard! So, he'll get used to being on his own, even if you're in another room.
You could try a light on at night( or if you're not home when it's turning dark) and a radio on soothes some.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

[delta]

Hi Sue

Thanks for your reply...we did the frozen Kong this morning when Keith left for work...I hid upstairs for about 45 mins so he thought he was alone. He was quiet for quite a while and when i appeared downstairs he was lying on his sofa looking chilled out. I let him out for a wee and then i let him have a wander, gave him a treat and put him back in his 'room'. He whimpered for a bit and yelped but then settled. during about an hour, I probably walked in sight about twice and he settled for a while and then started again. I let him back out of his room and he was quiet on his blanket in the lounge...he started pacing and whining and then started jumping up at the front door. I stopped that and let him out for a loo break in the garden.

He never quite settled after that and I didn;t like seeing such a sad face and looking pretty miserable....My neighbours have been informed that we might be noisy neighbours for a while so perhaps I just need to keep going out and coming back tomorrow...I think I'm fretting for Wednesday, when, although we have a helper lunchtime, he will be around 2 x 4 or so hours on either side alone. I've been playing it a bit cool with him today so perhaps I've confused him again.

Thanks for the advice - we'll definitely give it a go and see what te next couple of nights bring. He's gorgeous and chilled now....was a terror today!

I'll keep you posted on his progress (and my sanity!)

[pat]

good advice given, do remember if you are nervous he will pick up on this, i know it is hard but try to be chilled and ignore him for the first week or so, just let him settle in his own way and you will soon have a very happy dog

[delta]

Has someone stolen our dog? After 4 nights of trauma (and a new bed, which he seems to like) we went to bed....a little whine....(after a little wine for me to prepare myself!) .then silence ALL night! Keith left this morning, and he was relatively uninterested in Keith when he got up...a kong..and not a peep when he left. Previously the kong didn't cut it! I'll see what happens when I leave later, but he had an hour on his own this morning and was brill!
Not sure whether it was Diane the dog whisperer who we bumped into after the doggy wash parlour yesterday, or just time....but at least we can see a huge improvement.....to the point of him 'roaching' this morning when I came down and he didn't move when he saw me....

Thank you all so much for your support.....think we may be on the road to happiness...

Phew!

[prince]

Hi Dawn

I`m not taking credit for this. I`m so pleased its working out. some click straight away and others just take a little longer and you have been doing everything right. From now on he is going to grow with confident and you all are going to have so much fun. I shall raise a glass of wine to that.

Diane